Why do we brush our teeth?
Clover answers for ages 4–9, then goes 1 step deeper each time a child asks why.
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Clover says
Your mouth is home to lots of tiny germs. They stick to your teeth in a clear, sticky layer called plaque. If plaque stays there for a long time, it can make little holes in your teeth called cavities. Brushing sweeps the plaque away, so your teeth stay strong and ready to chew.
Checked against How to Take Care of Your Teeth (KidsHealth)
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Why can plaque make holes?
The germs in plaque eat the sugar from your food and drinks, and they make acid as they go. Acid slowly wears away the hard outside of a tooth, and that's how a hole starts. Brushing twice a day, for two whole minutes each time, sweeps the germs off before that can happen.
Checked against How to Take Care of Your Teeth (KidsHealth)
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