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 OutcomesLearning OutcomesYou 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 TruthDid you know each

tooth actually has different parts?

Let’s take a closer look at a tooth and the surrounding area.

CrownThe 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.

DentinThe dentin is the yellow substance that surrounds the pulp. It is harder than bone and makes up most of the tooth.

EnamelEnamel 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.

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.

Tips for Proper BrushingTips for Proper Brushing

FlossingFlossing

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 DentistVisiting 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 check-ups.

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 HealthyEating 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 Foods That Are NOTNOT

““Tooth Friendly”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 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 DecayTooth DecayIf 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.

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!

SummarySummary