>> YOUR TEETH.

THEY DO MORE THAN HELP YOU SMILE.

STRONG TEETH ARE A SIGN OF GOOD HEALTH.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR TEETH LOOKING AND FEELING GOOD?

DENTISTS ARE STANDING BY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

AND IT WON'T HURT A BIT.

EMAIL OR CALL IN.

"D4K," "DIALOGUE FOR KIDS," IS NEXT.

>> HELLO, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB.

>>> YOUR TEETH ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURES.

THEY HELP YOU EAT AND FILL UP YOUR SMILE.

TO HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR TEETH AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, YOU NEED TO VISIT YOUR DENTIST, LIKE ALEC DID.

>> HELLO, ALEC.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY.

>> GOOD.

>> I'M DR.

BRUCE.

HAVE A SEAT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR TEETH TODAY, OK?

>> OK.

>> LET ME SET THIS CHAIR BACK FOR YOU.

NOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT THE CAMERA IN YOUR MOUTH AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT ON THE SCREEN.

HERE IT COMES.

>> WHOA, LOOKS GOOD IN HERE, YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN BRUSHING.

HEY, DO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT YOUR TEETH ARE TO STAYING HEALTHY?

>> HUH-UH.

>> OK.

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS.

ROLL 'EM.

YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT AN ANIMAL BY LOOKING AT ITS TEETH.

BIRDS DON'T HAVE TEETH.

THEY USE THEIR BEAKS.

FROGS DON'T HAVE TEETH.

THEY HAVE A STICKY TONGUE.

COWS, COWS HAVE TEETH.

THEY'RE PLANT EATERS AND HAVE LARGE, BROAD TEETH TO GRIND THEIR FOOD.

BEAVERS HAVE SHARP FRONT TEETH TO SNAP BRANCHES.

AND MEAT EATERS LIKE WOLVES HAVE SHARP FANS TO RIP MEAT OFF THE BONES AND SHRED THEIR FOOD.

HUMANS HAVE A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE KINDS OF TEETH.

NOT AS SHARP AS A BEAVER'S OR AS BROAD AS A COWS, BUT OUR TEETH ALLOW US TO EAT DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOOD.

ADULTS HAVE 32 TEETH.

THE FRONT ARE YOUR INCISORS, USED FOR BITING.

NEXT TO THE CANINES, THEY'RE USED FOR TEARING FOOD.

AND THE BIG FLAT TEETH IN THE BACK ARE PREMOLARS AND MOLARS.

THEY'RE USED FOR CHEWING.

YOUR TEETH ARE HELD IN PLACE BY YOUR JAW BONE.

AND THE SOFT PINK TISSUE COVERING YOUR JAW BONE AND SURROUNDING YOUR TEETH IS CALLED YOUR GUM.

ALL YOUR TEETH, GUMS, AND BONES, WORK TOGETHER TO HELP YOU SPEAK, EAT, EVEN YAWN.

YOU GET TWO SETS OF TEETH.

YOUR BABY TEETH.

YOU START LOSING THEM WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT 5 OR 6, THEN YOUR ADULT TEETH.

YOUR ADULT TEETH, TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WHEN YOU LOSE THEM, YOU DON'T GET ANY MORE.

A TOOTH IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTS.

THE WHITE COVERING ON THE TOP IS CALLED THE ENAMEL.

IT'S THE HARDEST SUBSTANCE IN YOUR WHOLE WYDEN.

-- BODY.

NEXT IS DENTIN.

THAT'S MADE UP OF NERVES AND BLOOD VESSELS.

THE NERVES IN YOUR TEETH SEND SIGNALS TO YOUR BRAIN TO HELP YOU KNOW HOW HARD YOU'RE BITING.

WHEN YOU EAT, YOU LEAVE SMALL BITS OF FOOD ON YOUR TEETH AND MILLIONS OF BACTERIA FEAST ON YOUR LEFTOVERS.

THEY LEAVE BEHIND A STICKY COATING CALLED PLAQUE.

AND PLAQUE MAKES ACID, A CHEMICAL THAT SLOWLY EATS THROUGH TOOTH ENAMEL AND THE DENTIN, AND THAT LEAVES A HOLE, OR A CAVITY.

BUT BRUSHING AND FLOSSING HELPS PREVENT PLAQUE AND PREVENT CAVITIES.

