Do Teeth Touch When Chewing?

Yes, teeth do touch when chewing, but not all of them constantly.

While at rest, your top and bottom teeth should not be touching, or clenching. However, during the chewing process, your front teeth make contact to help cut through food. According to the reference, it's normal for front teeth to touch when biting down, this is an efficient way to break down food.

Understanding Teeth Contact While Chewing

Here is a breakdown of what happens when you chew:

• Resting Position:
  • Your bottom teeth should not touch the back of your top teeth when your mouth is at rest.
  • There should be no clenching or other interaction when your jaw is relaxed.
• Biting and Chewing:
  • When biting down on food, your front teeth will touch to help cut or tear through it.
  • Your back teeth will then come together to crush or grind the food.
  • The way your teeth meet during chewing ensures efficient food processing.

Why Proper Teeth Contact Matters

Proper teeth contact is crucial for:

• Efficient Chewing: Allows teeth to work together efficiently to break down food.
• Avoiding Damage: Ensures the forces of chewing are distributed evenly.
• Comfort: Reduces the likelihood of pain, discomfort, and TMJ issues.

Examples of Teeth Contact While Chewing

• Biting into an apple: Your front teeth meet to bite into the apple.
• Chewing a steak: After the initial bite, back teeth engage to grind and mash the meat.
• Eating a soft food: Even with soft foods, you'll still notice your teeth meeting, especially front teeth, when biting down to divide the food.

Key Takeaway

In short, while your teeth shouldn’t touch constantly, some level of contact is normal during the chewing process, with a focus on front teeth when biting and back teeth when grinding food.