The Reading / Listening - White Teeth - Level 6

White teeth are widely revered in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to make ultra-white teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-based chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect set of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at hand for those of us who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an effective teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-term oral health".

The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is activated by electric toothbrush vibrations, which create a small electric field over the teeth. This causes a reaction known as "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds that break down stain-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were artificially discoloured with tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those brushed with saline. The researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder into a toothpaste formula.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    White Teeth - Level 4  or  White Teeth - Level 5

Sources
  • https://dentistry.co.uk/2026/01/27/toothbrush-activated-powder-developed-for-at-home-whitening/
  • https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/toothbrush-activated-powder-whitens-repairs-and-protects-teeth/ar-AA1V280L
  • https://scitechdaily.com/whiter-teeth-without-the-damage-this-new-powder-could-change-oral-care/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WHITE TEETH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about white teeth. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       white teeth / Hollywood / chemical whiteners / gums / stained teeth / oral health /
       electric toothbrush / laboratory trials / tea / coffee / saline / brushing / toothpaste
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TEETH WHITENING: Students A strongly believe all of us should try to get whiter teeth; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. YOUR HEAD: How much do you care about these things? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Much I Care

Why?

White teeth

 

 

Wrinkles

 

 

Clear skin

 

 

Hair

 

 

Eyelashes

 

 

Facial hair

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. TOOTHPASTE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "toothpaste". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THE PERFECT SMILE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about having the perfect smile at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • First impressions
  • Confidence
  • Youthful appearance
  • Dating advantages
  • Looks professional
  • Job interviews
  • Signals good health
  • You look kinder

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. revered a. The two soft parts of the mouth that holds the teeth.
      2. ultra b. The hard white outside of a tooth.
      3. obsession c. Very respected and loved.
      4. gums d. Thinking about one thing all the time.
      5. at hand e. Very strong or very extreme.
      6. integrating f. Near or ready to use.
      7. enamel g. Putting things together.

    Paragraph 2

      8. activated h. Small, fast movements.
      9. vibrations i. Things made from two or more parts.
      10. compounds j. Water with salt in it.
      11. molecules k. Started or turned on.
      12. artificially l. To add and mix in.
      13. saline m. Made by people, not natural.
      14. incorporate n. Very small parts that make everything.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says white teeth are unrivalled in many countries.     T / F
  2. The article says white teeth are a must-have in many countries.     T / F
  3. The article says teeth-whitening chemicals can strengthen our gums.     T / F
  4. A researcher said the new powder can repair tooth enamel.     T / F
  5. The powder reacts to vibrations from electric toothbrushes.     T / F
  6. The powder attacks molecules that cause stains on our teeth.     T / F
  7. Four hours of brushing with the powder resulted in visible whitening.     T / F
  8. The powder is now in many toothpastes we can buy in stores.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. revered
  2. obsession
  3. attempt
  4. at hand
  5. integrating
  6. activated
  7. compounds
  8. promising
  9. visible
  10. step
  1. started
  2. close
  3. encouraging
  4. combining
  5. cherished
  6. amalgams
  7. noticeable
  8. fixation
  9. course of action
  10. effort

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. White teeth are widely
  2. make ultra-white teeth a
  3. people have used peroxide-based
  4. Help is now at
  5. long-term
  6. It is activated by electric toothbrush
  7. compounds that break down stain-
  8. their laboratory trials were very
  9. teeth that were artificially
  10. incorporate the powder
  1. causing molecules
  2. chemical whiteners
  3. vibrations
  4. into a toothpaste
  5. revered in many countries
  6. discoloured with tea
  7. hand
  8. oral health
  9. must-have
  10. promising

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
set
powder
ultra
safe
revered
based
oral
hand

White teeth are widely (1) _________________________________ in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to make (2) _________________________________ -white teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-(3) _________________________________ chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect (4) _________________________________ of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at (5) _________________________________ for those of us who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an effective teeth-whitening ceramic (6) _________________________________. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a (7) _________________________________, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-term (8) _________________________________ health".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
brushed
reaction
activated
visible
stain
incorporate
field
artificially

