DENTAL HEALTH AND

NUTRITION

By: Breanna, Pamela, and Asia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ifXiGOawEg&feature=related

NEED TO KNOW.... Students need to know the proper way

to brush their teeth and how to floss.

NEED TO KNOW CONT’ Functions of Teeth: Incisors - Located in the center front of the mouth. They have

sharp, chisel-shaped crowns that cut food. Canines - Located at the corners of the mouth. They have pointed

crowns and are used to tear food. Bicuspids -Located just behind the canines. They have 2 cusps

and are used to crush and tear food. Molars - Located in the back of the mouth. They have several

cusps and are used to chew and grind food.

NEED TO KNOW CONT’-Children need to also be aware that they have

baby teeth and that they will eventually fall out and grow permanent teeth.

-The importance of cavities, and knowing what kinds of healthy foods are good for your teeth.

-The difference between a healthy and unhealthy tooth ( tooth decay).

-The importance of going to the dentist.

NICE TO KNOW... Parts of the tooth: Enamel: the hard outer surface layer of your teeth that serves to protect

against tooth decay. In fact, tooth enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in your body, even stronger than bone. In spite of its strength, everyday acids that develop from certain foods and drinks, particularly those that are sweet or contain starch, can put your enamel at risk. And once your enamel is gone, it can be gone for good.

Dentin: a calcareous material harder and denser than bone that comprises the bulk of a tooth.

Pulp: the tissue in the central portion of the tooth, made up of blood vessels, nerves, and cellular elements, that forms dentin and is covered by it.

NICE TO KNOW.. The proportion of children between 2

and 5 years old with cavities actually increased 15 percent during the past decade.

Having healthy baby teeth is vital to proper nutrition and speech development and sets the stage for a lifetime of dental health.

More than 51 million hours of school may be missed because of dental-related illness.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS Children will have a well developed oral

vocabulary.

Children will learn the importance of brushing, flossing, and dental visits.

REFERENCES www.scholastic.com/resources/article/ready-for-kindergarten

www.wkkf.org/.../The%20Pew%20Center%20on%20the%20States%20The%20Cost%20of%

http://www.ehow.com/info_7882953_teeth-activities-kindergarten.html