HEALTHY TEETH WILL LAST ALIFETIME IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.

BRUSH TWICE A DAY, FLOSS ONCE A DAY, AND SEE YOUR DENTIST REGULARLY.

>> OK, ALEC.

NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU RINSE WITH THAT FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 SECONDS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPIT IT BACK IN THE CUP.

>> OK.

>> WAIT A MINUTE!

WHERE AM I GOING?

>> GREAT JOB.

I'LL SEE NEW SIX MONTHS, ALL RIGHT?

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB TODAY.

>> JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT TEETH ARE TWO GUESTS.

JOINING ME IN MY MOSCOW STUDIO IS DENTIST AND DR.

DUSTIN WEITZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND HERE IN BOISE IS MY DENTIST, DR.

STEPHEN BRUCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> OF COURSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION, YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A D.V.D.

PLAYER AND OTHER PRIZES.

WE'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF QUESTIONS TODAY FROM THE FOLKSAT THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY.

HUNTER WANTS TO KNOW, DO ALL ANIMALS' TEETH FALL OUT?

>> NO, THEY DON'T.

NOT EVERY ANIMAL HAS A CHANCE TO -- A SECOND CHANCE.

FORTUNATELY WE DO, AND -- BUT WE ONLY HAVE TWO CHANCES, SO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> EMMA FROM MRS.

FIRE'S CLASS AT THE CLEAR WATER VALLEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE FLOSS OUR TEETH EVERY DAY.

DR.

WEITZ Y. DO YOU FLOSS?

>> FLOSSING IS IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

PEOPLE CAN GET DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TEETH, AND ONE WOULD BE CAVITIES.

AND ALSO YOU CAN HAVE GUM PROBLEMS AND FLOSSING WILL GET INTO PLACES WHERE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH JUST CAN'T REACH.

SO IT HELPS CLEAN IN YOUR TEETH TO HELP YOU FROM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR GUMS, WHICH ARE AROUND YOUR TEETH.

>> SYDNEY AT HAYDEN MEADOWS ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, ARE TEETH A BONE?

>> NO, TECHNICALLY THEY'RE NOT A BONE.

THEY ACTUALLY ARE HARDER THAN A BONE.

THEY HAVE -- THEY'RE MADE UP OF ENAMEL AND DENTIN AND INSIDE IS THE PULP WHERE THE NERVES AND BLOOD VESSELS R THOSE ARE WHAT ARE NECESSARY WHEN THAT TOOTH IS GROWING, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THIS SENSATION OF HOT, AND COLD, AND PAIN IN THAT TOOTH.

>> WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, ARE EVERYONE'S TEETH PERFECT WHEN THEY'RE BORN?

BR OF BEFORE YOU'RE BORN DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR TEETH AND ARE THEY IN PERFECT POSITION?

>> BEFORE YOU'RE BORN YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ALL OF YOUR TEETH.

SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO DEVELOP, AND NOT EVERYBODY WILL EVENTUALLY -- ACTUALLY HAVE PERFECT TEETH THERE.

ARE DIFFERENT PRLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN A PERSON'S TEETH ARE DEVELOPING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON HAS A HIGH FEVER AS A BABY, THEY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT WEAKER ENAMEL.

BUT A PERSON WILL NOT BE BORN WITH A CAVITY IN THEIR TOOTH.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN AFTER THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN INTO YOUR MOUTH.

>> KYLE FROM -- WHO IS 5 SENDS IN A QUESTION I HAVE A HIS MOM.

I WENT WITH MY DAD TO THE DENTIST AND HE HAS SILVER STUFF IN HIS TEETH AND A GOLD THING COVERING ONE OF HIS TEETH.

WHAT ARE FILLINGS AND CROWNS?

>> FILLINGS ARE THE MATERIAL THAT WE PLACE IN TEETH WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CAVITIES, PRIMARILY.

WE GO IN AND CLEAN OUT THE DECAY, AND PLACE A FILLING IN THERE TO RESTORE THE TOOTH STRUCTURE WE'VE REMOVED.

AND IF YOU HAVE LOST A LOT OF TOOTH STRUCTURE OR IF YOU'VE BROKEN A TOOTH, THEN WE PUT A CROWN ON THE TOOTH, AND THAT GOES OVER THE TOP OF THE ENTIRE TOOTH RATHER THAN GOING INSIDE OF IT.

