Dental Care. Third World Science.

This unit, developed by the Third World Science Project, is designed to add a multicultural element to existing science syllabi (for students aged 11-16) in the United Kingdom. The project seeks to develop an appreciation of the: boundless fascination of the natural world; knowledge, skills, and expertise possessed by men/women everywhere; application of knowledge and skills to solve the practical problems of everyday life; impact of modern technology in the world; and the influence of the cultural background on the perception of knowledge, problems, and solutions. The unit begins with historical background information on the ritualistic use of chewing-sticks, describing the most common plants that were chosen for this purpose. This is followed by brief discussions of chewing-sponges (to show differences in the technique employed) and the anti-bacterial activity in chewing-sticks, and a short list of references on chewing-sticks and sponges. The unit concludes with five class activities dealing with identification of different types of teeth, effect of acid on teeth, testing toothpaste, and finding some useful components of toothpaste. (JN)