Transcript dentalhealth

by Abbey Flick
Topics
 What You Will Learn
Why Our Teeth Are Important
 Types and Purposes of Teeth
 Parts of a Tooth
 Tooth Care
 Tooth Decay
 Summary
It’s time to brush up on dental health.
Are you ready?
Learning Outcomes
You will...
learn why caring for your teeth is important
be able to name and describe the different types of teeth
be able to name and describe the different parts of each
tooth
learn the proper way to brush and floss
be able to describe how to keep your smile healthy and
bright
name and describe foods that are good for your teeth and
those that cause tooth decay
Why Our Teeth Are Important
 Right now, you have 20 baby teeth.
 By the time you are about 18 years old,
you will have 32 adult teeth.
 Eventually, you will lose your baby teeth.
They will be replaced by your adult teeth.
 Your adult teeth will be permanent. You will
not get another set. So, you must take very good
care of your teeth.
Types of Teeth
Adults have 4
different types of
teeth.
Incisors
Canines
Bicuspids
Molars
Incisors
“cutting teeth”
Incisors are the flat,
sharp teeth in the
front of your mouth.
They are used to cut
food.
You have 8 incisors.
Canines
“tearing teeth”
Canines are the sharp
teeth at the corners of
your smile. They are
used to rip and tear
food.
You have 4 canines.
Bicuspids
“grinding teeth”
Bicuspids are the
lumpy teeth between
your canines and
your molars. They
are used to grind
food.
You have 8 bicuspids.
Molars
“chewing teeth”
Molars are the broad,
lumpy teeth in the
back of your mouth.
Molars are used to
chew food.
You have 12 molars.
The Tooth Truth
Did you know each
tooth actually has different
parts?
Let’s take a closer look
at a tooth and the
surrounding area.
Crown
The crown is the
white part of a tooth
you see when you
look into someone’s
mouth.
Root
The root holds the
tooth in the jaw.
Pulp
The pulp is the
innnermost layer of a
tooth. It contains
nerves that feel pain,
and blood vessels
that carry food to the
tooth.
Dentin
The dentin is the
yellow substance that
surrounds the pulp.
It is harder than
bone and makes up
most of the tooth.
Enamel
Enamel is the hard
covering on a tooth.
It is the hardest
tissue in the body
and protects a tooth
during chewing.
Cementum
The cementum is
about as hard as
bone. It surrounds
the dentin in the root
of the tooth. The
cementum and
enamel usually meet
where the root and
crown join.
Gum
The gum is the soft,
pink tissue that
surrounds and
protects the root of a
tooth.
Caring for Your Teeth
Caring for your teeth is
very important. Each person gets
one set of baby teeth. They will
be replaced by one set of adult (or
permanent) teeth. Your adult
teeth must last the rest of your
life. To make sure they do so,
you must take good care of them.
Here are a few things you can do.
Brushing
We should brush our
teeth after every meal. But,
sometimes that’s difficult. So,
you should remember to brush
at least twice a day.
Brushing helps remove
plaque from your teeth. Plaque
is a sticky coating on your teeth
that is caused by bacteria and
food particles. If left on your
teeth, it can cause cavities.
Tips for Proper Brushing
Use a brush with soft bristles.
 Using gentle strokes, make your
brush move in small circles over
the outside of each tooth.
 Remember to do the back of each
tooth, also.
 Now, brush the lumpy surface of
your teeth. Be sure to remove any
food that may be stuck in the
grooves.
Flossing
 Flossing helps to remove food
and plaque from between teeth areas that your brush cannot
reach.
 You should floss at least once a
day.
Visiting the Dentist
A dentist is a person who
helps us take care of our teeth.
You should visit the dentist at
least two times a year for checkups.
Dentists can help us
prevent cavities. They can also
fix any cavities we may already
have. They use special tools to
care for our teeth.
Eating Healthy
 Eating “tooth friendly” foods
can also help keep your teeth in
great shape!
 Milk and foods made from
milk make your teeth strong.
They are rich in calcium.
 Fruits and vegetables are also
healthy for your teeth.
Foods That Are NOT
“Tooth Friendly”
 Some foods are not “tooth
friendly”. These foods contain a
lot of sugar.
 Sugary foods cause plaque to
build up on your teeth. This
plaque can cause cavities.
 You should avoid foods that
have a lot of sugar and foods
that stick to your teeth.
More Tips
In addition to the tooth care tips you just learned, here are
a few more things you can do to care for your teeth!
 Fluoride - Use a
fluoride rinse or
toothpaste with
fluoride. Fluoride
helps keep the outside
of teeth strong.
Mouthguards - Wear
a mouthguard while
playing sports.
Tooth Decay
If we do not care properly for our teeth, we may get
cavities. Cavities are holes in teeth caused by plaque.
Often, cavities are very painful.
To fix a cavity, your dentist will drill out the bad part
of the tooth and fill the hole with a filling. It may be white
or silver in color.
Summary
Since you only get one set of permanent teeth, you need to
be prepared to take good care of them.
That means you need to…




Brush at least twice a day
Floss at least once a day
Visit the dentist at least 2 times a year
Eat “tooth friendly” foods
If you follow the tips above, you’ll surely keep all four types
(incisors, canines, bicuspids, molars) of teeth and all their
parts healthy and bright!