Teeth are super important for things like eating and talking. Let’s learn about the different kinds of teeth, what they do, and some cool facts about keeping them healthy!
When we’re little, we start with 20 teeth called baby teeth or milk teeth. These teeth are temporary and will eventually fall out to make room for adult teeth. By the time we grow up, we usually have 32 permanent teeth. This change is a normal part of growing up!
Baby teeth are important for a few reasons:
We have five different types of teeth, and each one has a special job:
Teeth aren’t just for biting; they help us digest food too! When we chew, our teeth break food into smaller pieces, making it easier for our stomachs to handle. This is the first step in digestion, and it helps our saliva start breaking down the food.
Knowing about the different types of teeth and what they do helps us understand why dental health is important. Going to the dentist, brushing our teeth properly, and eating healthy foods are all important for keeping our teeth strong and healthy. Whether you’re losing baby teeth or taking care of adult ones, looking after your teeth is important for staying healthy and happy!
Tooth Detective: Become a tooth detective by observing your own teeth! With the help of a mirror, count how many teeth you have and try to identify the different types. Are they incisors, canines, premolars, or molars? Draw a picture of your teeth and label them. Share your findings with your family or friends and see if they can identify their teeth too!
Food and Teeth Match-Up: Gather a few different types of food like a carrot, bread, and an apple. Try eating each one and pay attention to which teeth you use the most. Are you using your incisors to bite into the apple, or your molars to chew the bread? Write down or draw which teeth help you eat each type of food. This will help you understand how different teeth have different jobs!
Healthy Teeth Challenge: Create a weekly chart to track your dental health habits. Include activities like brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and eating a healthy snack like an apple or carrot. At the end of the week, see how many healthy habits you completed. Talk with your family about why these habits are important and how they help keep your teeth strong and healthy.