BY PLACING THAT CROWN WLITS IMPORTANCE LAN OR GOLD, IT ADDS STRENGTH TO THAT TOOTH, AND THE REST REMAINS INTACT.

>> SAVANNAH AND RICHARD WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO TEETH FALL OUT AND HOW DO YOU GET LOOSE TEETH?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOSE ONE OF YOUR BABY TEETH, WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS YOU A -- YOU'LL HAVE A PERMANENT TOOTH THAT IS GROWING UNDERNEATH THE PRIMARY TOOTH, OR THE BABY TOOTH, AND AS THAT ACTUALLY ERUPT NOOSE A PERSON'S MOUTH, IT STARTS A PROCESS WHERE THE ROOT OF THE BABY TOOTH ACTUALLY DISSOLVES AND THEN IT WILL FALL OUT ON ITS OWN.

>> OK.

AND QUESTION FROM MRS.

HUNT'S FOURTH GRADE CLASS.

GABE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A TOOTH TO ROT?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.

IN SOME PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T BRUSH YOUR TEETH, IF YOU EAT A LOT OF HIGH SUGAR FOODS, DRINK A LOT OF SODA POP AND REALLY NEGLECT THINGS, IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO GET A CAVITY.

SO YOU REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE TEETH.

>> SENYA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DOES TEETH MAKE -- HOW DOES PLAQUE MAKE YOUR TEETH YELLOW?

>> WELL, PLAQUE WILL ACTUALLY BUILD UP ON THE SURFACE OF YOUR TOOTH AND CAN MAKE A TOOTH LOOK YELLOW.

USUALLY AFTER YOU HAVE THAT BRUSHED OFF OR CLEANED OFF YOUR TOOTH ACTUALLY WON'T BE YELLOW UNDERNEATH UNLESS THAT PLAQUE HAS SAT ON THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT HARDEN AND BECOMES TAR TAR.

AND IF YOU HAVE THAT ON YOUR TOOTH, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE YOU IN AND DO A REALLY GOOD CLEANING WHERE WE CAN GET THAT OFF SO IT DOESN'T BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM.

>> WHAT DOES MAKE YOUR TEETH TURN DIFFERENT COLOR, OR DARKEN?

>> YOU CAN HAVE -- YOU CAN HAVE LITTLE -- THERE ARE LITTLE PITS AND PORES AND GROOVES IN YOUR TEETH, AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE EAT CAN SOMETIMES CAUSE STAIN TO GET INTO THOSE AREAS AND DARKEN A PERSON'S TOOTH.

>> ALSO, THERE ARE THINGS, THERE ARE CERTAIN DRUGS PEOPLE MAY TAKE WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER, PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN TETRACYCLINE MAY DEVELOP VERY DARK, DISCOLORED GRAY TEETH, AND THAT ACTUALLY IS BECAUSE OF THE DRUG ITSELF.

AND THEN EVERYBODY HAS SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRANSLUCENT ENAMEL, SO THEIR TEETH LOOK GRAY AND DARKER, SOME PEOPLE HAVE OPAQUE ENAMEL WHICH MAKES THEM LOOK VERY WHITE.

>> NOAH IN NAMPA.

ARE YOU THERE?

NOAH?

NOPE.

OK.

I CAN'T QUITE HEAR YOU.

LET ME ASK YOUR QUESTION.

CAN CARROTS BRUSH YOUR TEETH?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> Caller: [INAUDIBLE] >> CAN CARROTS BRUSH YOUR TEETH?

>> WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY CARROTS CAN BRUSH YOUR TEETH, BUT PROBABLY WHAT HE'S HEARING IS THAT VEGETABLES, THEY HAVE NO SUGAR AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF FIBER AND ROUGHAGE, THEY CERTAINLY PROBABLY ARE BETTER FOR YOU AND YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO GET PLAQUE THAN EATING HIGH-SUGAR FOODS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH.

>> LET'S SEE IF I CAN HEAR YOU.

MARY?

>> Caller: [INAUDIBLE] >> AGAIN, WE SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PHONES.

I CAN JUST BARELY HEAR YOU.

GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION AND I'LL PASS IT ON AND THE ENGINEERS CAN LET ME KNOW WHEN THE PHONES GET FIXED.

MARY?

