The most common way to say 'tooth' in French is la dent. But what if you're talking about a baby tooth, a wisdom tooth, or even a sweet tooth?

As you learn French, you might find yourself at the dentist, or perhaps discussing the tooth fairy (la petite souris) with a child!

Let’s sink our teeth into nine different ways to say 'tooth' in French and make sure you have the right word for every situation!

1. The standard 'tooth' – la dent

The most fundamental and widely used word for 'tooth' in French is la dent. This is your go-to term in almost any context.

La dent is a feminine noun. This is very important for grammar! You will always pair it with feminine articles. For example:

• une dent: a tooth
• la dent: the tooth

The plural of la dent is les dents. When you're talking about 'teeth' in general, this is the form you'll use. For example, 'des dents blanches' means 'white teeth'.

One of the first phrases you'll learn with this word is se brosser les dents, which means 'to brush one's teeth'. The verb is reflexive, so you'll say 'Je me brosse les dents' for 'I brush my teeth'.

If you have a toothache, the expression is avoir mal aux dents. For a single tooth, you would say avoir mal à une dent. This phrase directly leads to needing le dentiste (the dentist).

La dent is also used in a common idiom: avoir une dent contre quelqu'un. This literally means 'to have a tooth against someone', but it's the French way of saying you 'hold a grudge against someone' or 'have it in for them'.

💡 * J'ai rendez-vous chez le dentiste parce que j'ai mal à une dent.

• Il faut se brosser les dents après chaque repas.
• Le sourire de l'enfant a révélé deux nouvelles dents.
• Depuis leur dispute, elle a une dent contre lui.
• Attention, le chien montre les dents !

The 'baby tooth' – la dent de lait

The French term for a 'baby tooth' is la dent de lait.

Literally translated, la dent de lait means 'the tooth of milk'. This poetic expression is tied to the idea that these are the teeth a baby has during the period they are primarily drinking milk, before solid foods are introduced.

This term is the standard and most common way to refer to deciduous teeth, or primary teeth, in everyday French. It's used universally, from pediatric dentists to parents talking to their children about their oral hygiene.

When a child loses a dent de lait, a character called la Petite Souris (the Little Mouse) comes to collect it. Similar to the Tooth Fairy, she takes the tooth from under the pillow and leaves a coin or a small gift in its place.

The plural form, les dents de lait, is used when referring to multiple baby teeth. For example, a dentist might ask how many dents de lait a child has lost.

💡 * Ma fille a perdu sa première dent de lait hier soir.

• Il faut bien brosser tes dents de lait pour qu'elles restent saines.
• La Petite Souris va passer cette nuit pour ta dent de lait.
• À quel âge les enfants commencent-ils à perdre leurs dents de lait ?

The 'wisdom tooth' – la dent de sagesse

The French term for 'wisdom tooth' is la dent de sagesse. This phrase literally translates to 'the tooth of wisdom.' As you can see from the article la, the word dent (tooth) is a feminine noun in French.

Let's break down the expression. It's composed of la dent (the tooth) and de sagesse (of wisdom). The preposition de connects the two, indicating a characteristic. The plural form is simply les dents de sagesse, following standard pluralization rules for the noun.

In a dental context, you'll often hear this term with verbs related to removal. Common phrases include se faire arracher une dent de sagesse (to have a wisdom tooth extracted) or faire enlever les dents de sagesse (to have the wisdom teeth removed).

Just like its English counterpart, the name dent de sagesse is linked to the age at which these teeth typically appear—late adolescence or early adulthood, a time associated with gaining wisdom (sagesse). This direct cultural parallel makes the term easy for English speakers to remember.

💡 * Le dentiste a dit que je devais me faire enlever les dents de sagesse.

• Ma dent de sagesse pousse et ça fait très mal.
• On m'a arraché une dent de sagesse la semaine dernière.
• As-tu encore tes dents de sagesse ?

1. The 'canine tooth' – la canine

The French term for a 'canine tooth' is la canine.

La canine is the direct translation for the pointed tooth located between the incisors and premolars. It is used in both everyday language and formal dental contexts.

As a key grammatical point, la canine is a feminine noun. This means you must always use feminine articles like la or une and ensure any accompanying adjectives are in their feminine form.

Similar to its English counterpart, the word canine is derived from the Latin caninus, relating to dogs (le chien in French), which are known for their prominent pointed teeth.

💡 * J'ai un peu mal à la canine supérieure. (My upper canine tooth hurts a little.)

• Le dentiste a dit que ma canine était en bonne santé. (The dentist said my canine tooth was healthy.)
• Les canines sont aussi appelées les dents œillères. (Canine teeth are also called eye teeth.)
• Il a cassé une canine en mangeant des bonbons durs. (He broke a canine tooth eating hard candy.)

The 'incisor' – l'incisive

Let's move to a specific anatomical term you might need at the dentist: l'incisive, which is the French word for 'the incisor'.

An incisive is one of the sharp, flat-edged teeth at the front of the mouth, used for cutting and biting food. Humans typically have four on the top and four on the bottom.

In French, incisive is a feminine noun. This is why you will always see it with feminine articles, such as une incisive (an incisor) or l'incisive (the incisor).

When referring to multiple incisors, the plural form is les incisives. This is a common term in orthodontics and general dental care.

💡 * Le dentiste a examiné mon incisive cassée. (The dentist examined my broken incisor.)

