By Anna and Sumayya Healthy teeth allow you

By: Anna and Sumayya

� Healthy teeth allow you to chew food properly and speak clearly.

Each tooth is made of three types of bonelike material: - Enamel - Cementum - pulp

� The gum is the pink tissue that surrounds the base of your teeth and covers the bone around the teeth. � Healthy gums fit tightly around the neck of each tooth like a collar, holding it firmly in place.

By the ages of 3, most children have all of their first teeth, or primary teeth. Around the age of 5 or 6, the primary teeth begins to fall out. Over the next few years, the primary teeth are replaced by 28 permanent teeth. An additional four teeth, called wisdom teeth, usually grow in between the ages of 17 and 21. The changes that occur in the jaws throughout the growing years can lead to structural problems.

� Malocclusion � Orthodontist

Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Some teens have their wisdom teeth surgically removed before they grow in because the teeth are impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth either do not have the space to emerge through the gum line or are positioned at an awkward angle. IF impacted wisdom teeth are not removed, they may crowd the other teeth and cause serious gum infections.

If your teeth and your gums are in poor condition, you may have trouble eating and speaking. Failing to properly maintain your teeth and gums can also cause mouth pain and an embarrassing conditions called halitosis, or bad breath. A healthy diet, proper tooth care, and regular dental checkups can prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

� Healthy Diet � Brushing � Flossing � Wearing a Mouthguard � Dental Checkups � Treating Tooth Decay � Treating Gum Disease

� You should eat a well- balanced diet that is low in sugar. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and produce acids that can damage your teeth. Limit your intake of sports drinks, which contain acids that can destroy your teeth’s enamel. Your diet should include foods that contain calcium and phosphorus; two minerals that help strengthen teeth.

� Your mouth is full of bacteria that adhere to your teeth in a sticky film called plaque. Brushing your teeth removes plaque. You should also brush your tongue to remove food particles. Brush at least twice a day, preferably after every meal. If you cannot brush after eating, rinse your mouth with water.

� Dental floss removes food and plaque from areas that a toothbrush cannot reach, such as between your teeth. You should floss your teeth once a day, preferably before bedtime.

� Although teeth are made of strong material, collisions can lead to broken or cracked teeth. To prevent damage to your teeth during contact sports, such as basketball or lacrosse, wear a mouthguard.

� Having regular dental checkups, about twice a year, can identify problems before they become painful or hard to treat. Because of checkups and other preventive care, young people today generally have fewer cavities than their parents did at the same age. An example of preventive care is the addition of fluoride to toothpastes and drinking water. Fluoride binds with enamel making it stronger and more resistant to decay.

� When plaque is not removed often enough oe well enough, the bacteria in your mouth grow and multiply. The acid that they produce eats away at enamel. When the enamel is broken down, a tiny hole, or cavity, forms.

� Plague can also damage the gums. If p; ague is not removed within 48 hours, it begins to harden into a material called tartar, wich irritates the gums. The gums irritation caused by plaque and tartar eventually can lead to periodontal disease, or gum disease. During the first stage of periodontal disease, called gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen and bleed easily.

� The skins covers and protects the body from injury, infection, and water loss. The skin also helps to regulate body temperature and gathers information from the environment.

� The skin shields and protects the organs and tissues beneath it. The skin also keeps harmful substances and microorganisms out of the body. In addition, it keeps important fluids, such as water, in the body.

� When you are warm, sweat glands in the skin produce perspiration, which cools your body as it evaporates. In addition, blood vessels in your skin widen allowing more heat to be given off at the skin’s surface. When you are cold, the blood vessels narrow, keeping more heat within your body.

� Nerves in the skin provide information to your central nervous system about outside factors such as pressure, pain, and temperature.

� Your skin consists of two major layers. The outermost layer is the epidermis. The part of the epidermis that comes into contact with the environment is made up of dead cells. These dead cells contain a protein called keratin that makes the skin tough and waterproof. You shed dead cells when you brush against objects, bathe, or rub your skin.

� The dermis is the tough, elastic layer of skin that lies below the epidermis. In most areas of your body, the dermis is much thicker than the epidermis. The dermis also contains blood vessels that bring nutrients to the skin and carry wastes away.

