Ch. 7, Lesson 2 Personal Health:

Dental Health

Group #5: Imelda Charles, Nikia James, Maria Thompson, & Gabriella Wrves-

Cartaya

Demographics

•Elementary School•5th Graders

–Males & Females–Ages 10-11 years

•46 students

Anatomy of a Tooth

•Crown•Gum line•Root•Enamel•Dentin•Pulp

Crown•Crown— the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.

Gum line

• Gum line— where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gum line, leading to gingivitis and gum disease

Root

•Root— the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.

Enamel•Enamel— the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body — yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.

Dentin•Dentin— the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin — where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.

Pulp

•Pulp— the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

Types of Teeth

• Incisors— the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.

• Canines— sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.

Types of Teeth Cont.

• Premolars— these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.

• Molars— used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface

Types of Teeth

•A: Incisors•B: Canines•C: Premolars•D: Molars

Activity• Our Teeth

– Match the name with the correct teeth.

• Create your own Mouth

• Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means:– Your teeth are clean and free of

debris – Gums are pink and do not hurt or

bleed when you brush or floss – Bad breath is not a constant

problem

American Dental Association

• Recommends…– Brushing your teeth twice a day

with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste

– Clean between teeth daily with floss.

– Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks

– Visit your dentist regularly

What is Plaque?• Your teeth are covered with a

sticky film of bacteria called plaque. – Some types of plaque cause

tooth decay (cavities)– Other types of plaque cause gum

disease.

• Dental plaque is difficult to see unless it’s stained.

Plaque Continued….

•Sugary foods are not only to blame.•Starches, such as bread & cereal, also cause acids to form.•If you snack often, your teeth may be prone to decay.

• Plaque also produces substances that irritate the gums, making them red, tender or bleed easily.

• In fact, periodontal (gum) disease is a main cause of tooth loss in adults.

Plaque Cont.

Dental Disease Facts

• Although dental caries is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years – five times more common than asthma.

• 6 out of 10 children in the US have one or more decayed or filled primary teeth by age five.

What is a Cavity?•A cavity develops when a tooth decays or breaks down. •A cavity is a hole that can grow bigger and deeper over time. •Cavities are also called dental caries, and if you have a cavity, it's important to get it repaired.

Cavities Continued….

• Left untreated, the plaque produces acids that eat holes through the enamel into the underlying dentin and pulp layers of the tooth.

• This does cause pain and left untreated the cavity will eventually destroy dentin, pulp and tooth nerve.

Gum Disease•Is also known as Periodontal Disease.•It includes gingivitis & periodontitis.• Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. •It begins when the bacteria in plaque causes the gums to become inflamed.

Gingivitis

• In the mildest form of the disease, gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily.

• There is usually little or no discomfort.

• It is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene.

• It is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Periodontitis

• Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line.

• Gums separate from the teeth, forming spaces between the teeth and gums that become infected.

Periodontitis Continued...

• As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed.

• Often, periodontitis has very mild symptoms.

• Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Causes of Gum Disease

•The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque.•However other factors affect the health of the gums such as:

–Genetics–Stress–Poor Nutrition–Clenching/Grinding your teeth

Importance of Brushing & Flossing

•The purpose of both brushing and flossing is to reduce the number of bacteria which inhabit our mouths.

Brushing Your Teeth

Flossing Your Teeth

Choosing the Right Products

• Toothbrush– Small-headed, soft-bristled– The best toothbrush is one that

fits your mouth and allows you to reach all teeth easily.•You can also use a powered

toothbrush– Should be changed every 3

months

•Toothpaste–When buying toothpaste look for one that contains fluoride and tastes good. Some toothpastes also are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA).

•Mouthwash & Fluoride –Mouthwash freshens breath, but does nothing to clean teeth.–Fluoride mouth rinse coats teeth with fluoride, which helps prevent cavities–It is typically used once or twice a day if you are cavity prone.

• Floss– There are 2 types of floss: Nylon

& PTFE (monofilament) floss – Single filament (PTFE) floss slides

easily between teeth, even those with tight spaces between teeth.

– When used properly, both types of floss are excellent at removing plaque and debris.

Choosing the Right Foods

Dentist Visits• Most visits are checkups which

should be done every 6 months.• Checkups include a complete

cleaning• Using special instruments, a

dentist will scrape below the gumline, removing built-up plaque & tartar that can cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath & other problems.

Dental Visits Continued…•Your dentist will perform a thorough examination of your mouth.•His/her goal is to help maintain your good oral health and to prevent problems from becoming serious, by identifying and treating them as soon as possible.

50556065707580859095

100

1997 2002 2003

Total of ChildrenAges 2-17 who havevisited the dentist

ADA.org: To Tell the Tooth