BELLAMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Dental Health

• BELLAMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Why are our teeth important?

• Teeth are used for different things
• They are necessary to chew food properly and help
  with digestion
• They help you form certain sounds when you talk
• They also help you to have a pleasant appearance
  and smile

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Types of Teeth

• Adults have 4 different types of teeth
• Incisors 8 incisors located in the front of the
  mouth(4 on top and 4 on bottom) have sharp,
  chisel shaped crowns to cut food
• Cuspids there is 2 cuspids located on top and 2
  on bottom next to the incisors have a pointed
  edge to tear food
• Premolars 4 pairs of molars are located next to
  the cuspids crush and tear food
• Molars 12 molars, in sets of three at the back
  of the mouth help to grind food
• Adults have 32 teeth. Children have fewer because
  they loose baby teeth as adult teeth grow.

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Tooth Truth

• Each tooth has different parts
• The crown is what you see when you smile or open
  your mouth

-durable, white covering protects tooth from
wear and tear
-supports the enamel, yellow-bone like material
that is softer than enamel
-centre of tooth, soft tissue that contains blood
and lymph vessels, and nerves, send messages to
brain
Dental Fact Enamel on your teeth is the hardest
substance in your body!
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What causes a cavity?

• Your mouth is a busy place
• Bacteria (tiny colonies of living organisms) are
  constantly on the move on your teeth, gums, lips,
  and tongue.
• Bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing
• Certain bacteria attach to the enamel on your
  tooth and mix with your saliva (spit) and form a
  whitish film on the tooth known as plaque.
• Plaque causes cavities
• Plaque uses sugar as energy to grow in size

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How does plaque cause a cavity?

• The plaque that forms around your teeth and
  doesnt get washed away by saliva or brushing
  produces acid as it eats up sugar
• The acid dissolves the minerals that make your
  enamel hard and the surface becomes porous (tiny
  holes appear)
• Over time the acid causes the tiny holes to get
  bigger until one large hole appears and this is a
  cavity.

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Brush Basics

• Why do we brush our teeth?
• Brushing is one of the most effective ways of
  removing plaque from teeth so you do not get
  cavities.
• It is important to change your tooth brush every
  2-3 months and after you have been sick.

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The Best Way to Brush Your Teeth Is. . .

• Brush ALL of your teeth (front, back and sides)
• Take your time and brush for 2-3 minutes (NOT
  just 30 seconds)
• Brush 2-3 times a day and after meals if you can
• Use toothpaste not just water
• Brush tongue also to help prevent bad breath
• Floss regularly

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Flossing

• Brushing alone isnt enough to remove all the
  plaque from your teeth
• In between your teeth and at the bottom of your
  teeth are places your tooth brush cant clean
  properly and plaque builds up
• Flossing daily along with proper brushing helps
  to remove plaque and prevent bad breath and gum
  disease
• FACT Failing to floss means 35 of your
  teeth are
  unclean!

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5 Steps To A Healthy Smile

• Dont Wait Until It Is Too Late visit your
  dentist regularly ( twice a year)
• Floss Is The Boss- floss at least once a day
• Eat And Drink, But Be Sure To Think- eat a well
  balanced diet (including milk for the calcium)
  and avoid excessive snacking- especially candy
  and sweets.
• Be Good To Your Gums- Puffy, red or tender gums,
  gums that bleed or persistent bad breath are
  signs you need to see your dentist
• It Takes a While To Brush Your Smile- Brush teeth
  carefully at least twice a day for 2-3 minutes