What is oral hygiene?
Oral hygiene is a way of keeping our mouths clean and protecting them from any form of dental problems, like tooth decay, tooth loss, bad breath and much more.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one way of keeping yourself healthy. Explore how the choices we make in our food consumption plays an important role in our oral hygiene with this fun activity looking at how different foods affect your tooth enamel.
What is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the outer layer of your teeth.
What is Tooth Enamel?
Tooth enamel is the outer layer of your teeth that provides protection against tooth decay.
Materials
- 3 glass jars with lids
- 3 eggs
- Coke
- Vinegar
- Milk
Note: In this experiment, eggs will represent your teeth and the eggshells will represent your tooth enamel.
How to do the Tooth Enamel Experiment
Step 1
Fill each of the jars halfway with one of the liquids. Fill one jar halfway with coke, another with vinegar, and the third with milk!
Step 2
Grab the eggs and place one egg in each of the jars.
Step 3
Close the jars with the lids. Leave the eggs in the jars for three days to one week.
Make a prediction: What do you think the eggs will look like after sitting in each of the liquids for the given time period?
Make a prediction for the egg in each liquid.
Step 4
After the time period has passed, remove the eggs from the jars. Observe each of the eggs, carefully analyze each of their textures and appearances.
How Acid Destroys Tooth Enamel
You will notice that the eggshells of these two eggs were stained and eventually destroyed. Coke contains phosphoric acid, while vinegar contains acetic acid.
Both of these acids are strong enough to soften the eggshells and your tooth enamel alike!
Milk, on the other hand, contains an acid called lactic acid. In comparison with the acids found in coke and vinegar, lactic acid is not as acidic. Therefore, it does not affect the tooth enamel as much, keeping the eggshell intact.
How Sugar Affects Your Teeth
When you eat sugar, a sticky layer of plaque coats your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produces an acid that attacks your tooth enamel and can eventually cause tooth decay.
Having sweets and pop once in a while is okay, but eating lots of sugar can lead to dental and other health problems.
It can cause problems with your teeth and gums that can be painful and affect your chewing and your mouth’s appearance.
Having high amounts of sugar can also affect other parts of the body including the heart, digestive system and much more!
