HEALTHY CHOICES: Care of Your Teeth

HEALTHY CHOICES: Care of Your Teeth Ms. Mai Lawndale High School

Teeth • Unlike many other tissues in your body, your teeth cannot repairs itself when damages or diseased • Strong, healthy teeth are important to your health as well as to your appearance

The Purpose of Teeth • Your teeth prepare food for digestion by cutting and grinding it into pieces small enough for you to swallow • There are four types of teeth in your mouth, each with a different function • Incisors • Canines • Premolars • Molars

The 4 Types of Teeth 1. Incisors - sharp front teeth that bite and cut food (the shape is similar to a chisel) 2. Canines - pointed teeth that tear food into smaller pieces (aka eyeteeth) 3. Premolars - flat teeth with double points that tear and crush food 4. Molars - large, flat teeth with several rounded points that grind food into bits

The 4 Types of Teeth

Parts of a Tooth • Each tooth has two main parts: the crown and the root • Crown – the part covered by enamel that you can see above the gum line • Root – the part below the gum line that fits into the jawbone

Tooth Decay • The most common dental problems are tooth decay and gum disease • Tooth decay begins with plaque (food particles, saliva, bacteria) on a tooth • Bacteria then breaks down sugar in the food particles producing an acid that eats into the tooth’s enamel, which eventually becomes a cavity (hole in the tooth’s enamel)

Gum Disease • Gum Disease is caused by plaque or calculus (hardened plaque) • Gums usually become inflamed, swollen, and may bleed easily during brushing • In the later stages, gums will pull back from the teeth and form pockets of pus • Eventually, the disease will destroy bone tissue in the jaw and your teeth will fall out

Leukoplakia • White patches that form on the gums, tongue, lips, or inner cheeks • Leukoplakia may lead to cancer if not treated

Oral Cancer • Sores or lumps in the mouth may be oral cancer • The best way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid tobacco and drinking alcohol

Orthodontic Problems • Orthodontics specializes in correcting irregular teeth (too crowded, turned in, abnormal position) • A person with irregular teeth cannot bite, chew, and grind food correctly, and their teeth are difficult to clean thoroughly resulting in possible braces for correction • Wisdom teeth also do not always grow in correctly so surgical removal is sometime necessary

TMJ Problems • Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems happen when your lower jaw connects with the rest of your skull • TMJ problems cause clicking or grinding noises in the joint, headaches, limited joint movement, and soreness or pain when chewing • Learning how to relax your jaw can help ease the symptoms

Caring for your Teeth • Good dental care begins with a healthy diet that contains enough calcium • Calcium is needed to build strong teeth, particularly the outer layer of enamel • Keeping your teeth clean helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease

General Care for your Teeth • Cleaning your teeth removes food particles and bacteria that form plaque • Thorough cleaning involves both brushing to clean the exposed surfaces, and flossing to clean between the teeth and under the gum line • You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss once a day • Try brushing after every meal and snack, or at least rinse your mouth with water

General Care for your Teeth • Fluoride (a tasteless chemical that occurs naturally in soil and water) helps prevent tooth decay • When applied to teeth, fluoride make the tooth enamel harder and more resistant to decay • A newer method of decay prevention involves applying a plastic sealant to the chewing surface of teeth

Dental Checkups • Dental checkups are vital for preventing tooth and gum disease • You should have regular checkups once or twice a year, depending upon your dentist • A checkup usually includes a thorough cleaning to remove calculus • Dentists also check for early signs of gum disease and may x-ray the teeth to find problems

HEALTHY CHOICES: Care of Your Teeth