Teeth have three main functions: making our smile attractive, helping us digest food by chewing, and allowing clear speech. Teeth come in different shapes suited to their jobs in chewing - incisors cut, canines tear, premolars crush and grind, and molars grind food. Without proper care, plaque and tartar can form and lead to cavities and gum disease as bacteria in the mouth produce acid. Cavities are treated by removing decay and filling in the hole. Maintaining good oral hygiene through brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups helps keep teeth healthy.

1. Teeth!

2. Why do we have teeth?
• They make our smile pretty (and smiles make
us feel good!)

4. Why do we have teeth?
• They help us digest our food

5. Why do we have teeth?
• They help us talk and enunciate our words clearly
Try it!
Say, “Tommy told Lindsey that tinkering in toy-making is his
favorite past-time.”
How many times did you touch your tongue to your teeth to say
that sentence?...
How about that one?

6. Who else has
teeth?

7. Why are teeth differently shaped?
• They have different jobs in our mouth,
particularly in chewing.
incisorsincisors There are eight incisors located in the
front of the mouth (four on the top and four on the
bottom). They have sharp, chisel-shaped crowns
that cut food.
cuspids. The four cuspids are next to each incisor.
Cuspids have a pointed edge to tear food.

8. Why are teeth shaped differently?
premolars. Also called bicuspids, the four pairs of
molars are located next to the cuspids. They crush
and tear food.
molars. There are twelve molars, in sets of three, at
the back of the mouth. They have wide surfaces
that help to grind food.

9. What are the parts of a tooth?

10. What Happens When You Don’t
Take Care of Your Teeth??

11. What Happens When You Don’t Take Care of Your Teeth?
Plaque
Tarter
Cavities
Bacteria that live in the mouth. They
live in colonies that look like sticky white
stuff at the base of teeth. They feed on
sugar in the mouth and produce acid,
which can cause cavities. The more
sugar you eat, the more food they have!
Plaque that hardens. Tarter irritates the
gums and causes gingivitis, a gum
disease where the gums shrink back from
the teeth and leave the root exposed.
Tooth decay. Caused when the plaque
create acid and that acid is allowed to sit
on the teeth and create holes in the
enamel of the teeth. These holes let the
bacteria go into your teeth– not where
they’re supposed to be!

12. Fixing a Cavity
1. The surface decay is removed
2. More decay is removed
3. Finally all the decay is
gone and the hole is ready to
be filled
4. Filled in
and all better!

13. Taking Care of Your Teeth
Brush– Twice A Day!
Floss– Every Day!
See your Dentist— Twice A
Year!