| Non
- Fiction Band 1 |
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Title:
Teeth
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| Author:
Fred & Jeanne Biddulph, (photo.) Graham Meadows Photo., |
Publisher:
Applecross
Ltd, NZ: 1993.
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Introduction:
This book is called Teeth.
It provides a lot of information about the teeth we have in our mouths
and their different uses.
Text:
Did
you know that our teeth have special jobs? Because we eat meat as well
as fruit and vegetables, we need different kinds of teeth.
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Incisors
Look at these teeth.What special work do they do? These teeth are called
incisors. They are strong and sharp. You have eight incisors, four in
each jaw.
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Incisors nip off or bite food. They cut like scissors. Rabbits, rodents
and many other plant eaters have strong incisors that are always growing.
But because they are always nibbling, these teeth are worn down as they
grow. |
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Canines
Look at these teeth. What special work do they do? These teeth are called
canines. They are very sharp and pointed. You have four canines,
two in each jaw.
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| Canine
teeth are tearing teeth. They help us tear off bits of food. The word canine
means "like a dog". Dogs have strong canine teeth to help them
tear up meat. These teeth are sometimes called fangs. Animals that hunt,
such as lions, wolves, tigers and hyenas, have powerful fangs. |
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Molars
Look at these teeth. What special work do they do? These teeth are pre-molars
and molars. They are very strong teeth.
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People
have eight pre-molars and between eight and twelve molars. Pre-molars help
us to crush food.
Molars are for grinding. We crush and grind food as we chew. |
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The
huge molars of an elephant can crush and grind woody food like small branches.
This food can wear the molar down until it falls out. But the elephant can
grow a new tooth to replace it. There are five molars growing in the gum
below, waiting to come through. [Excerpt] |
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