Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Oral Health Program

Oral HealthOral HealthGrades 6-8

Did you knowDid you know

that your teeththat your teeth

are meant toare meant to

last throughoutlast throughout

your entire life?your entire life?

Let’s take a Let’s take a looklook

at some of at some of their their

functions…functions…

They sure are! They sure are!

How aboutHow aboutchewing?chewing?Can you imagineCan you imagine

trying to bite intotrying to bite into

an apple or youran apple or your

favorite pizzafavorite pizza

without your frontwithout your front

teeth?teeth?

Your front Your front teeth teeth (incisors) were (incisors) were designed to designed to “bite into” “bite into” things.things.

How about these?How about these?Can you imagineCan you imagine

trying to swallow atrying to swallow a

piece of meat piece of meat withoutwithout

chewing it up chewing it up first?first?

ouch

That’s what your back That’s what your back

teeth (molars) wereteeth (molars) were

designed to do ---designed to do ---

““grind food” for easygrind food” for easy

swallowing.swallowing.

What about the way you What about the way you talk?talk?

That’s because That’s because

our teeth help us our teeth help us toto

pronounce words,pronounce words,

by keeping ourby keeping our

tongue in place.tongue in place.

And the way you And the way you laugh?laugh?

Sometimes Sometimes things things

are funny, and are funny, and we we

just have tojust have to

laugh!laugh!

Our teeth are Our teeth are

veryvery

important for important for

not only smiling, not only smiling,

but also for how but also for how

we look and feel we look and feel

about ourselves.about ourselves.

And smile…And smile…

That’s why it’s important to That’s why it’s important to do our do our bestbest to take care of to take care of them!them!

Let’s talk Let’s talk about about some some things youthings youcan do…can do…

What about the foods you What about the foods you eat?eat?

Do they Do they include:include:

• GrainsGrains• Fruits/Fruits/

VegetablesVegetables• MeatMeat• DairyDairy

How about snacking?How about snacking?

Did you know thatDid you know that

sweet, “sticky”sweet, “sticky”

snacks are harmfulsnacks are harmful

to your teeth?to your teeth?

That’s right!That’s right!You see, You see, each day a thin film ofeach day a thin film ofplaque grows on yourplaque grows on yourteeth.teeth.

This plaque containsThis plaque contains““germs” (bacteria).germs” (bacteria).

Each time you drinkEach time you drinka soda, munch on a baga soda, munch on a bagof chips or eat a candyof chips or eat a candybar, the food (sugar) left bar, the food (sugar) left on your teeth becomes a on your teeth becomes a ““meal” for these germsmeal” for these germs(bacteria).(bacteria).

They (the bacteria)They (the bacteria)

produce a harmfulproduce a harmful

substance calledsubstance called

““acid,” whichacid,” which

destroysdestroys

your teethyour teeth..

Each “acid attack” lastsEach “acid attack” lasts

about 20 minutes.about 20 minutes.

After After repeatedrepeated “acid “acid

attacks,” your teethattacks,” your teeth

become weak, and a become weak, and a holehole

or “cavity” is formed.or “cavity” is formed.

Choose healthy snacks,Choose healthy snacks,

and have and have fewerfewer snacks snacks

or drinks that are sugaryor drinks that are sugary

or sticky. or sticky.

Rinse your mouth Rinse your mouth

afterward if you are not afterward if you are not

able to brush right able to brush right away.away.

To reduce these “acid To reduce these “acid attacks”…attacks”…

Not only that, but…Not only that, but…

These “germs” (bacteria) These “germs” (bacteria) create another problem…create another problem…

They cause your gums toThey cause your gums tobecome sore and bleed.become sore and bleed.

It’s called “gum disease”orIt’s called “gum disease”or““gingivitis.”gingivitis.”

Did you know thatDid you know that

certain activitiescertain activities

and habits can and habits can harmharm

your teeth?your teeth?

Huh? Like what?

Contact sports…Contact sports…

So be sure to wear aSo be sure to wear amouth guard and mouth guard and protective equipment. protective equipment. If a tooth gets knocked out, If a tooth gets knocked out, • do not touch the wound site, do not touch the wound site, • keep the tooth wet in some milk keep the tooth wet in some milk

or aor amoist cloth, moist cloth, • do do NOTNOT rinse the tooth under rinse the tooth under

running water, andrunning water, and• see a dentist within 30 minutes.see a dentist within 30 minutes.

Habits…Habits…

Don’tDon’t use your teeth to: use your teeth to:

• Cut things Cut things • Hold onto pens/pencilsHold onto pens/pencils• Bite nailsBite nails• Crack nutsCrack nuts• Crunch iceCrunch ice• Open bottles or hairpins Open bottles or hairpins

Tobacco…Tobacco…

AllAll tobacco products tobacco productsare harmful, includingare harmful, including““chew!” They cause:chew!” They cause:

• Stained teethStained teeth• Bad breathBad breath• Gum diseaseGum disease• AddictionAddiction• Mouth and throat cancerMouth and throat cancer

Oral Piercing…Oral Piercing…

This new fashion canThis new fashion cancause some serious and cause some serious and painful problems…painful problems…

• Chipped teethChipped teeth• InfectionInfection• Nerve damageNerve damage• Allergic reactionAllergic reaction• Risk for diseases like Risk for diseases like

hepatitis, tetanus and HIVhepatitis, tetanus and HIV

www.mcgrathdental.com

Now let’s take a Now let’s take a

look at how oftenlook at how often

you should brushyou should brush

and floss yourand floss your

teeth.teeth.Oh no, don’t tell me you

forget sometimes

…

Brush for Brush for two minutestwo minutes

twice each day with atwice each day with a

soft bristled toothbrush.soft bristled toothbrush.

(Be sure to use a toothpaste(Be sure to use a toothpaste

with fluoride in it!)with fluoride in it!)

Proper BrushingProper BrushingTilt the brush at a 45° Tilt the brush at a 45° angle against the gumline. angle against the gumline.

Brushing only 2-3 teeth at Brushing only 2-3 teeth at

a time, gently brush the a time, gently brush the

outsideoutside, , insideinside and and

chewingchewing surfaces surfaces of all of all

your teeth.your teeth.

Use short back-and-forth Use short back-and-forth or circular strokes.or circular strokes.Don’t forget to brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath!Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

Floss your teeth Floss your teeth once each day once each day to remove to remove plaque from in plaque from in between your between your teeth.teeth.

Proper FlossingProper Flossing

Now, gently follow the curves of your teeth, sliding the floss up and down the tooth’s surface a few times. Be sure to go below the gumline.

Using your middle fingers, wrap about 18” of floss around them (but not too tightly).

Leave about an inch or two of floss between your hands.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

And to be sure your teeth and And to be sure your teeth and gums are healthy… gums are healthy…

See a dentist twice aSee a dentist twice a

year for a dental year for a dental examexam

and professionaland professional

cleaning.cleaning.

(X-rays will also be taken to look(X-rays will also be taken to look

for cavities and other problems.)for cavities and other problems.)

Now that you know these Now that you know these facts…facts…

Take good care ofTake good care of

your teeth and gumsyour teeth and gums

to prevent tooth decay to prevent tooth decay

and gum disease.and gum disease.

And remember… And remember…

they were meant tothey were meant to

last throughoutlast throughout

your life...your life...

Keep Brushing Keep Brushing and Flossing!and Flossing!

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.