Hey there! It’s almost bedtime at the fort, and before we tuck in, we need to brush our teeth. But have you ever wondered why we do this? Let’s find out!
Sometimes, our teeth can feel yucky, especially at the end of the day or first thing in the morning. Brushing helps get rid of that icky feeling, and it feels good because it’s good for us! We brush our teeth to keep them clean and healthy so they can help us throughout our lives. After all, without teeth, eating foods like crackers or apples would be really hard!
Our teeth are made up of different layers. The part you see is called enamel, which is super hard and mostly made of minerals. Enamel is the strongest part of your body, even stronger than bones! But unlike bones, teeth can’t heal themselves if they get broken.
Underneath the enamel is a layer called dentin, which isn’t as hard. Inside that is the pulp, which has blood vessels and nerves, making it very sensitive. To protect the pulp, we need to take good care of the enamel by keeping it clean.
Even if you think you’ve eaten all your food, tiny bits can get stuck in your teeth. Teeth have bumps and ridges that help grind food, and small spaces where food can hide. This leftover food can be gross, but what’s even grosser is that bacteria in your mouth love to eat these leftovers!
There are lots of bacteria in your mouth, more than there are people on Earth! Some bacteria are good, some are neither good nor bad, and some are bad. The bad ones love sugars and starches, like cookies and bread. After eating these, they release acid that can hurt your teeth and cause cavities, which are painful holes in your teeth.
When you brush your teeth, you clean away the food and bacteria, getting rid of that gross feeling. Brushing before bed removes food bits and bacteria from the day, reducing the chance of cavities. It’s also important to brush in the morning because bacteria can still be in your mouth after a night’s sleep.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at bedtime, helps keep them strong and healthy. This way, you can continue enjoying good food, which keeps the rest of you healthy too!
Once our teeth are clean, it’s time for bed. If you have any questions about teeth, sleep, or science, ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
Experiment with Plaque: Ask a grown-up to help you with this fun experiment. Take a piece of white bread and chew it without swallowing. Then, spit it out onto a plate. Look closely at the chewed bread. Notice how it sticks together? This is similar to how food can stick to your teeth. Now, brush your teeth and feel how smooth they are. Discuss with a friend or family member why brushing is important to remove food particles and bacteria.
Toothpaste Art: Create a piece of art using toothpaste! Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a piece of paper and use a cotton swab to draw a picture. As you create, think about how toothpaste helps clean your teeth. What ingredients in toothpaste do you think help fight bacteria and keep your teeth strong?
Teeth Detective: Become a teeth detective! For one day, observe and write down all the foods you eat. At the end of the day, look at your list and circle any foods that are sugary or starchy. Discuss with a grown-up how these foods can affect your teeth and why brushing is important after eating them. Can you think of healthier alternatives that are better for your teeth?
