Keeping your teeth healthy By Emily

Why do I need to keep my teeth healthy? You need to keep your teeth healthy because if you don’t keep your teeth healthy, you won’t have any so you won’t be able to eat much food. Also, your teeth will rot and no one likes rotten teeth so they won’t want to be your friend.

How do I keep my teeth healthy? You keep your teeth healthy by brushing them with a toothbrush and toothpaste for twice a day for two minutes and not eating lots of unhealthy things like chocolate and sweets.

What happens if I don’t clean them? If you don’t clean them, they will become yellow. If you don’t clean them for a week, then they will start to rot and look out of place like the picture below. Also, your gums will start to bleed and become red. Why me?

What is tooth decay? Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your teeth. It can be a problem for children, teenagers and adults. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque, produces acids that attack that tooth enamel.

What causes tooth decay? Not brushing your teeth regulary and not seeing a dentist for check ups and cleaning, eating foods which are high in sugar, which feed the bacteria in your mouth, not having enough fluoride and not having enough saliva.

How does tooth decay affect our teeth? When you eat or drink foods, or beverages with sugars or starches, the bacteria releases acids which attack your tooth enamel. The plaque is so sticky that it keeps the acids in contact with your teeth, in time breaking down the enamel.

How can I prevent tooth decay? You can prevent tooth decay by brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental cleaner and eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.