Why do front teeth bite and back teeth chew?

Think of a crunchy apple in your hand. It feels cool and smooth. You open wide and take a big bite. Crunch!

Your front teeth make that bite. Then your back teeth chew the piece. Why do front teeth bite and back teeth chew? Let's find out together.

Let's look at your front teeth first. Each one is thin and flat. At its end, it has a sharp edge. That thin, sharp edge is just right for cutting.

When you bite, your front teeth close and slide past each other, like the two sides of scissors. Their sharp edges cut right through the apple. Snip! A small piece comes free.

Your front teeth have done their job. Now your tongue pushes the apple piece away from them. It moves the piece to your back teeth, the big ones deep inside your mouth, so they can work on it next.

Your back teeth look very different. Each one is wide. Its top is flat and full of little bumps. What do you think those little bumps could do to the apple piece?

The bumps help your back teeth grind it, which means rubbing and crushing food into tiny bits. Your back teeth press together, and their bumps rub the apple back and forth. That grinding is how you chew.

A wide top gives the bumps lots of room to work. Each time you grind, the apple gets smaller and softer. Soon it is mushy enough to swallow.

One word to remember: grind. Front teeth have thin, sharp edges to cut, and back teeth have wide, bumpy tops to grind.

Your teeth work as a team at every meal. Sleep well, and give them a big, happy smile.