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GIRLS Club learns science behind dentistry By Liz Dadson |
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 Dental hygienist Laurie Convay (C), who lives in Tiverton and works in Kincardine, gets ready to conduct the "egg-in-vinegar" experiment, surrounded by members of the GIRLS (Girls In Real Life Science) Club, Friday morning at the Bruce Power Visitors' Centre | |||||
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Twenty-four girls, in Grades 4-7, learned about the science behind dentistry at the GIRLS (Girls In Real Life Science) Club Friday morning at the Bruce Power Visitors' Centre. Sponsored by Women in Nuclear (WiN) Bruce, the session featured dental hygienist Laurie Convay and dental laboratory technician Carol Blake, discussing their jobs and helping the girls give a good first impresion. Actually, it was a tooth impression they were making, with Convay helping them make a mould of their teeth, and Blake assisting them in making the actual stone/plaster cast of the impression. The ladies also discussed tooth care and how to prevent cavities, by brushing properly, flossing every day, and eating a diet of healthy foot. Plus, the girls had a chance to discover how much sugar is in various products, such as Arizona Ice Tea drink, 72 teaspoons per bottle; a bag of Skittles, 13 teaspoons; and a McDonald's chocolate shake, 26 teaspoons. Convay conducted an experiment to demonstrate how fluoride toothpaste protects the enamel on the surface of the teeth. She put an egg in a dish of vinegar, and another egg coated in toothpaste in a second dish of vinegar. The uncoated egg quickly began to be eaten away by the vinegar, while the coated egg did not change in appearance. Convay said the bacteria in our mouth eats the sugar in our food and then spits out acid which rots our teeth unless we brush regularly. The fluoride in toothpaste is what protects our teeth. She noted that power/energy drinks are bad for our teeth. They actually cause deterioration to the tooth enamel. "Every time you eat, and for 20 minutes afterwards, your mouth is cavity-prone," she said. "So, if you crave that chocolate bar or candy, because I know Halloween is coming up on Monday (Oct. 31), eat that candy right after your lunch or supper." For more information about the effects of power/energy drinks on tooth enamel, click here
Laurie Convay (L) assists Jenna Franklin, 9, of Kincardine, make a tooth impression in the alginate substance
Victoria Grabas (L), 9, and Lucy Thorpe, 9, both of Kincardine, show how much sugar is in a bottle of Arizona Ice Tea
Natasha Szulist (R), 11, of Port Elgin, says "ahhh" while Laurie Convay puts the alginate in her mouth to make a tooth impression
Laurie Convay (C) holds up the first egg in the dish of vinegar, while the girls watch
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 Alexandra Thorne (L), 9, and Cassidy Murray-Collins, 11, both of Kincardine, show how much sugar is in a bag of Skittles  Carol Blake (L) helps Alice Thorpe, 12, of Kincardine, put a liquid stone substance in her mould to create a paster cast of the impression  Emma Arnold, 9, of Tiverton c hecks out the eggs before they are used in the experiment with vinegar  Carol Blake (L) helps Brenna Calcutt, 9, of Kincardine, make a stone cast of her tooth impression Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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