- This page discusses boney structures used for chewing and
eating. For the engineering sense of tooth, see "gear" Types of
teeth - Molars are used for grinding up foods - Carnassials are
used for slicing food. In carnivores only. - Premolars are
similar to molars but smaller and sometimes called "bicuspids" -
Canines are used for tearing apart foods and sometimes called
"cuspids" - Incisors are used for cutting foods Teeth—singular
tooth—are hard structures found in the jaws of many of the
higher animals. They have various structures to allow them to
fulfill their many different purposes. The primary function of
teeth is to tear and chew food and in some animals, particularly
carnivores, as a weapon. The roots of the teeth are covered by
gums. The color of teeth are supposed to be white, but it
heavily depends on the person, and how well they care for their
teeth. Teeth are covered by a protective stucture, called the
"enamel, " that helps to prevent cavities on the teeth. The form
teeth take and their mode