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: [INAUDIBLE] >> YOUR FAMILY HAS SOFT TEETH, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

OK.

LET'S ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND THEY'LL TRY AND WORK ON THE PHONES.

WHAT ARE SOFT TEETH?

>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SOFT TEETH IN TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEIR FAMILY MIGHT TEND TO HAVE MORE CAVITIES THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SAY THAT TEETH ARE SOFT, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY A GENETIC PREDISPOSITION THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE THAT THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TOOTH DECAY THAN OTHERS.

BECAUSE I SEE PEOPLE THAT DON'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THEIR TEETH, THEY DON'T GET DECAY.

OTHERS DO A BETTER JOB AND THEY STILL MIGHT GET DECAY.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH CALCIUM, SOME OF IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU GREW UP, WHERE HAVE YOU WATER, REAL SOFT WATER, YOU WOULD HAVE SOFTER TEETH PER SE.

PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY HAVE SOFTER TEETH, SO TO SPEAK.

>> OK.

WE'VE GOT ONE MOARKS LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

TANNER IN REXBURG.

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> YEAH, OK, GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: MY QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GROWING UP YOU GOT CAVITIES, AND THEN IT GOT LOOSE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> IF YOU GREW UP AND YOU DIDN'T -- YOU GREW UP WITH A TOOTH WITH A CAVITY OR WITHOUT A CAVITY?

>> Caller: WITH A CAVITY.

>> THAT'S A QUESTION, IF YOU HAVE A CAVITY, HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP IT BEFORE IT BEGINS TO BECOME A PROBLEM?

>> PROBABLY REALLY DEPENDS ON WHEN YOU GET THAT CAVITY FIXED.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN ON A REGULAR BASIS IS THAT WE CAN CHECK FOR CAVITIES AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THEM WHEN THEY'RE REALLY SMALL.

IF YOU HAVE A SMALL CAVITY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY TO GET FIXED.

SO WHAT WE WOULD DO, WE WOULD CLEAN THE SOFT PART OUT AND PUT A FILLING IN TO FIX THE TOOTH, AND THEN THAT CAN LAST FOR A LONG TIME, AND HAVE REALLY NO PROBLEMS.

BUT IF A PERSON LETS A CAVITY GET BIGGER, THEY CAN ACTUALLY REALLY WEAKEN YOUR TOOTH WHERE IT CAN BREAK EASILY AND HAVE ALL TYPES OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

SO IF A PERSON COMES IN VERY REGULARLY, WE CAN USUALLY GET THEM AND GET THEM FIXED WITHOUT TOO MANY PROBLEMS.

>> HANNAH IN MRS.

HUNT'S CLASS ASKS, WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?

>> WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ROOT CANALS, TYPICALLY WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE DENTIST HAS TO GO INSIDE THAT TOOTH BECAUSE EITHER THAT TOOTH BROKE SO SEVERELY IT WENT INTO THE PULP, OR THEY HAD DECAY THAT WENT INTO THE PULP, OR SOMETIMES TEETH JUST DIE.

IN EITHER SITUATION YOU HAVE TO MAKE A HOLE THROUGH THE TOP OF THE TOOTH, GO INTO IT, CLEAN OUT ALL OF THAT TISSUE OUT OF THE CANALS WHERE THE NERVES AND BLOOD VESSELS ARE, AND THEN WE PUT A SOFT FILLING MATERIAL IN THERE SO THEY CAN KEEP THAT TOOTH IN THE MOUTH EVEN THOUGH IT IS TECHNICALLY DEAD.

>> JAMIE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PULP IN YOUR TOOTH WHEN IT'S LOOSE?

>> IN A BABY TOOTH WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE ROOT ACTUALLY DISSOLVES FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN THE PULP IS STILL IN THE TOOTH AND SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE THE TOOTH AFTER YOU'VE TAKEN IT OUT YOU'LL SEE A RED DOT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PULP WHEN YOU LOSE A BABY TOOTH.

>> LYDIA?

IN BOISE, LYDIA?

>> Caller: YES, LYDIA AVERY.

LYDIA WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY SHE HAS TWO SPOTS ON HER NEW TEETH.

HER ADULT TEETH.

>> OK.

WHAT CAUSES -- LITTLE WHITE SPOTS ON HER TEETH.