The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is (9) _________________________________ by electric toothbrush vibrations, which create a small electric (10) _________________________________ over the teeth. This causes a (11) _________________________________ known as "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds that break down (12) _________________________________ -causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were (13) _________________________________ discoloured with tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was (14) _________________________________ whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those (15) _________________________________ with saline. The researchers said the next step is to (16) _________________________________ the powder into a toothpaste.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  advertising and social media have helped to make ultra-white teeth ______
     a.  a most-have
     b.  a must-have
     c.  a mist-have
     d.  a mast-have
2)  chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect set ______
     a.  of "pearly whites"
     b.  of "pearly creams"
     c.  of "pearly canines"
     d.  of "pearly gums"
3)  Help is now at hand for those of us who have stained or ______
     a.  off-white teeth
     b.  on-white teeth
     c.  egg-white teeth
     d.  oft-white teeth
4)  Researchers in China say they have created an effective teeth-______
     a.  whitening ceramic powders
     b.  whitening ceramic powdered
     c.  whitening ceramic powdery
     d.  whitening ceramic powder
5)  enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-______
     a.  tame oral health
     b.  trim oral health
     c.  terms oral health
     d.  term oral health

6)  It is activated by ______
     a.  electricity toothbrush vibrations
     b.  electrical toothbrush vibrations
     c.  electric toothbrush vibrations
     d.  electrician toothbrush vibrations
7)  These are compounds that break down ______
     a.  strain-causing molecules
     b.  satin-causing molecules
     c.  statin-causing molecules
     d.  stain-causing molecules
8)  They tested human teeth that were artificially ______
     a.  discoloured within tea
     b.  discoloured wither tea
     c.  discoloured wit tea
     d.  discoloured with tea
9)  After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those ______
     a.  brushed with sea lion
     b.  brushed with saline
     c.  brushed with sailing
     d.  brushed with say line
10)  the next step is to incorporate the powder into ______
     a.  a toothpaste form moolah
     b.  a toothpaste formulas
     c.  a toothpaste formula
     d.  a toothpaste formulaic

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

White teeth (1) _______________________________________________ in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to (2) ______________________________________________ teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-based (3) _______________________________________________ an attempt to get a perfect set of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is (4) _______________________________________________ for those of us who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers in China say they have (5) _______________________________________________ teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-(6) _______________________________________________".

The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is (7) _______________________________________________ toothbrush vibrations, which create a small (8) _______________________________________________ the teeth. This causes a reaction known as "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds that (9) _______________________________________________-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were (10) _______________________________________________ tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those (11) _______________________________________________. The researchers said the next step is (12) _______________________________________________ powder into a toothpaste.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where does the article say white teeth are revered?
  2. What kind of chemicals whiteners have people used for a long time?
  3. What can chemical whiteners damage besides our teeth?
  4. What kind of powder have researchers created?
  5. What did a researcher say the powder can repair?
  6. What do vibrations from an electric toothbrush help the powder create?
  7. What did the researchers say about their laboratory trials?
  8. What did the researchers stain teeth with?
  9. How much whiter were teeth after 12 hours of cleaning with the powder?
  10. What did a researcher say the powder should be incorporated into?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Where does the article say white teeth are revered?
a) in dental clinics
b) in many countries
c) at high schools
d) online
2) What kind of chemicals whiteners have people used for a long time?
a) inorganic chemicals
b) acid-based chemicals
c) synthetic chemicals
d) peroxide-based chemicals
3) What can chemical whiteners damage besides our teeth?
a) our lips
b) our health
c) our gums
d) our appetite
4) What kind of powder have researchers created?
a) ceramic powder
b) fine powder
c) plant-based powder
d) black powder
5) What did a researcher say the powder can repair?
a) bad breath
b) tooth enamel
c) tooth decay
d) chipped teeth

