Eli5:Why does human teeth look the way they do?
In: Biology
We have teeth that are shaped for specific purposes, because our diets vary widely between meat and plants (we are omnivores). Our front teeth are shaped in a way that lets us slice through things like meat, especially our canines (the “fangs” next to your incisors). Our back teeth are designed for crushing/mashing food to make it easy to swallow and to begin the digestion process. Next time you have a meal, focus on which teeth you use while eating. Some foods, you will put straight back to your molars and crush/mash until you swallow. Other foods, you will slice with your front teeth first.
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