What Teeth Tell Us

Here are some hand guides and worksheets to download and explore at home, or in the classroom! When a dentist looks at our teeth, our teeth can tell them a lot about our body, which is why it is important to visit the dentist regularly for cleanings. Use this infographic to discover what your teeth tell dentists about your age, habits, and health conditions.

When you’re younger, your central incisors are rectangular and have rounded corners, but they become shorter with square corners as you get older. Dentists can also tell certain habits you have. Teeth can appear flat as a result of teeth grinding, which often happens due to stress. If you bite your nails, your teeth can have small chips or cracks as well as uneven tips. Thumbsucking can cause protruding front teeth, an uneven bite, and even problems with speech. They can even tell if you have health issues that aren’t directly teeth related. When you have healthy teeth and still have pain in your upper teeth, you might have a sinus infection. Swollen gums, loose teeth, and cavities might be signs of diabetes. Weak enamel, mouth sores, and changes in the texture of your tongue might mean that you have a vitamin deficiency. These conditions, while not fully dental in nature, can present themselves in your teeth, and it’s important that you catch them to keep both your mouth and body healthy.

After reading the infographic, answer the provided discussion questions. Discuss what our age says about our teeth, why habits like nail biting are not good for your teeth, and what conditions can say about our teeth.

Visit the dentist every six months for cleanings so your dentist can catch these conditions and habits that harm your teeth early. Listen to what your dentist says and your teeth tell you to keep your smile healthy!