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Researched by Kyle M
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The purpose of this experiment was to determine which tooth cleaner most effectively removes stains from teeth.
I became interested in this idea when I was reading through a book that said sugar and acids demineralize and decalcify tooth enamel. I discussed this idea with the hygienist when I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned.
The information gained from this experiment might be useful to dentists,
dental hygienists, and companies that make tooth cleaning products.
This information also might be helpful to the general public to educate
them on keeping their teeth healthy.
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HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that the fluoridated toothpaste will be the best cleaner to remove stains from teeth.
I based my hypothesis on information from dentists and magazine articles
on dental care.
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The constants in this study were the sugars (soda pop) and acid (lemon juice). Kind of teeth, kind of cleaner, tooth brush, and same amount of time brushed.
The manipulated variable was the substance used to clean the teeth.
The responding variable was the whiteness of the teeth.
To measure the responding variable I used a coloromiter to observe
the whiteness and discoloring of the teeth.
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QUANTITYITEM DESCRIPTION
12 extracted molars
12 empty petri dishes
water
soda pop
lemon juice
2 toothbrushes
1 colorimeter at Tree Top Lab
baking soda
mouthwash
fluoridated toothpaste
nonfluoridatad toothpaste
tartar control toothpaste
8 pairsrubber gloves
118 mL glycerine
12 press - on labels
1 permanent marking pen
QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
1. Make labels for the pertri dishes according
to the type of stain and cleaner solution that will be used for that
tooth.
2. Put gloves on to handle teeth.
3. Pour glycerin out of jar making sure that the teeth remain in the
jar.
4. Place teeth in container of water and boil for ten minutes.
Remove the teeth from the boiling water and dry them thoroughly.
5. Place each tooth into correct ziplock bag according to label.
6. Put tooth in colorimeter and record reading. Repeat
for each tooth.
7. Fill six empty petri dishes three-fourths full with only soda pop
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8. Fill six empty petri dishes three-fourths full with only lemon juice.
9. Arrange petri dishes in the order in which they appear on the recording
chart. Keep them in this order to avoid recording information incorrectly.
10. Soak each tooth in its solution for 2 weeks.
11. At the end of this period of time put on rubber gloves.
12. Remove tooth from petri dish.
13. Put stained tooth in colorimeter.
14. Brush tooth with correct cleaner. 3 min. Clean all surfaces
equally.
15. Put tooth in colorimeter and record data.
16. Dispose of teeth and gloves at Tree Top Lab
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RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to determine which
tooth cleaner most effectively removes stains from teeth.
The results from my experiment indicated that tooth five had the
largest amount of discoloration removed during the brushing process.
The reading of the stained color was 119.44. The cleaned color was
63.40. The difference between the stained and cleaned color was 56.04.
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My hypothesis was that the fluoridated toothpaste would be the
best cleaner to remove stains from teeth.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected
because the greatest amount of discoloration was removed by the non-fluoridated
toothpaste.
Because of the results of this experiment I wonder if the same
results would occur with other kinds of stains, longer staining time, and
other cleaning agents.
If I were to conduct this project again I would use cow teeth
instead of teeth from humans, possibly use different stains, and conduct
it for a longer period of time.
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| RESEARCH REPORT
In this report you will read about tooth decay, tooth development and structure, bacteria relating to dental cavities, and preventative measures to avoid tooth decay. Tooth Decay The second most common of all health disorders is tooth decay. It is second to the common cold. Tooth decay usually occurs in young children but it can effect any person. Tooth decay is the leading cause of tooth loss in young people. It has been shown that eighty four percent of all cavities are located on molars which are in the back of the mouth. Molars contain many pits and grooves. It is harder to reach these areas with a toothbrush. When these grooved areas are not properly cleaned bacteria settle on the tooth surface and use the food particles left in the mouth to create acid. It is this acid that creates cavities. Tooth Development and Structure During the early years young children have a set of twenty teeth.
These teeth are baby or deciduous teeth. Later another set of thirty
two larger teeth replace these teeth. There are three kinds of permanent
teeth: incisors, cuspids, and molars.
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Bacteria Bacteria which are tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly found in the human mouth. It is normal for millions of bacteria to be in your mouth. Bacteria is the number one enemy in the formation of cavities. There are two kinds of bacteria that are quite harmful to teeth. They are mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Mutans streptococci are able to grab any sugar that enters the mouth. They use the sugar to change the pH in the mouth. They then form acid on the teeth. It is this acid that causes teeth to decay. The lactobacilli are more able to survive in an acid environment. Bacteria changes all foods into acid. Sugars and starches
are favorites of bacteria. Plaque is formed by bacteria, acid, food
debris, and saliva. Plaque is a sticky substance that sticks to the
teeth. Plaque is easily detected on the grooved chewing surfaces
of the back molars, just above the gum line, and at the edges around fillings.
When plaque is not removed from the teeth it becomes tartar.
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Bacteria will use the sugars found in candy and other sweet foods as well as the natural sugars found in fruits and milk. They also use the carbohydrates found in potato chips, pasta, and bread. Our teeth are able to repair the damage done to the enamel by the acid in a process called remineralization. The minerals found in the saliva try to repair the damaged areas of the tooth surface. But, the rate of destruction of the tooth enamel by acid is much faster than the natural remineralization that occurs. Preventative Measures There are several things that can be done to prevent tooth decay.
The timing of your snacks is critical to preventing cavities. After
snacking the acid that is produced is neutralized by the saliva and is
cleared from the mouth. After the acid is removed the minerals present
in saliva crystallize on the enamel and begin to repair the areas that
were damaged by the acid. The longer the interval between meals and
snacks provides more opportunity for the acid to be neutralized and more
time for the damage to be repaired. When frequent snacking takes
place there is a constant attack on the tooth surface by the acid.
There is also less time for tooth repair to take place.
There are many toothpastes that promise better results in cleaning tooth surfaces as well as helping to control plaque growth and tartar control. The cleaning power of a toothpaste depends on its ability to remove stains from the surface of the tooth. Toothpastes contain gentle abrasives to help clean tooth surfaces. Most toothpastes contain fluoride. Some use stannous fluoride while others use sodium fluoride or sodium monofluoroshosphate. Tartar control toothpastes contain pyrophosphates to slow the buildup of tartar above the gumline. The most important factors to reduce the buildup of plaque on tooth surfaces is regular brushing, twice a day and flossing to remove debris that is between the teeth. In this report you read about tooth decay, tooth development and structure, bacteria relating to dental cavities, and preventative measures to avoid tooth decay. I hope that information will help you further your understanding
about my project.
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| BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Anatomy of a Tooth", [online] http://www.umanitaba.ca/outreach/wisdomtooth/anatomy.htm Single, Dorthy, Dental Health. New York: Chelsea House,1994. pg 69 - 71 ''Embryological Development", Encarta, 1998 http://www.encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=028df000 http://www.healthy teeth.org/Cavities.html http://lveschelabs.dent.umich.edu/ ''Teeth'' Encarta, 1998 "Teeth-Encarta [online]available htt:// encarta.msn.
"Toothpaste and tooth power" The World Book Encyclopedia, 1999
http://www.saveyoursmile.com/healtharticles/cavities.html http://www.saveyoursmile.com/parents/candy. html http://www.saveyoursmile.com/parents/kidscavities.html |