Teeth and eating
1. Types of teeth
2. How our teeth develop
3. Looking after teeth
4. Teeth in other animals
1. Types of teeth
Humans have three main types of teeth:
2. How our teeth develop
Humans have two sets of teeth in their life:
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Milk teeth (about 20 teeth)
Permanent teeth (about 32 teeth)
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3. Looking after teeth
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Sugar left in the mouth is eaten by bacteria. The bacteria make acid that rots teeth
and cause teeth decay.
Taking care of our teeth prevents tooth decay. You can take care of your teeth by:
- brushing twice a day
- eating the right foods (not too many sugary ones)
- visiting the dentist regularly
4. Teeth in other animals
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Test Questions
1. Do all animals have teeth?
a) No, some animals such as birds don't have teeth
b) Yes, all animals have teeth
c) No animals have teeth
2. Why do we have teeth?
a) To look good when we smile
b) To protect out mouths
c) To cut, tear and crush our food before we swallow it
3. How many sets of teeth do we get in our lifetime?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
4. Humans are omnivores. What type of food should we eat to keep healthy?
a) A varied diet with lots of different types of food
b) Only meat
c) Only vegetables
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5. A lion is a carnivore. What type of food do carnivores eat?
a) Only meat
b) Only plants
c) Both meat and plants
6. A sheep is a herbivore. What type of food do herbivores eat?
a) Only meat
b) Only plants
c) Both meat and plants
7. Which teeth are used for crushing and grinding food?
a) Incisors
b) Molars
c) Canines
8. Which teeth are used to rip and tear food?
a) Incisors
b) Molars
c) Canines
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9. What is the job of incisor teeth?
a) Snipping and cutting off bite-sized pieces of food
b) Ripping and tearing food
c) Crushing and chewing food
10. Which teeth are sometimes missing in herbivores?
a) Incisors
b) Molars
c) Canines
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ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION
1 Do all animals have teeth?
Your answer - No, some animals such as birds don't have teeth.
Correct.
Yes, some animals have mechanisms other than teeth to crush their food.
2 Why do we have teeth?
Your answer - To cut, tear and crush our food before we swallow it.
Correct.
Our teeth break food down into little pieces that we can swallow.
3 How many sets of teeth do we get in our lifetime?
Your answer - Two.
Correct.
That's right, our second set of teeth, our adult teeth, has to last!
4 Humans are omnivores. What type of food should we eat to keep healthy?
Your answer - A varied diet with lots of different types of food.
Correct.
That's right, we must eat lots of different types of food to keep healthy.
5 A lion is a carnivore. What type of food do carnivores eat?
Your answer - Only meat.
Correct.
Carnivores only eat meat and have teeth for killing and tearing animals.
6 A sheep is a herbivore. What type of food do herbivores eat?
Your answer - Only plants.
Correct.
Herbivores only eat plants and have teeth for cutting and grinding.
7 Which teeth are used for crushing and grinding food?
Your answer - Molars.
Correct.
Molars at the back of the mouth are used to crush and grind food.
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8 Which teeth are used to rip and tear food?
Your answer - Canines.
Correct.
Canines are long, sharp teeth used to rip and tear food.
9 What is the job of incisor teeth?
Your answer - Snipping and cutting off bite-sized pieces of food.
Correct.
Incisors are our front teeth used to snip and cut food.
10 Which teeth are sometimes missing in herbivores?
Your answer - Canines.
Correct.
This is because herbivores don't need to rip and tear meat.
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