What you'll need:
a rubber glove, a jar of peanut
butter and something to spread it with, a container of dental floss,
a toothbrush and some toothpaste.
What to do:
put the glove on one hand and hold your
hand with the fingers extended but tightly together, pointing upward
(your hand with the glove should look like you're going to give your friend
a "high
five:, or how a policeman holds his hand up to stop traffic).
Spread
your fingers apart and have someone spread peanut butter between
your fingers - make
sure to get the peanut butter deep between your finger joints. Tighten
your fingers together again.
In this experiment, your fingers represent
your teeth, and the peanut butter between them is food that gets
trapped between your teeth when you eat.
With your fingers still tightly together
and held upward, use the toothbrush and toothpaste to try and scrub
the
peanut butter away (remember not to move your fingers apart!).
Have
someone else try to remove the peanut butter using the dental floss between
your
fingers. Which does a better job - the toothbrush and paste or the
floss?
What will happen:
a toothbrush simply can't reach
all the places between your teeth. Dental floss can do a much better
job of removing food between your teeth. If it's not removed, it
can cause gum disease and cavities.
Note: with any science experiment, it is recommended you have an adult present for supervision.
