Oral Health

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Fourth Grade
Oral Health
Missouri Department of Health and Senior
Services Division of Community and Public
Health Oral Health Program
Georgia CTAE Resource Network Instructional
Resources Office July 2009
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What is oral health?
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Its keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy!

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Why do you suppose this is important?
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Well, lets take a look at how we use and need
our teeth.
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Appearance

• Teeth are very important to your appearance.

They not only make a nice smile, but they also
shape your face.
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Chewing

• Teeth are important to chew food properly.

• The chewing of food with your teeth is the first
  step in the digestion of food.
• If food cannot be chewed properly, it can cause
  problems with digestion.

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Talking (speech)

• Teeth are important for speaking

Teeth work with the lips, cheeks and tongue,
allowing us to pronounce words.
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At your age, you should have both baby teeth as
well as a few permanent teeth. This is called
amixed dentition.
Although you will eventually replace all of your
baby teeth with permanent teeth, it is important
that you continue to take care of these baby
teeth.

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Why?
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Well, Each Baby Tooth Holds aPlace for a
Permanent Tooth.

• Your baby teeth are important for place-holders
  for your permanent teeth.
• As your permanent teeth come in, they will take
  up the space left by the loss of your baby teeth.

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Did you know that early loss of your baby teeth
could cause problems?

• Often baby teeth are lost early as a result of
  tooth decay or accidents.This early loss creates
  a space.
• This space needs to be saved in order for the
  permanent tooth to come in straight.The dentist
  can save the space by putting in a space
  maintainer (spacer).
• When the permanent tooth is ready to come in,
  the space maintainer is removed.

Mestman, Herman, What To Do For Healthy Teeth
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Late loss of baby teeth can also cause problems...

• Sometimes permanent teeth
• come in before baby teeth
• come out.This can cause teeth to
• become crowded and overlap each other.
• Crowded and overlapping teeth can cause gum
  disease and tooth decay because these crowded
  areas of the mouth are hard to clean.If these
  baby teeth do not
• become loose on their own, the
• dentist may have to remove them.

Moss, Growing Up Cavity Free A Parent's Guide To
Prevention, Quintessence Publishing Co., 1993
The permanent teeth are white,the baby teeth are
gray.
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Now that you understand how important your teeth
are, lets take a look at how a cavity is formed!
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Each day a thin film of plaque grows on our teeth

• This plaque contains germs (bacteria).
• Sugar from foods and drinks are turned into acid
  by these germs.
• This acid attacks our teeth and softens the hard
  surface until a hole is formed.

Mestman, Herman, What To Do For Healthy Teeth
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How can you avoid getting cavities?
X

• Avoid sugary, sticky foods or snacks, and choose
  nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and
  cheese
• Avoid drinking soda or other sugary drinks, and
  drink more milk water
• Avoid snacking all day long, and limit the amount
  of snacks you have throughout the day

X
X
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Now that you understand how a cavity is formed,
lets take a look at howplaque affects your gums
too!

• When plaque is left on your teeth for a while,
  harmful germs (bacteria) begin to increase and
  irritate your gum tissues. This causes bleeding
  and your gums may become sore.
• This is called gum disease.

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To prevent cavities and gum disease you need to
brush and floss your teeth regularly
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When should youbrush your teeth?

• After eating
• At bedtime

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Oral Health Program
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How long should you brush?

• For about two minutes and at least twice each
  day.

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How do you floss your teeth?

• Use 18 of floss
• Leave an inch or two to work with
• Slide the floss in between each tooth, and move
  it up down against the tooth.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Oral Health Program
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How often should you floss?

• Once each day to remove plaque from in between
  your teeth where your toothbrush cant reach.

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To keep your teeth functioning properly, you must
see your dentist regularly.
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When you visit the dentist, several things will
probably be done
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• 1 A visual exam.A dentist will look at your
  teeth, gums and the way your teeth come together
  when you bite.The dentist is looking for tooth
  decay, gum disease, mouth sores whether or not
  you might need braces.

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2X-rays will be taken of all your teeth.
These x-rays will show not only tooth decay, but
the roots of the teeth and the bone around
them. They will also show any teeth that have
not come in yet, and any extra teeth as well.
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• 3
• A Professional Cleaning

• A dental hygienist will remove any plaque or hard
  deposits called calculus from your teeth using
  special instruments.
• Your teeth will then be polished with a special
  kind of toothpaste. This will make your teeth
  feel smooth and clean.

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• 4
• Fluoride Treatment
• A flavored gel or foam will
• be placed in a soft tray and
• You will be asked to bite into
• That tray for a few minutes.

or The fluoride may be painted on your teeth
with a small brush. This is called fluoride
varnish.
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• To prevent cavities from forming on the
  chewing surfaces of your permanent molars, the
  dentist might recommend dental sealants.

• Sealants are a thin coating of a plastic-like
  substance that are painted on the teeth.

• When it hardens, this plastic coating prevents
  food and germs from getting down into the grooves
  on the chewing surfaces of your molars and
  prevents tooth decay!

Photo courtesy of the Virginia Dept. of Health,
Division of Dental Health
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• So now that you know how to prevent tooth decay
  and gum disease.its up to you to keep your
  teeth and gums healthy!

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• Thank you for listening!
• Photos Microsoft product box shots reprinted
  with permission from Microsoft Corporation.
• All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clip
  art unless otherwise noted.