>> WHITE SPOTS ARE HYPER CALCIFICATION THAT CAN COME FROM ANOTHER -- MAYBE THERE'S TOO MUCH CALCIUM, MAYBE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH, PERHAPS SHE HAD A FEVER, DR.

WEITZ TALKED ABOUT A FEVER EARLIER THAT CAN AFFECT THE WAY THE ENAN EL DEVELOPS.

THERE'S NO WAY FOR TO US REALLY KNOW.

AND LOTS OF TIMES THOSE CAN BE CORRECTED COSMETICALLY BY CLEANING THOSE OFF, POLISHING THEM, SOMETIMES ADDING A TOOTH COLORED FILLING OVER THE TOP OF THAT.

>> OK.

IN MRS.

HOOPER'S CLASS IN GOODING ELEMENTARY, CHASE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH CANDY DOES IT TAKE TO ROT OUT YOUR TEETH?

THIS IS A POPULAR QUESTION.

>> WELL, REALLY, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EAT A LOT OF CANDY, AND THEY WON'T HAVE THEIR TEETH ROT, SO REALLY IT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEETH.

SO IF A PERSON DOES EAT CANDY, THAT HAS A LOT OF SUGAR IN IT, AND IF YOU LEAVE IT ON FOR A LONG TIME, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT TURNING INTO THE ACID THAT CAN DISSOLVE A PERSON'S TOOTH.

BUT IF YOU VERY SOON AFTER YOU'VE EATEN CANDY BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH TOOTH PASTE, THE TOOTHPASTE WILL HELP CLEAN THAT OFF AND ALSO STRENGTHEN YOUR TOOTH.

SO IT'S KIND OF A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER, BUT IF YOU'RE TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOUR TEETH, IT'S OK TO HAVE CANDY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

>> HENRY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FROM McDONALD ELEMENTARY, WHAT IS IN TOOTHPASTE THAT HELPS YOUR TEETH?

>> WELL, MOST OF ALL THERE'S AN ABRASIVE IN THERE, A VERY, VERY SMALL PUMICE PARTICLES.

IT HAS AN ABRASIVE QUALITY THAT HELPS TO CLEAN THAT OFF, JUST LIKE AN ABRASIVE CLEANER THAT YOU WOULD USE ON THE FLOOR.

BUT AS DR.

WEITZ SAID, MOST TOOTHPASTES ALSO HAVE FLUORIDE, AND FLUORIDE IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE ON TEETH, BECAUSE IT -- FLUORIDE AND THE BACTERIA THAT CAUSES TOOTH DECAY DON'T GET ALONG VERY WELL.

SO THOSE TWO THINGS, THAT'S WHAT'S IN TOOTHPASTE.

>> RILEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT CONNECTS YOUR TEETH TO YOUR JAW?

>> WELL, RILEY, WHAT CONNECTS A PERSON'S TOOTH TO THEIR JAW, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT THEY CALL A LIGAMENT, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE LITTLE FIBERS THAT HOLD THE TOOTH INTO YOUR JAW, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS A PERSON GETS OLDER, IF THEY'RE HAVING PLAQUE THAT GETS BUILT UP IN BETWEEN THEIR TEETH, THAT CAN ACTUALLY GET DOWN INTO THAT LIGAMENT AND CAUSE A PROBLEM THAT THEY CALL GUM DISEASE, AND THAT'S WHERE BACTERIA GETS IN BETWEEN THE JAW BONE AND THE TOOTH, AND THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WE LIKE TO GET IN THERE WITH FLOSS, BECAUSE THAT WILL GET TO THAT AREA WHERE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH CAN'T REACH.

>> SAM WOULD LIKE TO KNOW Y. DO WE HAVE TO BRUSH OUR TEETH IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT?

>> WELL, YOU NEED TO BRUSH MORNING AND NIGHT, AND PROBABLY WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM SCHOOL, TOO, I WOULD SUGGEST.

BECAUSE PLAQUE BUILDS UP RATHER QUICKLY.

AND EVERY TIME WE EAT WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS, WE START BUILDING UP PLAQUE.

SO IF YOU ONLY BRUSH ONCE A DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW THAT PLAQUE TO BUILD UP MORE FREQUENTLY, AND IN SOME PEOPLE IT WILL START TO CAUSE DECAY.

SO I SUGGEST KIDS BRUSH THEIR TEETH AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY.

