Notes on Teeth

Cavities
A cavity is a hole in a tooth. It starts small, but it gets bigger and bigger. Your dentist will check for cavities. If your child has a cavity, the dentist will put a filling in the tooth.

Sweet Snacks
Sweet, sticky snacks can cause cavities. If you serve sweet foods, serve them as part of a meal. Then brush your children's teeth after the meal.

Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist works in the dentist office. She cleans teeth. She also puts fluoride on teeth. Fluoride helps to make children's teeth strong.

Fluoride
The water in some communities has fluoride in it. Ask your dentist if the water in your community has fluoride. If it doesn't, the dentist can tell you about giving your child fluoride.

Background Information

Talk about what you know about problems that you can have with teeth and how to care for your teeth. Also talk about who you have to see to care for your teeth (dental hygienist, dentist)

Questions

1. What is a cavity?

2. What do you think a filling does?

3. Why do you think sweet, sticky snacks cause cavities?

4. What else do you know causes cavities?

5. Why should you serve sweets with a meal?

6. What does hygienist mean?

7. What does a dental hygienist do?

8. Why does she put fluoride on teeth?

9. Do you think every community should have fluoride in its drinking water? Why or why not?