Why Do We Have Baby Teeth?

What’s up with baby teeth? Do other animals have them, and what are they good for -- other than squeezing money out of the tooth fairy? We have the answers!

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[nerdbot]

I am a Polyphyodont, but my 3rd set is ridiculous expensive

[moralityisnotsubjective]

It's just as well. Most people don't take very good care of their baby teeth and by the time your adult teeth start coming in you might need them. Young kids are... not good at brushing.

[VictoriasChannel]

Of all imaginary creatures, the tooth fairy probably ranks as the weirdest one. I mean giving money for teeth? Whats next going around laying chocolate eggs during Spring?

[kmcmullen]

When I was around 6, my mom realized that I was losing my bottom baby teeth like normal, but that my top teeth were never coming loose at all. We finally found out that that I had 3 extra teeth nestled between my two sets of teeth, and had them taken out when I was 8. They were about the size and shape of permanent incisors, but had no roots, like baby teeth. I had to endure many surgeries and years of orthodontia for my permanent set to finally come in, at a whopping age of 12. I was front-toothless for 4 straight years!

[slpk]

After having a canal, I don't see why I should keep these old decay-prone semi-living pieces of rock on my mouth. I'm up for substituting my whole set with something even more permanent and less finicky to take care of, like titanium.
If only it were less expensive.

[TheTriforceofRubiks]

Still miss that feeling of a loose baby tooth. So awesome.

[nialowe]

I really thought the title of the video was 'Why do Babies have teeth?' and was confused why someone questioned that.

[justgiz]

I wish i could go back in time and show my younger self what will happen when you don't take care of your teeth. #FML

[youmaycallmeken]

The 2 sets gives us a second chance to take care by brushing to avoid tooth decay. They're the only sets we get that grow in our mouths, but there are other teeth: dentures and now, implants. It'd be great if we can induce the growth of a new tooth when needed, to replace a tooth with too much decay or with a nerve damage or to replace one that broke.

[Wifi_Cable]

I've always hypothesized that wisdom teeth wouldn't have been a problem even after our jaws shrunk due evolution because I'd imagine by the time most humans were 20, they would have lost a few teeth. In that would it would almost be like, congratulations on making it to 20, you get a bonus set of teeth since your other's are likely in terrible condition.

[janines.]

Why do we sing so much better in the shower?

[CybeargPlays]

Is there any research into getting humans to grow a third set of teeth? That seems like it'd be a great way to go, especially as people are living longer.

[tori]

Wow, evolution really takes care of everything, doesn't it?

[dealingwithkatherine]

I'm 16 and I've only lost 5 of my baby molars so far. I feel like that isn't normal but I guess that means I'm going to have healthy adult teeth for longer! I also haven't had my braces yet.

[JohnSWeekley]

Well, when a mama tooth and a papa tooth fall in love...

[MsSilentH]

Loosing baby teeth was horrible. I never got them pulled, they either got loose enough to fall out easily or I waited long enough to pull them out with no real issue. It's just a terrible process to go through. I also had a lot of nightmares of my adult teeth starting to fall out like baby teeth....

[Eban]

A hundred million years ago? I think you mean 100, 000 Hank.

[HaplessHannah]

Love the video- I always wanted to know why we had baby teeth actually and why they didn't just grow bigger rather than falling out and new ones coming in like they do. I've learnt a lot through this video so thank you hank and all at sci-show :)

[SomeDudeOnline]

I completely expected the answer to be: Because of breastfeeding. Breastmilk is so high in sugars and fats and such that if we didn't grow a second set of teeth the first set would rot far too quickly and we would die and that's why brushing your teeth is so important *insert link to "why do I have to brush my teeth"*. Oh well.

[evanreid]

How exactly warm blooded animals create heat and what prevents that from happening in cold blooded animals?