� Pore � Follicles � Sebaceous glands

� The most important things you can do for your skin, however, are to avoid damage from the sun and tanning lamps and to monitor moles.

� Preventing skin Damage � Monitoring Moles � Treating Acne � Treating Eczema � Treating Skin Infections

� Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted from the sun and tanning lamps causes skin to become leathery, wrinkled, and discolored. It can also lead to skin cancer, including a sometimes deadly form called melanoma cases have more than doubled in the past thirty years.

� The first sign of melanoma is usually an irregularly shaped mole, or brown spot, that increases in size. The mole may become blue -black or have blackish spots. Without early treatment, melanoma will spread to other organs. If you notice any change in a wart, birthmark, or mole; or any skin growth that appears abnormal; you should consult a doctor.

� One common skin problem in teens is acne. Acne forms when excess oil and dead cells plug a hair follicle. Bacteria from the skin’s surface multiply within the plug. The Bacteria attract white blood cells, which cause the hair follicle to become inflamed an acne lesion, or pimple, to form. Lesions that stay beneath the skin’s surface are called whiteheads. Blackheads are lesions that open at the skin’s surface.

� Another skin disorder is eczema, a condition in which an area of skin becomes red, swollen, hot, and itchy. Sometimes the skin blisters and oozes. Eczema is not contagious. Substances that irritate the skin, including chemicals, soaps, or poison ivy, can cause eczema. Certain medicines and foods may also cause this skin irritations.

� Several types of microorganisms can infect the skin. Although he majority of these infections are not serious, they can be painful or embarrassing.

� Boils are swollen, painful infections of hair follicles caused by bacteria. They start as red, tender lumps that fill with pus. Eventually they rupture and drain. Boils can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, neck, armpits, and thighs. If a boil does not heal after two weeks or is accompanied by a fever, you should see a doctor.

� Cold scores are clusters of watery blisters caused by a virus. These sores usually occur around the outside of the mouth and last about a week. To prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the body, wash your hands after touching the affected area.

� Warts are hardened growths on the skins that are also caused by a virus. Over-the-counter medication is available to treat warts. See a doctor if a wart persists or spread after treatment.

� Skin infections caused by fungi usually occur in warm, moist areas of the skin. The ringworm fungus, which is highly contagious, produces, red, scaly, ring-shaped patches on the skin. Ringworm is treated with prescription medication.

� Another common fungal infection is athlete's foot. It causes burning, itching, cracking, and peeling of the skin on the feet and between the toes. Over-the-counter medication is available for over-the-counter medication, you should see a doctor.

� Hair protects the scalp from sunlight and provides insulation from the cold. Hairs in the nostrils and ears and your eyelashes, prevent debris from entering the body.

� Keeping your hair clean and well-groomed enhances your appearance. Frequent brushing of your hair will remove excess dirt and make your hair shine. Shampooing removes dirt and oil buildup from sebaceous gland secretions. However, your hair may become dry and brittle if you wash it too frequently or use a shampoo made with harsh chemicals. In addition, dyeing or highlighting your hair may also cause dryness and brittleness.

� The tough, plate like nails cover and protect the tips of your fingers and toes, which come in frequent contact with objects in your environment.

� Keeping your nails clean will help prevent the spread of infectious microorganisms to other parts of your body and to other people. Jagged edges may dig into your skin and cause infections. Avoid biting your nails. Nail biting can lead to breaks in your skin that allow microorganisms to enter.

� Head lice are small insects that live on the scalp and lay their eggs on hair. Head-lice infection is not a sign of poor hygiene. Anyone who comes in contact with lice can be infected. The best way to prevent infections is to avoid sharing combs, brushes, or hats. Several shampoos are available to kill lice.

� Another common hair problem is dandruff. Dandruff occurs when the epidermal cells of the scalp are shed at a faster than normal rate. Some factors that may contribute to dandruff are fungal infections, overactive oil glands, stress, and heredity. Regular hair washing with dandruff shampoo should help control this problem.

� An ingrown toenails results when the sides of a toenail grow into the skin. If not treated properly, ingrown nails can become infected. To prevent ingrown toenails, clip your toenails straight across. Fungal infections of the nails are common in people who often have wet hands or feet. Infected nails appear thick and discolored with white markings. If you suspect that you have a fungal infection, see a doctor.

� Thank You