1. The Teeth in Our Mouths

2. In this lesson I will learn about
My baby teeth and how they fall out and I get new bigger grown-up teeth that should last me forever.
This happening to everyone because it is part of growing-up.
Teeth not being the same shape and size.
The names of the different teeth and the jobs they do for me.
The inside of a tooth.

3. From baby teeth to adult teeth
6 months old
3 years old
6 years old
12 years old
This is a time line of changes, the children will know what happens from being 6months old –couple of teeth because starting to eat and smile and babble. By the time they are 3 years old they have their deciduous (baby) teeth which help them to eat, speak and smile.
Because they are growing up the baby teeth are not big enough anymore and they start to loose them one by one, front ones first. The baby teeth fall out over the next 6 or 7 years and are replaced by the permanent (adult) teeth

4. How many baby teeth? A A B B C C D E D E E E D D C C B B A A
When we are 3 years old we will have a total of 20 baby teeth, 10 in the top and 10 at the bottom.
The deciduous teeth are given letters instead of numbers so when they go to the dentist for a check-up they would hear the dentist say these letters of the alphabet. E D D C C B B A A

5. When you are 6 or 7 years old you will
start to get your first adult teeth, they are called molars. They will appear in your mouth behind your baby teeth, one in each corner of your mouth. You will have 4 new molars, 2 on the top and two on the bottom. Then you will have 24 teeth in your mouth.
Remember everyone looses and gets
teeth at different times.
At this point you can ask the children to feel (using their tongue) for a tooth at the back of their baby teeth that has 4 or 5 bumps on it with a deep grove down the middle. Use the model of a molar tooth at this point.

6. 2nd molars
Then around 12 or 13 years old your second set of molars will grow in and
you will have 28 teeth. Finally around 21 years old your third set of molars
will grow in and you will have all 32 teeth. Third molars are also called
“wisdom teeth”.
Ask the children if they think their mouths are big enough for more teeth. Explain that as they grow and get bigger their mouth will grow and get bigger so by the time they are 12 they will have room for more teeth.

7. How many adult teeth?
At this point you could if you wish use the worksheet ‘Look in your patients mouth’ with the children by putting them in pairs and giving one mouth mirror to each pair. One of them can then look in their partners mouth and complete the worksheet. Collect these mirrors in and give out a second mirror to the other child for them to use on their partner and complete the worksheet. This is done in this way so the same mouth mirror is not used in both children’s mouths.

8. Are all teeth the same shape and size?
Canines
Molars
Ask the children to feel around their own mouths with their tongues or while they have the mouth mirrors to look and see if teeth are all the same shape and size. Using the big mouth as well describe the four different types of teeth, why they are the shape they are and the jobs they do
Pre-molars
Incisors

9. Recap this with the children looking in more detail at the size and shape. Depending on the ability of the group you could discuss the roots. Asking the children to feel under their nose with their fingers to see if they can feel the roots under the gums and surrounded by jaw bone.
Incisors: These are thin and sharp, they cut and slice food
Canines: These are sharp and pointed, they hold and tear food
Pre-molars: These have cusps on the surface and they chew food
Molars: These are broad and flat with a deep grove, they chew food

10. Teeth have jobs to do! Incisors Chewing Biting Gripping and tearing
Canines
Gripping and tearing
Pre-molars
Ask the children to label the type of tooth with their correct function.
Molars

11. Enamel Dentine Pulp Jaw Bone
Explain this using the model of a molar tooth if you wish.
Crown
Part of the tooth we see in the mouth, if we look at the model it does look like a crown the queen would wear.
Enamel
The hard, white layer of the tooth covering the crown, the part we see in the mouth. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body.
Dentine
The yellow tissue that forms the main part of the tooth.
Pulp
The living part of the tooth that contains the nerves and the blood vessels
Gum tissue
The pink, firm flesh that surround the teeth.
Root
This holds the tooth firmly in the jawbone.
Jawbone
This surrounds the roots of the teeth and helps to keep them in the mouth.

12. How long should adult teeth last?
Finish with this slide and ask the children this question, you could introduce the next topic at this point if you wish. The next lesson starts with this to recap and also get the children thinking about teeth being part of the body.