6) What do vibrations from an electric toothbrush help the powder create?
a) a small electric field
b) a paste
c) a minty taste
d) bubbles
7) What did the researchers say about their laboratory trials?
a) They are ongoing.
b) They were disappointing.
c) They were promising.
d) They were jaw-dropping
8) What did the researchers stain teeth with?
a) tea and coffee
b) red wine
c) liquorice
d) curry
9) How much whiter were teeth after 12 hours of cleaning with the powder?
a) 20% whiter
b) 30% whiter
c) 40% whiter
d) 50% whiter
10) What did a researcher say the powder should be incorporated into?
a) our lifestyles
b) visits to the dentist
c) toothpaste
d) chewing gum

Role play

Role  A – First Impressions
You think the perfect smile is most important for first impressions. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): confidence, job interviews or signalling good health.

Role  B – Confidence
You think the perfect smile is most important for confidence. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): first impressions, job interviews or signalling good health.

Role  C – Job Interviews
You think the perfect smile is most important for job interviews. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): confidence, first impressions or signalling good health.

Role  D – Signalling Good Health
You think the perfect smile is most important for signalling good health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): confidence, job interviews or first impressions.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'teeth'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'toothpaste'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • widely
    • must
    • set
    • damage
    • effective
    • long
    • works
    • field
    • break
    • coffee
    • 50
    • step

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - White Teeth

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'teeth'?
    3. What do you think of your teeth?
    4. What do you think of having white teeth?
    5. What do you think of having straight teeth?
    6. Why are white teeth so revered?
    7. Can teeth be too white?
    8. Would you use teeth-whitening chemicals?
    9. What do you do to look after your teeth?
    10. What do you think of going to the dentist?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'toothbrush'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Is an electric or regular toothbrush best?
    5. What can we eat that is good for our teeth?
    6. What do we eat that is bad for our teeth?
    7. What's your favourite toothpaste, and why?
    8. Will you be using the new teeth-whitening powder?
    9. What do you think when you see a perfect smile?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a dentist?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    White teeth are widely (1) ____ in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to make (2) ____-white teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-based chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect (3) ____ of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at (4) ____ for those of us who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an (5) ____ teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-term (6) ____ health".

    The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is activated by electric toothbrush (7) ____, which create a small electric field over the teeth. This causes a reaction known (8) ____ "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds that break down (9) ____-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were (10) ____ discoloured with tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than (11) ____ brushed with saline. The researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder (12) ____ a toothpaste.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     revered     (b)     revelled     (c)     rebelled     (d)     levered    
    (a)     neo     (b)     intra     (c)     ultra     (d)     alpha    
    (a)     stet     (b)     cert     (c)     set     (d)     sate    
    (a)     wrist     (b)     palm     (c)     knuckles     (d)     hand    
    (a)     affective     (b)     infective     (c)     invective     (d)     reflective    
    (a)     aurora     (b)     oral     (c)     aura     (d)     aural    
    (a)     vibrance     (b)     vibrates     (c)     vibes     (d)     vibrations    
    (a)     has     (b)     as     (c)     is     (d)     was    
    (a)     statin     (b)     satin     (c)     stain     (d)     strain    
    (a)     artifice     (b)     artefact     (c)     artificial     (d)     artificially    
    (a)     these     (b)     them     (c)     thus     (d)     those    
    (a)     unto     (b)     into     (c)     up to     (d)     so to

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. White teeth are widely eererdv
    2. a must-have, and even an ebosnisso
    3. peroxide-based lciecmha whiteners
    4. a safe, at-home teeth-whitening tgartyse
    5. igttgiennar whitening
    6. alneme repair

    Paragraph 2

    1. activated by electric toothbrush obitasivrn
    2. This causes a aetocnir
    3. compounds that break down stain-causing ellscemou
    4. oloabrraty trials
    5. aifltirylcia discoloured with tea
    6. whiter than those brushed with eainsl

