CBSE Class 9 English NCERT Solutions: Chapter P.6 Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

CBSE Class 9 English Chapter P.6, 'Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth', presents NCERT Solutions that explore the poignant theme of regret stemming from neglecting dental hygiene. The solutions unpack the poem's narrative, detailing the speaker's life stages and her fondness for sweets, which ultimately led to dental decay. Students will find clear explanations of the consequences of this carelessness and the speaker's deep remorse. The analysis covers the central message about the importance of oral care and the lessons learned too late. These solutions aim to enhance comprehension of the poem's emotional depth and its underlying moral, assisting students in grasping the literary nuances and preparing thoroughly for their assessments by offering insightful interpretations and well-structured responses.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 9
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter P.6 Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English focus on the poem 'Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth'. It guides students through understanding the poet's regret over neglecting dental hygiene in her youth, leading to painful consequences in adulthood. The solutions cover the poem's structure, the poet's activities, the resulting dental issues, and the underlying message about the importance of consistent oral care. Key questions about the title's meaning, the narrator's tone, and practical advice on teeth care are addressed.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the theme of regret and its connection to personal choices in the poem.
  • Analyze the consequences of neglecting dental hygiene as depicted in the poem.
  • Identify and explain the poet's activities that led to dental problems.
  • Discuss the importance of oral care and its long-term benefits.
  • Interpret the meaning and tone of specific lines from the poem.
  • Answer comprehension questions based on the poem's content and message.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Poem Analysis
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Consequences of Neglect
  • Regret and Reflection
  • Poetic Devices
  • Oral Care Importance
  • Cause and Effect
  • Character Analysis (Poet)
  • Vocabulary related to dental health

Important topics

  • Understanding the theme of regret
  • Analyzing the poet's actions and their consequences
  • The importance of dental hygiene
  • Interpreting poetic lines and their meaning
  • The message of personal responsibility for health

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Parents alone are responsible for inculcating a good sense of dental hygiene amongst children. Do you agree or disagree? Discuss with your partner.
Solution:

This question requires a personal response based on individual understanding and experience. While parents play a significant role in teaching children about dental hygiene, they are not solely responsible. Children also need to develop their own sense of responsibility towards their oral health as they grow. Factors like education in school, peer influence, and personal awareness also contribute to maintaining good dental habits. Therefore, it's a shared responsibility involving parents, educators, and the children themselves.

Question 2

On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the following table by filling in the activities and their consequences during different stages of the poet's life.

Stages in the life of the poet | Activities | Consequences

  1. Youth
  2. Adulthood
Solution:

Here is the completed table based on the poem:

Stages in the life of the poet Activities Consequences
Youth Eating toffees, chewing sweet sticky food, picking and licking lollies and candies, eating large and small sherbet dabs. Paving the way to cavities and decay.
Adulthood Going to the dentist due to tooth decay, gazing at the dentist in despair, undergoing amalgamation, drilling and fillings. Experiencing pain, discomfort, and the need for extensive dental treatment.

Question 3

On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions by ticking the correct choice. The title 'Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth' expresses _____.
  1. regret
  2. humour
  3. longing
  4. pleasure
Solution:

The correct choice is (i) regret. The title clearly expresses a deep sense of regret over the poet's past neglect of her dental hygiene, which led to painful consequences later in life.

Question 4

The conscience of the speaker pricks her as she has _____.
  1. been careless
  2. been ignorant
  3. been fun loving
  4. been rude
Solution:

The correct choice is (i) been careless. The speaker's conscience bothers her because she realizes her own carelessness in not looking after her teeth properly during her younger days, which resulted in dental problems.

Question 5

The speaker says that she has paved the way for cavities and decay by _____.
  1. eating the wrong food and not brushing
  2. not listening to her mother
  3. laughing at her mother's false teeth
  4. not listening to the dentist
Solution:

The correct choice is (i) eating the wrong food and not brushing. The poem explicitly mentions her consumption of sweets and sticky foods, and her lack of diligent brushing as the primary reasons for developing cavities and decay.

Question 6

The tone of the narrator is one of _____.
  1. joy
  2. nostalgia
  3. regret
  4. sorrow
Solution:

The correct choice is (iii) regret. The narrator's tone throughout the poem is predominantly one of regret, as she looks back on her past actions and wishes she had taken better care of her teeth.