• Les incisives du lapin sont très longues. (The rabbit's incisors are very long.)
• Mon bébé a enfin ses deux incisives du bas. (My baby finally has his two bottom incisors.)
• Il manque une incisive à ce patient. (This patient is missing an incisor.)

The 'molar' – la molaire

To discuss a 'molar' in French, you use the noun la molaire. It's a feminine noun, which means it is always preceded by feminine articles such as la ('the') or une ('a').

This term is primarily used in a dental or medical setting. When you visit le dentiste (the dentist), you will hear them refer to your back teeth as les molaires. This vocabulary is essential for accurately describing dental issues.

Beyond la molaire, it's helpful to know other types of teeth. A tooth in general is une dent. Your front teeth are les incisives (incisors), and the pointy ones are les canines (canines). A wisdom tooth is specifically called une dent de sagesse.

Knowing this word is practical for any health-related conversation. For instance, you might need to tell a pharmacist or doctor, 'J'ai mal à une molaire' which means 'I have a toothache in a molar.' The plural form is simply les molaires.

💡 * Le dentiste a soigné ma molaire cariée.

• J'ai une douleur aiguë dans la molaire inférieure droite.
• Les molaires servent à broyer les aliments.
• Il faut bien brosser les molaires pour éviter les caries.

The cute/childish 'tooth' – la quenotte

While the standard French word for 'tooth' is la dent, la quenotte is a more affectionate and childish term. It's the equivalent of 'little tooth' or 'toothy-peg' in English and is used in cute, endearing contexts.

You will most often hear la quenotte when referring to the teeth of babies and young children. It’s a term of endearment, perfect for situations like a baby getting their first tooth. It can also sometimes be used for small animals.

Grammatically, la quenotte is a feminine noun. This means you should always use feminine articles with it, such as une quenotte (a little tooth) or la quenotte (the little tooth).

💡 * Le bébé a sorti sa première quenotte. (The baby got his first little tooth.)

• Brosse bien tes quenottes avant d'aller au lit ! (Brush your little teeth well before going to bed!)
• Quel joli sourire avec toutes ses petites quenottes ! (What a pretty smile with all his little teeth!)

The 'fang' or 'tusk' – le croc

The 'fang' or 'tusk' – le croc

Le croc is the French word for a long, pointed tooth, usually belonging to a carnivorous animal. When you picture a dog baring its teeth or a wolf growling, the sharp, prominent teeth you see are called les crocs.

The meaning of le croc extends beyond fangs. It is also the correct term for an animal's 'tusk.' For example, the ivory tusks of an elephant are referred to as les crocs d'éléphant.

It's important to distinguish le croc from la dent, the general word for 'tooth.' While a fang is a type of tooth, le croc specifically refers to that long, sharp, and often intimidating kind of tooth, not a simple molar or incisor.

💡 * Le chien a montré ses crocs au facteur. (The dog showed its fangs to the mailman.)

• Les défenses d'un éléphant sont en réalité de longs crocs. (An elephant's defenses are actually long tusks.)
• Les serpents venimeux injectent leur venin par leurs crocs. (Venomous snakes inject their venom through their fangs.)
• Dans les films, les vampires ont toujours des crocs acérés. (In movies, vampires always have sharp fangs.)

1. The 'Set of Teeth': La Denture

The French word for a 'set of teeth' as a whole unit is la denture. This feminine noun refers to the entire collection and arrangement of teeth in the mouth, similar to the English word 'dentition'.

La denture is distinct from les dents (the teeth). You use les dents when talking about individual teeth, but la denture when referring to the complete set, often in a medical or formal context. For example, a dentist would examine votre denture (your dentition).

A very common use of la denture is to mean 'dentures' or 'false teeth'. In this case, you might see it specified as une denture complète (a full set of dentures) or une denture partielle (a partial denture).

💡 * Le dentiste a dit que j'avais une belle denture. (The dentist said I had a good set of teeth.)

• Mon grand-père nettoie sa denture tous les soirs. (My grandfather cleans his dentures every night.)
• La denture de lait d'un enfant est remplacée par la denture permanente. (A child's milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth.)
• Elle a perdu une partie de sa denture dans l'accident. (She lost part of her set of teeth in the accident.)

Are there other ways to say 'tooth' in French?

Are there other ways to say “tooth” in French?

Our guide has covered the most common and essential ways to say “tooth” in French. But the language is also rich with more specific terms, from technical medical vocabulary to informal slang that you might hear in movies or on the street.

To discover more, you can do an online search for “argot pour les dents” (slang for teeth) or “vocabulaire de la dentisterie” (dentistry vocabulary) to explore specialized contexts.

As you learn new words, always pay attention to the context. A word like une quenotte (a cute, informal word for a child's tooth) is charming when talking about a baby but would be out of place in a serious medical discussion.

Keep your ears open as you listen to native French speakers. You'll notice many expressions and idioms related to teeth, like avoir la dent dure (to be a harsh critic) or croquer la vie à pleines dents (to live life to the fullest).

For a deeper dive, reliable online dictionaries like Larousse or Le Robert are fantastic resources. Looking up the entry for “dent” will often reveal a list of related expressions and specific uses.

I hope this article has given you something to chew on! We'll end with a classic French proverb that features our word of the day: “À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas les dents.” This is the direct equivalent of “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” and a perfect reminder of how everyday words are embedded in culture.