>> A QUESTION FROM EMILY WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, I HAVE -- IF YOU HAVE GROWN-UP TEETH AND ONE FALLS OUT AND YOU GET A NEW ONE, WHY IS THAT?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET AN EXTRA PERMANENT TOOTH?

>> THAT DOES HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

YOU CAN HAVE AN EXTRA TOOTH, THEY CALL THAT A SUPER NUMERARY TOOTH.

MOST OF THE TIME AN EXTRA PERMANENT TOOTH IS NOT GOING TO FALL OUT ON ITS OWN, AND IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON MAYBE TO HAVE AN EXTRA BABY TOOTH THAT WOULD FALL OUT, BUT GENERALLY AN EXTRA TOOTH IS NOT VERY COMMON, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN, AND USUALLY IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOUR DENTIST MIGHT NEED TO HELP YOU WITH.

>> WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WISDOM TEETH.

WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH AND WHY ARE THEY OFTEN PULLED WHEN YOU'RE AN ADULT.

>> WISDOM TEETH ARE ACTUALLY YOUR THIRD MOLARS.

THEY COME IN BEHIND EVERYTHING ELSE, USUALLY AT AGE 18, 19, 20, 21.

UNFORTUNATELY IN MOST INDIVIDUALS NOW WE JUST DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR THOSE TEETH TO ERUPT INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE FUNCTIONAL.

AND SO OFTEN TIMES THEY BECOME IMPACTED, THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TO, AND THEY START CAUSING PROBLEMS, AND THEY CAUSE PAIN AND INFECTION.

SO THAT'S WHY GENERALLY MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE THEIR WISDOM TEETH REMOVED.

SOME PEOPLE CAN HAVE ROOM FOR THEM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION JUST DOESN'T HAVE ROOM FOR THOSE WISDOM TEETH.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO DAVID IN WEERZ.

HAVE YOU AN ANIMAL TOOTH QUESTION.

DAVID?

DAVID, ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YES.

>> THERE WE GO.

GO AHEAD, DAVID.

>> Caller: HI.

MY QUESTION IS, HOW COME DIFFERENT ANIMALS HAVE DIFFERENT COLORED ENAMELS AND HUMANE SOCIETY ONLY HAVE WHITE COLORED ENAMEL?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> WELL, PROBABLY SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW THICK THE ENAMEL IS, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY FORM, AND DIFFERENT MINERALS THAT CAN GET INCORPORATED WITH A TOOTH.

THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WILL CHANGE THE COLORS.

>> DOES DIET HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT?

>> DIET CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

I WOULD THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET MOST OF THE MINERALS THAT WILL BECOME PART OF YOUR TOOTH, FROM WHAT SOMETHING EATS.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO -- I THINK THIS IS GRAYSON IN BOISE.

>> Caller: YES, THIS IS HIS MOM.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: HE WANTS TO KNOW, HE'S GOING ON 8 YEARS OLD, AND HE'S ONLY LOST TWO TEETH.

HE'S WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

>> I WOULD TELL HIM NOT TO WORRY.

OFTEN TIMES SOME CHILDREN LOSE THEIR -- START LOSING TEETH EARLY, SOME START LOSING THEM LATER.

MY SON, HE DIDN'T LOSE A TOOTH UNTIL HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND HE WAS WORRIED SOMETHING WAS WRONG, AND WANTED ME TO TAKE TEETH OUT FOR HIM.

TYPICALLY WHAT I FOUND, THE CHILDREN THAT LOSE TEETH LATER TEND TO ALSO GROW LATER.

SO THEY'LL HIT THEIR GROWTH SPURT LATER ON IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND OFTEN TIMES MY SON WAS RATHER SMALL, AND HE'S 6'5" NOW.

>> THERE YOU GO.

LET'S GO TO WILLIAM IN TWIN FALLS.

WILLIAM?

>> Caller: MY DAD SMOKES.

IS THAT GOOD FOR HIS TEETH?

>> IS SMOKING BAD FOR YOUR TEETH?

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, WILLIAM.

SMOKING CAN BE VERY HARD ON A PERSON'S TOOTH, BECAUSE IT CAN REALLY DRY A PERSON'S MOUTH OUT, AND EVERYBODY HAS SALIVA IN THEIR MOUTH, THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOUR TEETH WET.

