Parts of a Tooth

Teeth are made up of several different parts. The crown is the portion of the tooth above the gum line which bites, tears and grinds food. The crown is covered with enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body. The next layer under the enamel is dentin. Dentin is very soft. The inner layer of the tooth is the pulp which contains nerves and blood vessels. The root is the part of the tooth below the gum line which helps anchor the tooth in the jawbone. The root is covered with cementum. The gums are the soft, pink tissues which surround the teeth and help hold them in place.


ACTIVITIES

1. Label the parts of the tooth on worksheet.

2. Have children color a picture of a tooth, using different colors for the crown, root and gums.

3. Draw a picture of a tree. Draw a picture of a tooth next to it. Compare the roots of the tree to the roots of a tooth, the soil and grass to the gums, the trunk to the crown.

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