Question 7

Read the following lines from the poem:

"...But up-and-down brushin'

And pokin' and fussin'

Didn't seem worth the time- I could bite!"

What do these lines convey?

Solution:

These lines convey the speaker's youthful indifference and carelessness towards dental hygiene. She found the act of brushing her teeth to be a tedious chore that took away time from enjoying her activities. This attitude, prioritizing immediate pleasure over long-term health, ultimately led to the dental problems she regrets in adulthood. The phrase 'I could bite!' suggests a desire for immediate gratification and perhaps a rebellious spirit against the perceived hassle of dental care.

Question 8

Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?
Solution:

The poet went to the dentist because her teeth had developed cavities, caps, and decay as a result of her poor dental habits throughout her life. She could have avoided this painful and costly experience by taking proper care of her teeth from childhood. This would have involved limiting her intake of sweets and sticky foods, and consistently brushing her teeth regularly and effectively.

Question 9

"If you got a tooth, you got a friend." What do you understand from this line?
Solution:

This line emphasizes the value and importance of our teeth. It suggests that teeth are like loyal friends because they are essential for eating, speaking clearly, and maintaining a pleasant smile. Taking care of our teeth means cherishing these 'friends' and ensuring they remain healthy and functional throughout our lives. Neglecting them, as the poet did, leads to their loss and the loss of the pleasures and functions they provide.

Question 10

With reference to the poem, how can you look after your teeth?
Solution:

Based on the poem's narrative and the implied lessons, one can look after their teeth by:

  1. Limiting sugary and sticky foods: Avoid excessive consumption of sweets, toffees, candies, and other foods that can contribute to tooth decay.
  2. Brushing regularly: Clean your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day, using an up-and-down motion, to remove food particles and plaque.
  3. Visiting the dentist: Schedule regular dental check-ups to ensure early detection and treatment of any potential problems.
  4. Developing good habits early: Instill the importance of dental hygiene from a young age to prevent future regrets.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the poet's activities with their immediate vs. long-term consequences.
  • Misinterpreting the tone of the poem, mistaking regret for simple sadness.
  • Failing to connect the title's expression of regret to the poem's narrative.
  • Not providing specific examples from the poem to support answers about dental care.

Revision tips

  • Read the poem carefully to grasp the narrative and the poet's emotional journey.
  • Focus on the cause-and-effect relationship between the poet's actions and dental problems.
  • Pay attention to the specific vocabulary used to describe dental issues and treatments.
  • Practice answering the comprehension questions, ensuring your answers are supported by evidence from the poem.
  • Consider the poem's message about personal responsibility for health.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What is the primary emotion expressed by the title 'Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth'?

Q2. According to the poem, what kind of food did the poet consume excessively in her youth?

Q3. What consequences did the poet face in adulthood due to her childhood habits?

Q4. The lines 'But up-and-down brushin' / And pokin' and fussin' / Didn't seem worth the time' suggest the poet's attitude towards:

Q5. What does the line 'If you got a tooth, you got a friend' emphasize?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main message of the poem 'Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth'?

The main message of the poem is a strong warning about the consequences of neglecting dental hygiene. It emphasizes the regret one might feel later in life for not taking proper care of their teeth during youth, highlighting the importance of consistent oral care.

Who is responsible for teaching children dental hygiene, according to the poem's context?

While the poem doesn't explicitly state who is responsible, it strongly implies that personal choices and habits play a crucial role. The poet's own neglect led to her problems, suggesting that while parents can guide, the individual's actions are paramount in maintaining dental health.

What specific dental problems did the poet face?

The poet faced significant dental problems including cavities, decay, and the need for caps and fillings. These issues arose from her childhood habit of consuming excessive sweets and neglecting proper brushing.

How can students use these NCERT Solutions for revision?

Students can use these solutions to understand the poem's deeper meanings, analyze the poet's experiences, and practice answering comprehension questions accurately. The detailed explanations help clarify the cause-and-effect relationship between actions and consequences, aiding exam preparation.

What does the poet mean by 'If you got a tooth, you got a friend'?

This line emphasizes the value of teeth. It suggests that teeth are essential companions that help us enjoy food and life. The line serves as a reminder to cherish and care for our teeth, as losing them means losing a vital part of our ability to relish experiences.

Important links

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