Taking Care of My Teeth

This book is part of the “Keeping Healthy” series, which combines picture book format with science. Twenty-four pages introduce basic facts about teeth, the basic elements of dental care, and how to take care of teeth at home. The young reader learns the total number of baby teeth, how they will be replaced by more teeth as the child grows up, and the anatomy of a tooth in simple terms. The different functions of the teeth are explained. A visit to the dentist’s office is described, which includes the process of having teeth cleaned, the purpose of dental x-rays, and the benefits of good dental care. At-home personal care is reviewed, including brushing multiple times each day and the importance of using dental floss. The concluding pages present a glossary of words related to teeth and the care of the teeth, a list of referrals to other sources of information, a list of Internet sites, and an index. The photographs are large and alternate with pages of brief text. A simple graphic describing the parts of a tooth accompanies one photograph.