Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Oral Health Program

Oral HealthOral HealthMaking Snack Time Fun Time!Making Snack Time Fun Time!

Third Grade

Snacking!Snacking!• Do you eat between Do you eat between

meals?meals?• What is your favorite What is your favorite

between-meal snack?between-meal snack?• When do you like to When do you like to

have a snack?have a snack?

Snacks between meals are a way for you Snacks between meals are a way for you to get all the food you need each day to:to get all the food you need each day to:

• GrowGrow• Have energyHave energy• Have healthy bones, Have healthy bones,

skin, and teethskin, and teeth

• Help you think Help you think • Help you learn Help you learn

and be your bestand be your best

Now let’s learn or review two words.Now let’s learn or review two words.

Dietand

Nutrition

Your diet needs to include a variety of foods in order for you to have good nutrition.

Your diet includes all the food you eat each day whether the food is healthy or not (junk food).

Nutrition

Is the way your body uses the foods you eat!

With good nutrition your body, including your teeth, will grow and work right.

At your age, foods eaten as snacks can be an important part of your diet.

But, if you make poor choices, snacks can cause tooth problems.

What kinds of snacks cause tooth What kinds of snacks cause tooth problems?problems?

• Sugary snacks and Sugary snacks and drinks (soda pop)drinks (soda pop)

• Sticky snacksSticky snacks• Snacks that stay on Snacks that stay on

your teethyour teeth

Let’s talk about why these snacks are not Let’s talk about why these snacks are not healthy for our teeth!healthy for our teeth!

Everyone has germs called bacteria in Everyone has germs called bacteria in their mouth.their mouth.

• Each day a thin film called Each day a thin film called PLAQUE forms on your teeth PLAQUE forms on your teeth and gums. It’s filled with and gums. It’s filled with bacteria.bacteria.

• Bacteria are very small --- you Bacteria are very small --- you need a microscope to see them.need a microscope to see them.

• Sticky, sugary foods left on your Sticky, sugary foods left on your teeth are a meal for bacteria.teeth are a meal for bacteria.

Bacteria in the PLAQUE turns food on Bacteria in the PLAQUE turns food on your teeth into acid.your teeth into acid.

Missouri Show – Me Your Smile; 3rd Edition; 1993

To understand an acid attack on your To understand an acid attack on your teeth, we need to first look at the tooth teeth, we need to first look at the tooth structure.structure.

The The EnamelEnamel is… is…

• The outside layer.The outside layer.• A hard protective A hard protective

cover.cover.• It is the hardest It is the hardest

substance in our substance in our body, even body, even harder than bone.harder than bone.

Missouri Show – Me Your Smile; 3rd Edition; 1993

The The DentinDentin is… is…

• Underneath the Underneath the enamel.enamel.• Makes up the Makes up the

largest part of a largest part of a tooth.tooth.

• Hard, but not as Hard, but not as hard as enamel.hard as enamel.

Missouri Show – Me Your Smile; 3rd Edition; 1993

The The PulpPulp is… is…

• The soft space inside The soft space inside the tooth, underneath the tooth, underneath the dentin. the dentin.

• Has blood vessels Has blood vessels and nerves.and nerves.

Missouri Show – Me Your Smile; 3rd Edition; 1993

An acid attack: An acid attack: • Starts on the tooth’s enamelStarts on the tooth’s enamel• Can cause a hole in the tooth called a cavityCan cause a hole in the tooth called a cavity

Missouri Show – Me Your Smile; 3rd Edition; 1993

Bacteria attacks your gums too!Bacteria attacks your gums too!If this happens to you it is calledIf this happens to you it is called

GINGIVITIS.GINGIVITIS.

What are some signs of Gingivitis?What are some signs of Gingivitis?

Gums that are:Gums that are:• Red Red • SoreSore• PuffyPuffy• BleedingBleeding

www.doctorfernandofuentes.cl/

What can you do to prevent cavities and What can you do to prevent cavities and gingivitis?gingivitis?

• Brush your teethBrush your teeth• Floss your teethFloss your teeth• Choose snacks wiselyChoose snacks wisely

When should you brush When should you brush your teeth?your teeth?

• After eatingAfter eating

• At bedtimeAt bedtime

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

How do you floss How do you floss your teeth?your teeth?

• Use 18” of Use 18” of flossfloss

• Leave an inch Leave an inch or two to work or two to work withwith

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

How do you floss How do you floss your teeth?your teeth?

• Gently follow

curves of teeth• Slide floss up

and down a few times

• Go below the gumlineMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

What about those snack choices?What about those snack choices?

A simple way to choose snacks is the A simple way to choose snacks is the way you have learned to choose way you have learned to choose foods for mealsfoods for meals

——using the Food Pyramidusing the Food Pyramid

USDA www.MyPyramid.gov

Can you name the food groups?Can you name the food groups?

• GrainsGrains• Fruit Fruit • VegetablesVegetables• DairyDairy• MeatMeat

What are some examples from each group?What are some examples from each group?

• Grain: Grain: − Whole wheat Whole wheat

bread, corn bread, corn bread, popcornbread, popcorn

• Fruits Fruits − Apples, Apples,

oranges, grapesoranges, grapes• Vegetables:Vegetables:

− Celery, carrots, Celery, carrots, broccolibroccoli

• DairyDairy− Milk, cheese, Milk, cheese,

yogurt, ice creamyogurt, ice cream• Meat and BeansMeat and Beans

− Peanut butter, eggs, Peanut butter, eggs, nuts, tunanuts, tuna

Remember!Remember!

1.1. Choose healthy snacks.Choose healthy snacks.

2.2. Brush twice daily.Brush twice daily.

3.3. Floss daily.Floss daily.

4.4. See your dentist and dental See your dentist and dental hygienist twice a year!hygienist twice a year!

Thank you for listeningThank you for listeningand keep brushing!and keep brushing!

An additional recommended resource for viewing: An additional recommended resource for viewing:

The Haunted Mouth (ADA).The Haunted Mouth (ADA).Call (816) 235-2100 for loan information from the UMKC dental library

Photos: Microsoft product box shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clipart unless otherwise noted.

This presentation has been adapted and used with permission from theDental Health Program developed by the Clay County Public Health Center.