Healthy Teeth and Gums

Introduction

As we study the human mouth and learn about our teeth, it is important to learn about proper hygiene habits in order to keep our teeth and gums healthy. During this activity, you will be exploring an article called “Taking Care of Your Teeth” and demonstrating understanding of terminology and concepts regarding tooth decay and prevention.

Information

You wouldn’t want your mouth to look like this one, would you?

Read the following article on tooth decay and prevention:

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/teeth.html

Activity

· Write a short paragraph in your health journal describing an experience you have had while visiting the dentist. Describe sights, sounds, smells, feelings. Be prepared to share your experience with the class.

· After reading the article above, copy the following terms and their definitions into your notebook – plaque, tartar, occlusion, sulcus, dental caries, and gingivitis.

· Make a list of the foods and drinks that you most like to eat and drink. Now make a list of the foods listed in the article that are harmful to your teeth. Compare these two lists. How many of the foods that you like to eat are really healthy for your teeth?

· Write a short paragraph in your health journal describing some of the tooth decay prevention techniques described in the article. How does this compare to your current hygiene habits? Do you need to change any of your hygiene habits to increase prevention of tooth decay?