Brushing your teeth is super important for keeping your mouth healthy, especially before you go to sleep. Let’s learn why brushing is so important, what plaque is, and how to brush your teeth the right way!
Every time we eat or drink, tiny bits of food mix with our spit. This can create something called plaque, which is a sticky, yellowish layer of germs that sticks to our teeth. Plaque isn’t just yucky to look at; it can also be bad for our teeth.
Plaque is full of tiny germs that can cause problems for our teeth. If we don’t brush it away, plaque can turn into something called tartar, which only a dentist can remove. The germs in plaque can also make little holes in our teeth called cavities. Cavities can cause big problems if we don’t take care of them.
To keep our teeth healthy and fight off plaque, we need to brush our teeth the right way. Here’s a simple four-step guide to help you brush like a pro:
Start by holding your toothbrush at a little angle near your gums. Gently move the brush back and forth on each tooth. This helps get rid of plaque from the outside of your teeth and where they meet your gums.
Next, brush the inside surfaces of your teeth. Use the same gentle back-and-forth motion to make sure you’re cleaning all the plaque away.
Now, focus on the tops of your teeth where you chew, especially the back ones. These spots can collect a lot of plaque, so make sure to clean them well.
Don’t forget to brush your tongue! This helps keep your breath fresh and gets rid of germs that can hang out on your tongue. A clean tongue is important for a healthy mouth.
By following these four easy steps—brushing the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth, and brushing your tongue—you can help keep cavities away and have a healthy mouth. Remember, brushing your teeth before bed is more than just a routine; it’s a super important habit for staying healthy. Make it a part of your day, and your smile will be happy!
Plaque Experiment: Let’s see how plaque sticks to our teeth! Take a hard-boiled egg and soak it in a cup of cola for a day. The cola will stain the egg, just like plaque can stain our teeth. After a day, use a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush the egg. Watch how the stains come off, just like how brushing removes plaque from our teeth. Discuss with your friends or family why it’s important to brush every day.
Tooth Brushing Dance: Create a fun tooth brushing dance to remember the four steps of brushing your teeth. You can make up a little song or chant to go along with it. Perform your dance for your family or friends and teach them the steps. This will help you remember how to brush properly and make it fun!
Healthy Teeth Detective: Become a detective and observe what happens when you don’t brush your teeth before bed. For one night, skip brushing (with permission from your parents) and in the morning, notice how your mouth feels. Is your breath fresh? Do your teeth feel clean? Write down your observations and share them with your class. This will help you understand the importance of brushing before bed.
