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Name:_________________________________ Class: 3-______
The Dental System
FUNCTIONs (Jobs) OF THE teeth:
Teeth chew food into smaller pieces so it makes it easier for you to
swallow. Teeth also help you to talk!
How teeth grow:
Your teeth weren’t ready to work from the day you were born. Although
babies have the beginnings of their first teeth even before they are born, teeth
develop at different rates, but usually don’t become visible until babies are 4-12
months old. Most kids have their first set of teeth by the time they are 3 years
old. These are primary (or baby) teeth (about 20 in all).
At 5 or 6 years of age, these primary teeth start falling out. A primary
(baby) tooth falls out because it is being pushed out by the permanent tooth that
is growing behind it. How many primary teeth have you lost? By about the age of
12 or 13, most children have lost all baby teeth and have a full set of
approximately 28 permanent teeth.
Between the ages of 17 and 25 years of age, four more teeth called
“wisdom” teeth usually grow in at the back of the mouth. They complete the
adult set of 32 teeth.
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Tooth Types – Upper and Lower sets
Can you feel the different types of teeth in your mouth? Why do suppose
you have different types of teeth?
Your four front teeth are incisors. You have four incisors on the top of your mouth and four on the bottom. These teeth are flat on the top to be used for cutting and chopping food. Use your incisors to bite into an apple or piece of cheese. Can you see their imprints?
The pointy teeth behind your incisors are called your cuspids
(also known as your canines). When you think “cuspid,” think
“pointy.” These are sharp pointy teeth used to help tear food,
like meat. What other animal (or fish) might have many canines?
Behind your cuspids are your bicuspids (also known as
your pre-molars). When thinking of your bicuspids, think about
two points! These are also known as your premolars. These are
big, strong teeth that have ridges which make them perfect for
crushing and grinding food.
Your back teeth (you have to open really wide to see them)
are your molars. You have six on the top and six on the bottom
for a total of 12 molars. Your back molars are called your wisdom
teeth. Sometimes they are called your 6-year molars or your
12-year molars because that is around the time when they come in.
Molars mash soft food (like grains and fiber).
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Name:_________________________________________ Class 3-_______
PARTS OF THE TOOTh
Outer Parts of the Tooth
There are three outer parts of the tooth. Smile! Look around at the
teeth of people around you. The part of each tooth you can see is called the
crown. The crown is the part of the tooth above the gum. The gum is the pink
fleshy part inside your mouth that the teeth are “anchored” into. The neck is
the part of the tooth at the line where the tooth and the gum meet. The root of
the tooth is the part of the tooth below the gum line that you can’t see and that
anchors the tooth in place.
Inner Parts of the Tooth
The crown of each tooth is covered with a hard, white, shiny covering
called enamel. Enamel is a hard protective covering that protects the inside of
the tooth. Below the enamel is the dentin, the largest part of the tooth. The
dentin is not as hard as the enamel, but it is still very tough. Inside the dentin
is the root of the tooth. Inside the root of the tooth is pulp. Pulp contains
blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. The pulp also has nerves that send
messages to the brain. This part of the tooth is very sensitive. If this part of the
tooth gets too hot, too cold, or gets infected, it sends a message to the brain
that says, “Ouch!”
The pulp is held in the hollow part of the tooth called the root canal.
The root of the tooth travels from the tooth into the gum. The nerves and
blood vessels travel out of the tooth and into your body.
The part of the tooth that “cements” the tooth into place is the
cementum. This is the part of the tooth that is the outside of the tooth below
the neck.
Why are all these parts important to know?
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Name:____________________________________________________ Class: 3-___________
Taking care of my teeth
Tooth decay is the breaking down of a tooth. Tooth decay can be caused
by the buildup of plaque on a tooth. Plaque is a sticky substance made up
mostly of bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugars from the foods you
eat to acids, and it's the acids that begin to attack the enamel on teeth, starting
the decay process. Once decay goes past the enamel, it can expand into the
dentin. This may make your tooth more sensitive. Ouch!
How can you prevent tooth decay?
What do you do to take care of your teeth? You can prevent tooth decay
with a few simple steps:
1. Brush your teeth. Use a soft-bristled tooth brush. Use a dab of
toothpaste (with fluoride) and brush all surfaces of your teeth in a
circular and a back and forth motion. Make sure you brush the back
teeth! You should brush for at least 2 minutes each time you brush.
Brush at least 2 times a day, especially before bed. It's also a good idea
to brush after eating soft, gooey, sugary foods that get stuck to your
teeth.
2. Floss every night to get out all the bits of food stuck between your teeth
and remove plaque. You can use a dental floss pick or dental floss. If
using dental floss, hold floss between fingers, and wrap ends around
your middle fingers, using thumbs and index fingers to guide the dental
floss. Move floss up and down on all surfaces between the teeth. Don't
forget the back of those molars!
3. Eat foods that are good for your teeth. Don’t eat foods or drink sodas
that contain a lot of sugar. Cavity-making bacteria grow best in sugar.
For strong teeth, eat foods that are high in calcium such as cheeses, nuts,
milk, yogurt, soy products and dark leafy greens and vegetables.
Firm/crunchy fruits and vegetables help gums stay strong. They also
have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars.
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4. There are other ways to take care of your teeth. Visit your dentist
twice a year. He will check for cavities and make sure your teeth are
coming in properly. If your water supply doesn’t have fluoride, the
dentist may apply it directly to your teeth. He/she may also want you to
take fluoride vitamins. Make sure you wear protective equipment such
as mouth guards when doing certain contact sports.
Thanks to good oral hygiene practices, children like you are fighting tooth
decay and winning! Below, identify the ways you can take care of your teeth.
_____________ _____________ ____________ _____________ ______________
Below, draw a picture of three different foods that are good for your
teeth.
Tooth professionals:
When visiting your dentist twice a year, you will be helped by the
following tooth professionals:
The dental hygienist (high-jen-ist) cleans your teeth, takes x-rays, and
teaches you how to care for your teeth.
The dentist checks your teeth after the dental hygienist. The dentist will treat
cavities, dental diseases, or repair teeth.
Sometimes teeth do not grow straight or in at the proper angle. The
orthodontist is a person who specializes in correcting the position of the
teeth or jaw. Children who go to the orthodontist usually need to wear braces
or a retainer or headgear until the problem is corrected. Sometimes teeth
need to be pulled to make room for other teeth.
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