Transcript Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy

Healthy Teeth and Mouth
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Your teeth and mouth need care to
function well and keep you healthy.
periodontium
pulp
plaque
halitosis
periodontal disease
malocclusion
Your Teeth
Every tooth has three main parts.
Having healthy teeth is important for your
appearance and your overall physical health.
Your Teeth
Your teeth break down foods into pieces that are
small enough to easily digest.
They also help form the shape and structure of
your mouth.
Your Teeth
The periodontium supports the tooth and holds it
in place.
Periodontium
The area immediately around
the tooth
Parts of a Tooth
Parts of the Periodontium
The Gum
Periodontal
Ligaments
The Jawbone
Parts of a Tooth
Three Main Parts of the Tooth
Crown
Neck
Root
Parts of a Tooth
Crown
Neck
Root
Parts of a Tooth
enamel
dentin
gingivia
gum
pulp cavity with nerves and vessels
cementum
periodontal ligaments
periodontal membrane
root canal
bone
Parts of a Tooth
Enamel is a hard substance made of calcium that
protects the crown.
Dentin is layer of connective tissue that contributes
to the shape and hardness of a tooth.
Parts of a Tooth
Protected by the overlying layers of dentin and
enamel, the pulp extends into the root canal.
Pulp
The tissue that contains the blood
vessels and nerves of a tooth
Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy
You can make choices that help keep your
teeth and mouth clean and healthy.
Oral hygiene, which includes
brushing and flossing your teeth, is
necessary for healthy, clean teeth.
Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy
Bacteria metabolize the sugars in the foods you
eat, producing an acid that breaks down the
protective layer of tooth enamel.
Tooth decay occurs when the enamel is destroyed
and bacteria penetrate the tooth.
Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy
Plaque damages the tooth by coating it, sealing
out the saliva that normally protects the tooth from
bacteria.
Plaque
A combination of bacteria and
other particles, such as small bits
of food, which adheres to the
outside of a tooth
Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy
If plaque builds up, acids produced by bacteria
break down the tooth enamel, resulting in a cavity.
If decay spreads down to the pulp, the tooth may
have to be removed.
Keeping Your Teeth and Mouth Healthy

Visit a dentist regularly.

Eat a well-balanced diet.

Reduce the number of sugary drinks and snacks you eat.

Brush your teeth after every meal, and floss daily.

Get regular dental checkups.

Wear a mouth guard when you play contact sports.

Avoid all tobacco products.
Tooth and Mouth Problems
Neglecting your teeth can result in problems.
Some oral problems are caused by poor
hygiene, others by poorly aligned teeth.
Tooth and Mouth Problems
Halitosis can be caused by eating certain foods,
poor oral hygiene, smoking, bacteria on the
tongue, decayed teeth, and gum disease.
Halitosis
Bad breath
Tooth and Mouth Problems
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is caused
by bacterial infection.
Periodontal disease
An inflammation of the
periodontal structures
Tooth and Mouth Problems
When plaque hardens, it builds up tartar, a hard,
crustlike substance, and causes the gums to
become irritated and swollen.
This is called gingivitis. If left untreated, the bone
and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed,
and teeth can be lost.
Tooth and Mouth Problems
If not treated, malocclusion can lead to decay,
and affect a person’s speech and ability to chew.
Malocclusion
A misalignment of the upper
and lower teeth
Tooth and Mouth Problems
Impacted wisdom teeth sometimes crowd and
push on other teeth or become infected.
They may need to be removed surgically.
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
1. Define the terms periodontal disease and
plaque.
Periodontal disease is inflammation of the
periodontal structures. Plaque is a
combination of bacteria and other particles
that adheres to the outside of a tooth.
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
2. What is the pulp of the tooth?
Tissue that contains the blood vessels and
nerves of a tooth
After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
3. Explain how tooth decay happens.
If plaque builds up, bacteria thrive in the
plaque and produce acids that break down
tooth enamel, forming a cavity.