Oral HealthOral HealthMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Division of Community and Public Health

Oral Health Program

Fourth GradeFourth Grade

What is oral health?What is oral health?

It’s keeping your teeth, It’s keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy!gums and mouth healthy!

Why do you supposeWhy do you suppose this is important? this is important?

Well, let’s take a look at Well, let’s take a look at how we use andhow we use and need our teeth. need our teeth.

AppearanceAppearance Teeth are very important to

your appearance.

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

ChewingChewing 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.

Talking (speech)Talking (speech)Teeth are important for speaking

Teeth work with the lips, cheeks and tongue, allowing us to pronounce words.

At your age, you should have both baby teeth as well as a few permanent teeth. This is called a“mixed 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.

Why?Why?

Well, Each Baby Tooth Holds aWell, Each Baby Tooth Holds aPlace for a Permanent Tooth.Place 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.

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

Late loss of baby teeth can also cause problems...Late loss of baby teeth can also cause problems...

Sometimes permanent teethcome in before baby teethcome 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 notbecome loose on their own, thedentist may have to remove them.The permanent teeth are white,

the baby teeth are gray.

Moss, Growing Up Cavity Free: A Parent's Guide To Prevention, Quintessence Publishing Co., 1993

Now that you understand how Now that you understand how important your teeth are, let’s take a important your teeth are, let’s take a look at how a cavity is formed!look at how a cavity is formed!

Each day a thin film of Each day a thin film of plaque grows on our teethplaque 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

How can you avoidHow can you avoid getting cavities? getting cavities?

• 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

XXX

Now that you understand how a cavity is Now that you understand how a cavity is formed, let’s take a look at howformed, let’s take a look at howplaque affects your gums too!plaque 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.

To prevent cavities and gum To prevent cavities and gum disease you need to brush and disease you need to brush and floss your teeth regularly…floss your teeth regularly…

When should youWhen should youbrush your teeth?brush your teeth?

• After eating

• At bedtime

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

How long should you brushHow long should you brush??

For about two minutes and at least twice each day.

How do you floss your teeth?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

How often should you floss?How often should you floss?

Once each day to remove plaque from in between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.

To keep your To keep your teeth functioning teeth functioning properly, you properly, you must see your must see your dentist regularly.dentist regularly.

When you visit the dentist, When you visit the dentist, several things will several things will

probably be done…probably be done…

# 1# 1

A visual exam.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.

# 2# 2X-rays will be taken of all your teeth.X-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.

#3#3A Professional CleaningA 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.

#4#4

Fluoride TreatmentFluoride 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.

To prevent cavities from forming on the To prevent cavities from forming on the chewing surfaces of your permanent chewing surfaces of your permanent molars, the dentist might recommend molars, the dentist might recommend dental sealants.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

So now that So now that youyou know how to know how to prevent tooth prevent tooth

decay and gum decay and gum disease….it’s up to disease….it’s up to youyou to keep your to keep your teeth and gums teeth and gums

healthy!healthy!

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

Photos: Microsoft product box shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.Photos: Microsoft product box shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.

All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clipart unless otherwise noted.All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clipart unless otherwise noted.