WHEN IT DRIES OUT, IT ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR GUMS GET IRRITATED AND YOU CAN GET CAVITIES A LOT EASIER WHEN A PERSON SMOKES.

SO ACTUALLY, SMOKING CIGARETTES CAN BE PRETTY HARD ON A PERSON'S TEETH.

>> IT ALSO UNFORTUNATELY YOU BECOME MORE PRONE TO ORAL CANCER FROM -- IF YOU'RE A SMOKER.

SO IT'S JUST NOT VERY GOOD FOR YOU.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> A FEW MORE EMAIL QUESTIONS.

HANNAH WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO GUMS HOLD YOUR TEETH?

>> HOW DO GUMS HOLD YOUR TEETH?

GUMS HOLD YOUR TEETH FIRST OF ALL, THEY -- THE TOOTH SITS IN THE BONE, BUT THEN THE GUM TISSUE THAT YOU SEE AROUND IT AS DR.

WEITZ SAID EARLIER, THERE'S A LIGAMENT THAT CONNECTS THE TOOTH TO THE BONE AND TO THE TISSUE.

AND THAT'S MADE UP OF VERY SMALL FIBERS.

THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS YOUR TOOTH TO MOVE JUST A LITTLE BIT.

IT HOLDS IT VERY RIGIDLY IN PLACE AS WELL.

>> SAVANNAH WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, McDONALD ELEMENTARY, WHY DO YOU ONLY FLOSS ONCE WHEN YOU SHOULD BRUSH TWICE OR MORE?

I ACTUALLY FLOSS MORE THAN THAT.

I FLOSS MORE THAN ONCE A DAY.

>> WE WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY IF PEOPLE FLOSSED A LITTLE MORE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

BUT REALLY, WHEN YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, YOU'RE GETTING THE TOOTHPASTE ON THERE.

I WOULD THINK BRUSHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING THINGS LIKE CAVITIES, AND IT DOES HELP THE GUMS, BUT THE FLOSSING IS REALLY HELPING YOUR GUM TISSUE AND IF YOU CAN GET IN THERE EVERY DAY AND GET THAT IN BETWEEN YOUR TEETH, THAT'S GOING TO DO A NICE JOB CLEANING IN BETWEEN THERE.

IF YOU WANT TO DO IT TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY, THAT'S EVEN BETTER.

WE JUST TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO DO IT AT LEAST ONCE IF WE CAN.

>> TYLER WANTS TO KNOW, CAN YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH YOUR FINGER?

>> I SUPPOSE YOU COULD BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH YOUR FINGER, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT TYLER STICKS WITH A TOOTH BRUSH.

>> DOES IT MATTER WHAT KIND OF TOOTHBRUSH YOU USE?

>> WE RECOMMEND USING A RELATIVELY SOFT TOOTHBRUSH.

SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT A HARDER TOOTHBRUSH IS BETTER, BUT IT'S JUSTHE OPPOSITE.

A HARD TOOTHBRUSH WILL ACTUALLY EVENTUALLY ABRADE YOUR TEETH, ABRADE YOUR ROOT SURFACES, IT'S HARD ON YOUR GUM TISSUE AND THE HARD BRISTLES DON'T CLEAN AS WELL, HONESTLY.

>> IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, STAY WITH ME EVEN AFTER THE PROGRAM GOES OFF THE AIR AND WE'LL KEEP ON YOU ON BOARD FOR OUR WEB-ONLY PROGRAM.

IF YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, STAY ON YOUR PHONE UNTIL WE GET TO YOUR QUESTION.

ERY ANNA IN MERIDIAN.

RHIANNA?

>> Caller: WHAT CAUSES TOOTH DECAY?

>> TOOTH DECAY IS ACTUALLY CAUSED FROM -- WHEN WE EAT, A LOT OF THE FOODS WE HAVE HAVE SUGARS IN THE FOOD, AND EVERYBODY HAS IN THEIR MOUTH THEY'LL HAVE ACTUALLY BACTERIA, WHICH ARE LIKE LITTLE MICROSCOPIC BUGS THAT ARE IN THEIR MOUTH.

THOSE BACTERIA CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THAT SUGAR AND THEY'RE USING THAT FOR FOOD LIKE WE DO, OUR REGULAR FOOD, BUT WHEN THEY BREAK IT DOWN, THAT ACTUALLY MAKES ACIDS, AND WHAT ACIDS DO, THEY WILL DISSOLVE THE MINERALS OUT OF YOUR TEETH, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSES THE CAVITY.

