Taking Care of Your Teeth
Grade 2 · Health · Study Guide
Learn how to keep your teeth clean and healthy so your smile lasts a lifetime.
Your teeth are very important! They help you chew food, speak clearly, and smile. Taking good care of your teeth every day keeps them strong and healthy.
You should brush your teeth at least two times every day — once in the morning and once before bed at night. Use a soft toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste with fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that makes tooth enamel stronger and helps prevent cavities. Brush for two full minutes, making sure to clean the front, back, and top of every tooth.
Flossing is also very important. Floss cleans the spaces between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. You should floss once a day. Food stuck between teeth can cause cavities if it is not removed.
Sugary foods and drinks, like candy and soda, can harm your teeth. The sugar feeds tiny bacteria in your mouth that make acid. That acid eats away at your tooth enamel and causes cavities. Drinking water after eating helps rinse your teeth.
Visiting the dentist every six months helps keep your teeth healthy. The dentist checks for cavities and cleans your teeth professionally. Baby teeth are important too — they hold space for your permanent teeth to grow in the right place.
Key terms
- enamel
- The hard outer layer of your tooth that protects it from damage
- cavity
- A hole in a tooth caused by tooth decay from bacteria and acid
- fluoride
- A mineral in toothpaste that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities
- floss
- A thin string used to clean between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach
- bacteria
- Tiny living things in your mouth that eat sugar and make acid that can harm teeth
- dentist
- A doctor who specializes in taking care of teeth and gums
Flashcards
- Brushing
- Using a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean the surfaces of your teeth — do this twice a day
- Flossing
- Using dental floss to clean the spaces between your teeth — do this once a day
- Cavity
- A hole in a tooth caused by bacteria and acid eating away the enamel
- Fluoride
- A mineral in toothpaste that makes teeth stronger and helps prevent cavities
- Enamel
- The hard protective coating on the outside of your teeth
- Dentist
- A tooth doctor you should visit every six months to keep your teeth healthy
- Baby teeth
- Your first set of teeth that fall out to make room for your permanent adult teeth
- Permanent teeth
- The adult teeth that grow in after baby teeth fall out — you only get one set, so take care of them
Questions
How many times a day should you brush your teeth?
- Once
- Twice
- Three times
- Four times
Show answer
Answer: Twice
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day — morning and before bed — to remove plaque and prevent cavities.
Sugary foods and drinks can cause cavities.
Show answer
Answer: True
Sugar feeds bacteria in your mouth that produce acid, and that acid eats away at tooth enamel causing cavities.
You should brush your teeth for at least two ______.
Show answer
Answer: minutes
Brushing for two full minutes ensures you clean all surfaces of every tooth thoroughly.
How often should you visit the dentist?
- Once a year
- Every six months
- Every two years
- Only when your tooth hurts
Show answer
Answer: Every six months
Dentists recommend checkups every six months to catch problems early and professionally clean your teeth.
Flossing is important because it cleans between your teeth.
Show answer
Answer: True
A toothbrush cannot fit between teeth, so flossing is the only way to remove food and plaque from those tight spaces.
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