The document describes an experiment to test the hypothesis that an electric toothbrush cleans stains more effectively than a manual toothbrush. The experiment used dentures stained for one hour then brushed for two minutes with either an electric or manual toothbrush using the same toothpaste. A colorimeter measured the remaining stain. The results found that the manual toothbrush cleaned more stain than the electric toothbrush, rejecting the original hypothesis. The conclusion notes that using different amounts of toothpaste or stronger stains could impact the results if the experiment was repeated.

1. HYPOTHESIS My hypothesis was that an electric toothbrush would clean more effectively on stains, compared to a manual toothbrush. I based my hypothesis on the book Dental Health which stated, quot;
Electric toothbrushes are small enough to reach into inaccessible areas and clear away stains and plaque more effectively than hand brushes.quot;
EXPERIMENT DESIGN The constants in this study were: Amount and type of stain Amount of time stains are on dentures Kind of dentures Kind of toothpaste Amount of toothpaste Amount of pressure by brush Amount of time brushing occurred Temperature of water The manipulated variable was the kind of toothbrush used. The responding variable was the stain removed from dentures. To measure the responding variable I used a colorimeter to determine the whiteness of the cleaned dentures. MATERIALS QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION1 electric toothbrush1manual toothbrush2dentures1tube crest tooth paste1digital timer1triple beam balance1graduated cylinderPROCEDURES 1. Start with clean dentures. 2. Use a graduated cylinder to pour 50 ml each of coffee, grape juice, and tea into a large container. Mix stains thoroughly. 3. Stain dentures for one hour in the mixed stain in a container. 4. Put one gram of Crest cavity protection toothpaste on the toothbrush. 5. Place dentures on triple beam balance, set to 100 grams. 6. Apply pressure to brush until triple beam balance equalizes to 100 grams. 7. Brush for two minutes. 8. Repeat steps 4-7 with other toothbrush on the right side. 9. Measure the amount of whiteness with a colorimeter. A. Put one tooth on colorimeter B. Push quot;
samplequot;
on computer C. Test 3 times on one tooth D. Do the same with the next teeth RESULTS The original purpose of this experiment was to find out whether electric or manual toothbrushes worked better on the cleaning of dentures. The results of the experiment were that a manual toothbrush worked better. See the table and graph CONCLUSION My hypothesis was that an electric toothbrush would work better. The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because a manual toothbrush worked better. Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if I had used a different amount s of toothpaste would the results be different. If I were to conduct this project again I would do more trails and use a stronger amount of stains. Research Report Introduction Clean teeth are important for your health, appearance, and digestion. To have clean teeth you have to brush and floss every single day to prevent tooth decay and other damage that can happen to your mouth. Parts of a Tooth Enamel is a hard material that covers your teeth. Enamel is one of the hardest part of your teeth. Dentin is another important tooth material, which is inside the enamel in your teeth. Dentin is a yellow structure. The dentin is Nerves inside of the tooth. When you get a cavity it leaves the dentin open and this is where pain comes from. The pulp is in the center of the tooth. Pulp contains blood vessels and nerves. The pulp protects the nerves so they can send messages to your brain. Cemetum is the material that covers the root of the tooth and also attaches the teeth to the jaw. Cause of Cavities Bacteria constantly grow in your mouth on teeth, gums, lips, and tongue. Some bacteria can be harmful but most are not, some are even helpful. Certain bacteria stick to hard surfaces like enamel that covers your teeth. If this bacteria is not removed, build-up can occur and grow. As colonies form, more bacteria of different types attach to the colonies growing on the teeth enamel. They form a sticky invisible film, called plaque which creates acid that dissolves holes, causing cavities. Mineral salts in your saliva help add hardness to teeth, however they are prone to attack by acids. Acid causes mineral salts to break down. Plaque forms on teeth that don’t get washed. Acid is created when bacteria eat sugar. This acid produces plaque that can’t be easily washed away by saliva. Acid eats tooth enamel and then tiny holes appear which get bigger. This also causes a cavity. Brushing teeth alone is not enough to clean all the plaque from the surface of your teeth. In the space between your teeth and your gum line are two spots that a toothbrush can’t reach well and plaque can’t be removed easily, this is a reason why you should floss every day. Why Does it take so Long to for a Toothache to Occur? It’s important to see your dentist before a cavity forms so the plaque that can’t be removed by brushing or flossing can be remove by the dentist with special tools. The body sends pain messages through nerve fibers. While acid is attacking the enamel you can’t feel anything, but once acid has created a cavity it attacks dentin under the enamel, so nerve fibers in the dentin begin to send out a message that something is wrong. When that happens you feel tooth pain and you know for sure that you have a cavity. Clean Teeth Dentists advise people to brush their teeth after every meal and use dental floss every day to clean the area under the gum line. Bacteria digest certain foods, particularly sugars that form enamel acids. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria and acids. Dentists advise parents to teach and help children from ages two to three to brush their teeth so they can start learning the proper techniques. A parent should help their child brush their teeth until they are old enough to do it alone. Parents should schedule oral health appointments around their child’s first birthday. The dentist will check for cavities in primary teeth. You should allow a child to discuss any fears he or she might have about the dentist. People should go to the dentist at least once a year for a check up. Children should start going after their deciduous teeth have erupted. Dentists treat diseases at an early age. They also provide services to help people learn how to clean teeth better. In a check up dentists examine teeth, gums, and other tissues to look for diseases. Dentists may X-ray teeth. That helps them locate tooth decay that can’t be seen on the surface. It also shows abnormal formations with the jaw or any other tissue that support teeth. Summary Brushing your teeth is important. Just take a couple minutes out of the day and brush and floss. You will have a clean mouth and a nice smile. BIBLIOGRAPHY quot;
Causes of Cavities,quot;
Cavities 11-20-02 http://www.healthyteeth.org. quot;
Child Oral Health,quot;
Oral Health 12-3-02 http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/Children.html. quot;
Health Tips and Fun Facts,quot;
Save Your Smile 12-3-02 http://www.saveyoursmile.com. quot;
Seal out Decay,quot;
Sealants 12-3-02 http://www.qualitydentistry.com/dental/information/computer.html. Seigel, Dorothy. quot;
Dental Healthquot;
United States, Chelsea House Publishing, 1994. Pp. 70 and 78 Simon, Charnon. quot;
Dental Hygientistquot;
United States, Capstone Press, 1998. Pp.7, 8, 10, and 13 Wellek, Charles. quot;
Teeth,quot;
The World Book Encyclopedia .1998,Volume 19 <br />