teeth play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "teeth play" is not a standard or commonly used expression in written English.
It may be used in specific contexts related to dental health, children's games, or metaphorical expressions, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "During the dental check-up, the dentist explained how teeth play a crucial role in digestion."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A great deal of evidence indicates that persistent infections of the root canal of human teeth play an important role in the failure of the root canal treatment.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

The many rows of vestigial teeth play no role in feeding.

Wikipedia

Secondly, it was hypothesized that location and distribution of remaining teeth play an important role in this.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Participants were somewhat unsure of the role the primary teeth play in oral health and the development of the permanent dentition.

BMC Oral Health

Extant odontocetes use two major modes of prey capture: 1) raptorial feeding where prey are seized by the teeth, and 2) suction feeding where prey are sucked into the mouth and teeth play little to no role in prey acquisition [ 103, 104].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"My boy broke two front teeth playing hockey," a man wearing shorts laughs.

The New Yorker

The pair started writing music in 2013 after meeting at college, cutting their teeth playing in basements across upstate New York.

The Guardian - Music

In the UK, Leeds-based indie rockers Eagulls often play hardcore bills with bands such as Autobahn and Perspex Flesh, having cut their teeth playing in skatepunk groups such as Fast Point.

The Guardian - Music

For those of you who are under the impression that Montreal is either Paris on this side of the Atlantic or a bunch of guys named Guy who lost their teeth playing hockey, you couldn't be more wrong.

The New York Times

She cut her teeth playing opposite some of cinema's biggest beasts: Steve McQueen in Bullitt, Frank Sinatra in The Detective, both in 1968 when she was 24, then toe to toe with Christopher Plummer, Jon Voight, Charles Bronson and Marcello Mastroianni in the 70s.

The Guardian - Film

Bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Cream and Led Zeppelin cut their teeth playing blues covers about places they wouldn't have been able to point to on a map.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the function of teeth, consider using more descriptive terms such as "dental function" or "role of teeth" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "teeth play" in contexts where the specific action or function of the teeth is unclear. Instead, clarify the intended meaning with a more precise description of their role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "teeth play" functions as a subject-verb construction, where "teeth" is the subject and "play" acts as a verb indicating a role or function. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not standard, thus, in some contexts more precise language may be needed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "teeth play" is used to describe the function or role of teeth in various contexts. While grammatically correct, it's not a standard phrase and may benefit from more precise language in formal settings according to Ludwig AI. Alternatives like "dental function" or "role of teeth" often provide greater clarity. Usage is primarily found in science and news media, with a relatively low overall frequency. When writing, ensure that the context makes the intended meaning clear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

role of teeth

Directly states the part teeth fulfill.

teeth's function

Uses a possessive to indicate the purpose of teeth.

dental function

Focuses on the role teeth serve.

teeth's involvement

Highlights the participation of teeth in an activity or process.

teeth's part

Highlights a share or aspect of teeth in an activity.

dental role

Uses "dental" as an adjective to describe the function.

teeth's contribution

Focuses on what teeth add to a process.

how teeth act

Describes teeth in action.

teeth's impact

Emphasizes the effect teeth have.

teeth's activity

Describes teeth in action.

FAQs

What does "teeth play" mean?

"Teeth play" generally refers to the function or role that teeth have in a certain process, such as digestion or even in the aesthetics of a smile.

What can I say instead of "teeth play"?

You can use alternatives like "dental function", "role of teeth", or "teeth's function" depending on the context.

Is "teeth play" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "teeth play" is less common than other alternatives. It is grammatically sound but may lack clarity without additional context.

How can I make the meaning of "teeth play" more clear?

Provide more context by specifying the action or function of the teeth. For example, "Teeth play a crucial role in chewing food" is more precise.