    Put the text back together

    (    )   can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at hand for those of us who have stained or off-
    (    )   chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect set of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals
    (    )   cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those brushed with saline. The
    (    )   integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-term oral health".
    (    )   oxygen species". These are compounds that break down stain-causing molecules. The researchers
    (    )   powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy
    (    )   researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder into a toothpaste.
    (    )   said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were artificially discoloured
    (    )   The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is activated by electric toothbrush
    (    )   to make ultra-white teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-based
    (    )   vibrations, which create a small electric field over the teeth. This causes a reaction known as "reactive
    (  1  )   White teeth are widely revered in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped
    (    )   white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an effective teeth-whitening ceramic
    (    )   with tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of

    Put the words in the right order

    1. are   countries   .   in   many   revered   teeth   White   widely
    2. a   helped   It   make   must-have   .   teeth   to   ultra-white
    3. a   an   attempt   get   In   perfect   set   .   to
    4. an  ceramic  created  effective   have   powder  .  teeth-whitening  They
    5. a   at-home   is   It   safe,   strategy   .   teeth-whitening
    6. activated   by   electric   is   It   toothbrush   vibrations   .
    7. laboratory   promising   .   researchers   said   The   their   trials   were
    8. artificially   discoloured   .   human   teeth   tested   that   They   were
    9. After   brushing,   four   hours   of   there   was   whitening   .
    10. a   formula   .   Incorporate   into   powder   the   toothpaste

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    White teeth are widely revelled / revered in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to make ultra-white teeth a must-have, and even an obsessive / obsession. For decades / decadence, people have used peroxide-based chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect stet / set of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at palm / hand for those of us who have stained or off-white / egg white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an effective / affective teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel disrepair / repair, and microbiome balance for / at long-term oral / aural health".

    The researchers wrote about how their new powder workings / works. It is activated by / of electric toothbrush vibrations, which create a small electric pitch / field over the teeth. This causes a reaction knowing / known as "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds / impounds that break down / over stain-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trial / trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were artificially discoloured with tea and coffee. After four hours off / of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those brushed on / with saline. The researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder into / unto a toothpaste.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Wh_t_  t__th  _r_  w_d_ly  r_v_r_d  _n  m_ny  c__ntr__s.  H_llyw__d,  _dv_rt_s_ng,  _nd  s_c__l  m_d__  h_v_  h_lp_d  t_  m_k_  _ltr_-wh_t_  t__th  _  m_st-h_v_,  _nd  _v_n  _n  _bs_ss__n.  F_r  d_c_d_s,  p__pl_  h_v_  _s_d  p_r_x_d_-b_s_d  ch_m_c_l  wh_t_n_rs  _n  _n  _tt_mpt  t_  g_t  _  p_rf_ct  s_t  _f  "p__rly  wh_t_s".  H_w_v_r,  th_s_  ch_m_c_ls  c_n  d_m_g_  th_  t__th  _nd  g_ms.  H_lp  _s  n_w  _t  h_nd  f_r  th_s_  _f  _s  wh_  h_v_  st__n_d  _r  _ff-wh_t_  t__th.  R_s__rch_rs  _n  Ch_n_  s_y  th_y  h_v_  cr__t_d  _n  _ff_ct_v_  t__th-wh_t_n_ng  c_r_m_c  p_wd_r.  R_s__rch_r  M_n  X_ng  s__d  _t  _s  "_  s_f_,  _t-h_m_  t__th-wh_t_n_ng  str_t_gy  _nt_gr_t_ng  wh_t_n_ng,  _n_m_l  r_p__r,  _nd  m_cr_b__m_  b_l_nc_  f_r  l_ng-t_rm  _r_l  h__lth".

