Classwork Series and Exercise {Home Economics – JSS1}: The Teeth

THE TEETH

Contents:

The Teeth

Structure of the Teeth

Daily care of the Tooth

Causes of Tooth decay

A. THE TEETH

A tooth is made up of many parts. A tooth is a small, calcified, whitish structure found in the jaws of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of the teeth are covered by gums. The outer part of the tooth is called “the Enamel” and it is dentine. A set of clean, strong and healthy teeth can make you look attractive. The teeth are useful for chewing most of the food we eat, there by aiding digestion. They function in mechanically breaking down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digestion.

Human beings grow two sets of teeth namely:

1. The first set is the milk teeth during childhood, it can also be called Temporary Teeth. These are 24 in number.
2. The second set is called “The Permanent Teeth” and are usually 32 in number

TYPES OF TEETH

The types of teeth can be sub-divide into four groups, namely:

1. The Incisors: These are in the center of the front of the jaw. They are used for cutting off lumps of food
2. The Canine: These are pointed and used for tearing food
3. Pre-molars: These are next to canine. Each has one or more points for cutting. They usually have flat surfaces for grinding food
4. Molars: These are behind the pre-molars. They are similar to the pre-molars. They are only present in the permanent dentition

B. STRUCTURE OF THE TOOTH

1. The Crown: The part of the tooth projecting above the gum
2. The Root: The part buried in the jaw-bone
3. The Neck: The space between the crown on the root
4. The Dentine: The tough center of the which surround and protect the pulp cavity
5. The Pulp cavity: Contains blood vessels and nerve
6. The Enamel: A very hard substance which covers the crown of the teeth

 CHOICE AND USE OF TOOTH CLEANING MATERIALS

These include chewing sticks, tooth brush and tooth pastes

1. Choose only smooth and clean sticks
2. Wash the chewing stick thoroughly with clean water before use
3. Clean the teeth using up and down movement
4. Wash after use and store properly, preferably in a cell phone paper

C. DAILY CARE OF THE TOOTH

Small piece of food left in the mouth after meal can cause tooth problem. It is therefore important that you clean the teeth and mouth everyday and after meals. The following are important when taking care of our teeth/mouth

1. Clean your teeth every morning and at bed time with either a clean chewing stick or tooth brush with paste
2. Rinse your mouth properly after each meal, especially after eating sweet foods
3. Do not pick your teeth with sharp instruments such as pins, brooms, needles e.t.c
4. Eat balanced diet for strong healthy teeth, some important foods are milk, fruit, fish, meat and other sources of calcium
5. Exercise your teeth by eating fairly hard foods like maize, carrots, coconut e.t.c

D. CAUSES OF TOOTH AND GUM INFECTIONS

1. Sugar, sweets and starchy foods can bring about tooth decay
2. Lack of care of the teeth
3. Putting dirty object or finger in the teeth
4. Habit of picking teeth with sharp pointed articles like pins e.t.c

E. PREVENTION OF TOOTH DECAY

1. Keep your tooth brush or stick clean
2. Do not use another person’s tooth brush or chewing stick
3. Clean the teeth regularly at least twice daily (morning and night) and properly
4. Visit the dentist whenever you have a tooth problem e.t.c