Teaching about Decay

As I previously mentioned, the adolescent years are vital in teaching students how to properly care for their teeth. This is the time their body changes, and so do the needs for keeping their mouth healthy. Many schools lack the continued education for their students. I have found some lesson plans that teachers can use to show their students how important good oral care is. The lessons are geared for younger students, in elementary school, but it is important to realize that the sooner the students understand the benefits of good health, the sooner they will start to take the initiative to clean their teeth.

The lesson plan describing the importance of proper brushing and flossing deals with the idea of decay. Oral-B suggests doing an experiment with egg shells, water, and white vinegar to show the students the destructive nature of decay to our teeth. The teacher should have the students make observations in their science notebook of what they hypothesis to occur, what they see happening during the experiment, and after the experiment. The students should then compare their initial thoughts and the actual results to gain the science part of the curriculum.

The experiment is simple: put egg shells into two different jars and cover the shells in one jar with water and the other with vinegar. The vinegar and egg shells react to produce bubbles, and after a few days of letting the jars sit, the egg shells are completely dissolved by the vinegar while the ones in the water are unphased.

The theory behind the experiment is quite simple as well. The egg shells are made of calcium, similar to our teeth and therefore represent the enamel of our teeth. The vinegar is an acid, which is similar to the acids in our mouth that can be destructive if not properly cared for. The production of bubbles demonstrates the acids that eat away at the tooth enamel, weakening it which increases the change for tooth decay (cavities). After allowing the experiment to sit and react for a few days, the egg shells are completely dissolved in the vinegar. This emphasizes the importance of properly cleaning the teeth because the acids could remove the entire protective enamel layer.

By doing an experiment with the class, the students are more prone to remember the startling outcome. The active learning is more beneficial for the students because they are able to see a simulated version of what is going on in their mouths. If I were to see this experiment as a child, I have a feeling I would never complain about brushing my teeth again! It is probably confusing for the students to know the difference between the actual teeth and the enamel layer, so it may appear that the teeth themselves could be dissolved. While the acids contribute a destructive nature to the teeth, the teacher should thoroughly explain the difference of the tooth and enamel, to make sure the students are not confused or scared of dissolving their own teeth.

This simple experiment can be very effective if properly explained. A great follow up lesson would be to then teach the class how to properly clean their teeth to remove all of the acids.