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  wr_t_  _b__t  h_w  th__r  n_w  p_wd_r  w_rks.  _t  _s  _ct_v_t_d  by  _l_ctr_c  t__thbr_sh  v_br_t__ns,  wh_ch  cr__t_  _  sm_ll  _l_ctr_c  f__ld  _v_r  th_  t__th.  Th_s  c__s_s  _  r__ct__n  kn_wn  _s  "r__ct_v_  _xyg_n  sp_c__s".  Th_s_  _r_  c_mp__nds  th_t  br__k  d_wn  st__n-c__s_ng  m_l_c_l_s.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s__d  th__r  l_b_r_t_ry  tr__ls  w_r_  v_ry  pr_m_s_ng.  Th_y  t_st_d  h_m_n  t__th  th_t  w_r_  _rt_f_c__lly  d_sc_l__r_d  w_th  t__  _nd  c_ff__.  _ft_r  f__r  h__rs  _f  br_sh_ng,  th_r_  w_s  v_s_bl_  wh_t_n_ng.  _ft_r  12  h__rs  _f  cl__n_ng,  th_  t__th  w_r_  50  p_r  c_nt  wh_t_r  th_n  th_s_  br_sh_d  w_th  s_l_n_.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  s__d  th_  n_xt  st_p  _s  t_  _nc_rp_r_t_  th_  p_wd_r  _nt_  _  t__thp_st_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    white teeth are widely revered in many countries hollywood advertising and social media have helped to make ultrawhite teeth a musthave and even an obsession for decades people have used peroxidebased chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect set of pearly whites however these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums help is now at hand for those of us who have stained or offwhite teeth researchers in china say they have created an effective teethwhitening ceramic powder researcher min xing said it is a safe athome teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening enamel repair and microbiome balance for longterm oral health

    the researchers wrote about how their new powder works it is activated by electric toothbrush vibrations which create a small electric field over the teeth this causes a reaction known as reactive oxygen species these are compounds that break down staincausing molecules the researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising they tested human teeth that were artificially discoloured with tea and coffee after four hours of brushing there was visible whitening after 12 hours of cleaning the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those brushed with saline the researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder into a toothpaste

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Whiteteetharewidelyreveredinmanycountries.Hollywood,advertisin
    g,andsocialmediahavehelpedtomakeultra-whiteteethamust-have,a
    ndevenanobsession.Fordecades,peoplehaveusedperoxide-basedch
    emicalwhitenersinanattempttogetaperfectsetof"pearlywhites".How
    ever,thesechemicalscandamagetheteethandgums.Helpisnowathan
    dforthoseofuswhohavestainedoroff-whiteteeth.ResearchersinChin
    asaytheyhavecreatedaneffectiveteeth-whiteningceramicpowder.R
    esearcherMinXingsaiditis"asafe,at-hometeeth-whiteningstrategyi
    ntegratingwhitening,enamelrepair,andmicrobiomebalanceforlong-
    termoralhealth".Theresearcherswroteabouthowtheirnewpowderwo
    rks.Itisactivatedbyelectrictoothbrushvibrations,whichcreateasmall
    electricfieldovertheteeth.Thiscausesareactionknownas"reactiveoxy
    genspecies".Thesearecompoundsthatbreakdownstain-causingmol
    ecules.Theresearcherssaidtheirlaboratorytrialswereverypromising.
    Theytestedhumanteeththatwereartificiallydiscolouredwithteaandco
    ffee.Afterfourhoursofbrushing,therewasvisiblewhitening.After12ho
    ursofcleaning,theteethwere50percentwhiterthanthosebrushedwith
    saline.Theresearcherssaidthenextstepistoincorporatethepowderint
    oatoothpaste.

    Free writing

    Write about white teeth for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    A nice smile with pearly-white teeth is important to get you places in life. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DENTISTRY: Make a poster about dentistry. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WHITE TEETH: Write a magazine article about all of us using the powder so we have white (or whiter) teeth. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on white teeth. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on straight, white teeth. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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