1

Name:_________________________________ Class: 3-______

The Dental System

FUNCTIONs (Jobs) OF THE teeth:

Teeth chew food into smaller pieces so it makes it easier for you to

swallow. Teeth also help you to talk!

How teeth grow:

Your teeth weren’t ready to work from the day you were born. Although

babies have the beginnings of their first teeth even before they are born, teeth

develop at different rates, but usually don’t become visible until babies are 4-12

months old. Most kids have their first set of teeth by the time they are 3 years

old. These are primary (or baby) teeth (about 20 in all).

At 5 or 6 years of age, these primary teeth start falling out. A primary

(baby) tooth falls out because it is being pushed out by the permanent tooth that

is growing behind it. How many primary teeth have you lost? By about the age of

12 or 13, most children have lost all baby teeth and have a full set of

approximately 28 permanent teeth.

Between the ages of 17 and 25 years of age, four more teeth called

“wisdom” teeth usually grow in at the back of the mouth. They complete the

adult set of 32 teeth.

2

Tooth Types – Upper and Lower sets

Can you feel the different types of teeth in your mouth? Why do suppose

you have different types of teeth?

Your four front teeth are incisors. You have four incisors on the top of your mouth and four on the bottom. These teeth are flat on the top to be used for cutting and chopping food. Use your incisors to bite into an apple or piece of cheese. Can you see their imprints?

The pointy teeth behind your incisors are called your cuspids

(also known as your canines). When you think “cuspid,” think

“pointy.” These are sharp pointy teeth used to help tear food,

like meat. What other animal (or fish) might have many canines?

Behind your cuspids are your bicuspids (also known as

your pre-molars). When thinking of your bicuspids, think about

two points! These are also known as your premolars. These are

big, strong teeth that have ridges which make them perfect for

crushing and grinding food.

Your back teeth (you have to open really wide to see them)

are your molars. You have six on the top and six on the bottom

for a total of 12 molars. Your back molars are called your wisdom

teeth. Sometimes they are called your 6-year molars or your

12-year molars because that is around the time when they come in.

Molars mash soft food (like grains and fiber).

3

Name:_________________________________________ Class 3-_______

PARTS OF THE TOOTh

Outer Parts of the Tooth

There are three outer parts of the tooth. Smile! Look around at the

teeth of people around you. The part of each tooth you can see is called the

crown. The crown is the part of the tooth above the gum. The gum is the pink

fleshy part inside your mouth that the teeth are “anchored” into. The neck is

the part of the tooth at the line where the tooth and the gum meet. The root of

the tooth is the part of the tooth below the gum line that you can’t see and that

anchors the tooth in place.

Inner Parts of the Tooth

The crown of each tooth is covered with a hard, white, shiny covering

called enamel. Enamel is a hard protective covering that protects the inside of

the tooth. Below the enamel is the dentin, the largest part of the tooth. The

dentin is not as hard as the enamel, but it is still very tough. Inside the dentin

is the root of the tooth. Inside the root of the tooth is pulp. Pulp contains

blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. The pulp also has nerves that send

messages to the brain. This part of the tooth is very sensitive. If this part of the

tooth gets too hot, too cold, or gets infected, it sends a message to the brain

that says, “Ouch!”

The pulp is held in the hollow part of the tooth called the root canal.

The root of the tooth travels from the tooth into the gum. The nerves and

blood vessels travel out of the tooth and into your body.

The part of the tooth that “cements” the tooth into place is the

cementum. This is the part of the tooth that is the outside of the tooth below

the neck.

Why are all these parts important to know?

4

5

6

7

Name:____________________________________________________ Class: 3-___________

Taking care of my teeth

Tooth decay is the breaking down of a tooth. Tooth decay can be caused

by the buildup of plaque on a tooth. Plaque is a sticky substance made up

mostly of bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugars from the foods you

eat to acids, and it's the acids that begin to attack the enamel on teeth, starting

the decay process. Once decay goes past the enamel, it can expand into the

dentin. This may make your tooth more sensitive. Ouch!

How can you prevent tooth decay?

What do you do to take care of your teeth? You can prevent tooth decay

with a few simple steps:

1. Brush your teeth. Use a soft-bristled tooth brush. Use a dab of

toothpaste (with fluoride) and brush all surfaces of your teeth in a

circular and a back and forth motion. Make sure you brush the back

teeth! You should brush for at least 2 minutes each time you brush.

Brush at least 2 times a day, especially before bed. It's also a good idea

to brush after eating soft, gooey, sugary foods that get stuck to your

teeth.

2. Floss every night to get out all the bits of food stuck between your teeth

and remove plaque. You can use a dental floss pick or dental floss. If

using dental floss, hold floss between fingers, and wrap ends around

your middle fingers, using thumbs and index fingers to guide the dental

floss. Move floss up and down on all surfaces between the teeth. Don't

forget the back of those molars!

3. Eat foods that are good for your teeth. Don’t eat foods or drink sodas

that contain a lot of sugar. Cavity-making bacteria grow best in sugar.

For strong teeth, eat foods that are high in calcium such as cheeses, nuts,

milk, yogurt, soy products and dark leafy greens and vegetables.

Firm/crunchy fruits and vegetables help gums stay strong. They also

have a high water content, which dilutes the effects of the sugars.

8

4. There are other ways to take care of your teeth. Visit your dentist

twice a year. He will check for cavities and make sure your teeth are

coming in properly. If your water supply doesn’t have fluoride, the

dentist may apply it directly to your teeth. He/she may also want you to

take fluoride vitamins. Make sure you wear protective equipment such

as mouth guards when doing certain contact sports.

Thanks to good oral hygiene practices, children like you are fighting tooth

decay and winning! Below, identify the ways you can take care of your teeth.

_____________ _____________ ____________ _____________ ______________

Below, draw a picture of three different foods that are good for your

teeth.

Tooth professionals:

When visiting your dentist twice a year, you will be helped by the

following tooth professionals:

The dental hygienist (high-jen-ist) cleans your teeth, takes x-rays, and

teaches you how to care for your teeth.

The dentist checks your teeth after the dental hygienist. The dentist will treat

cavities, dental diseases, or repair teeth.

Sometimes teeth do not grow straight or in at the proper angle. The

orthodontist is a person who specializes in correcting the position of the

teeth or jaw. Children who go to the orthodontist usually need to wear braces

or a retainer or headgear until the problem is corrected. Sometimes teeth

need to be pulled to make room for other teeth.

9