We all know brushing your teeth is important to keep clean and stay healthy, but have you ever wondered why unclean teeth are so harmful? Have you ever wondered why you need to use toothpaste rather than just water? Answer all these questions and more in this fun experiment!
Brushing your teeth can sometimes be a hassle. We’ve all felt like skipping a night or two. But making sure you brush twice a day is actually very important! Did you know that your body is full of living things called bacteria? Some bacteria are good and helpful, but others are harmful. When you don't brush your teeth, the little bits of the food you eat get left behind, and the bacteria in your mouth eat these pieces and create acid. This acid can be really damaging to your teeth! Let’s take a look at how this acid affects your teeth with a cool experiment.
Materials:
3 or more eggs, 1 can of soda, Water, White Vinegar, Other beverages, Toothpaste, Plastic cup/containers (must be big enough to hold an egg), and a saucepan or pot
Time Estimated:
20-25 minutes
Directions:
Only do this experiment with adult supervision!
Place eggs in pot, cover with water, and bring water to a boil (with parents’ help)
Once the water is boiling, move heat to low and let the eggs boil for about ten minutes
Remove eggs from water and let cool
Scrub toothpaste on one half of the egg
Place each egg in a different container
Cover each egg with a different liquid
Let the eggs sit in the liquids for about 48 hours
Remove the eggs from the liquids and observe what happened!
Think Like A Scientist:
What did you observe about the eggs?
What does this experiment simulate?
What represented the acid in this experiment?
How It Works:
In this experiment, the acids in the soda weakened the eggshell, making it more loose. Any bubbles that you might observe on the shell are caused by air escaping the egg through the thinner, weaker shell. Most of the eggshell on the egg that was in vinegar has disintegrated due to the high acidity of vinegar. The sides of the eggs that had toothpaste on them are slightly less affected by the acidity of the liquids because toothpaste helps strengthen and protect the shell in the same way it does for teeth. The egg shell in water appears normal. Now you can see how important it is to make sure you brush your teeth!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