>> SEAN IN MRS.

FRYER'S CLASS AT CLEAR WATER VALLEY ELEMENTARY WOULD THRIEK KNOW, WHY DO PEOPLE NEED BRACES ON THEIR TEETH?

>> PEOPLE NEED BRACES BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAVE PERFECT TEETH, AND CERTAINLY NOT EVERYONE HAVE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT TEETH.

AND OFTEN TIMES OUR TEETH COME IN, THEY'RE CROOKED, THEY'RE ROTATED, THEY'RE MISPLACED, A IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO GET THEM IN A BETTER POSITION SO THAT YOU LOOK BETTER, BUT ALSO BRACES ARE VERY HELPFUL TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR TEETH DURING YOUR LIFETIME, BECAUSE TEETH THAT ARE NOT CROWDED, NOT ROTATED, ARE EASIER TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP IN A HEALTHY SITUATION.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU TYPICALLY HAVE TO WEAR BRACES?

>> BRACES, TYPICALLY PROBABLY TWO YEARS.

IT CERTAINLY CAN VARY.

IT CAN BE AS SHORT AS TWO MONTHS AND -- SIX MONTHS AND AS LONG AS FOUR YEARS.

TWO YEARS IS A GOOD AVERAGE.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO THE DENTIST FOR A VISIT?

WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY SEE WHEN SOMEONE COMES INTO YOUR OFFICE?

>> WHEN SOMEBODY COMES INTO OUR OFFICE, USUALLY WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS DO WHAT THEY CALL A CHECK-UP.

SO WE CAN FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE ANY TYPES OF PROBLEMS WITH YOUR TEETH, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT.

WE USUALLY LIKE TO TAKE WHAT ARE CALLED RADIO GRAPHS, SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM X-RAYS, AND WHAT THEY DO, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE INSIDE PART OF YOUR TEETH, AND SPOTS WHERE WE CAN'T SEE BY JUST LOOK AROUND.

SO WE'LL TAKE X-RAYS, AND THEN WE'LL TALK -- WE'LL LOOK AT THE X-RAYS TOGETHER, AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS.

WE'LL LOOK AROUND A PERSON'S MOUTH AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO WORK ON.

AND THEN WE WILL USUALLY LIKE TO CLEAN A PERSON'S TEETH, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL BUILD UP THINGS ON THEIR TEETH THAT THEY JUST CAN'T GET OFF WITH THEIR BRUSHING AND FLOSSING.

SO WE LIKE TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF FOR THEM, SO THEY DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GUMS AND THEIR TEETH.

AND IF THEY DO HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS, THEN WE WILL BRING THEM BACK IN AND GET THEM FIXED.

>> WE'VE GOT THREE SECONDS LEFT, WHY DID YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO BE A DENTIST?

>> WELL, I DECIDED I WANTED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, AND I LIKE SCIENCES, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT ABOUT MEDICINE, I THOUGHT ABOUT DENTISTRY, I THOUGHT ABOUT VETERINARY MEDICINE, AND I SAID, DENTISTRY APPEALED TO ME, THERE'S THE SCIENCE SIDE OF IT, THERE'S ALSO THE ART SIDE OF IT, AND IT'S A GREAT PROFESSION, YOU GET TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND HELP THEM.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU.

YOU HELPED US.

I APPRECIATE IT.

DR.

BRUCE, DR.

WEITZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE'VE GOT LOTS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TEETH ON OUR WEBSITE.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE "D4K" SITE.

YOU'LL FIND FACTS AND LINKS ON OUR EXCLUSIVE WEB-ONLY SHOA.

OUR NEXT BROADCAST PROGRAM WILL BE MARCH 18th, AND WE'LL BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT AMPHIBIANS.

WHEN YOU SEND IN YOUR QUESTION, YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL BE ENTERED IN OUR DRAWING FOR A D.V.D.

PLAYER AND D.V.D.'S.

LAST MONTH'S WINNER WAS TODD IN MRS.

WYSONG'S CLASS.

YOU CAN SEE OUR WINNERS ON OUR SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT PAGE ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE AND FOR THE LATEST, CHECK OUT MY BLOG.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "D4K."

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