Teach children the basics of brushing and flossing teeth.
Early dental care ensures a healthy smile for life. As you plan for a unit on dental health, consider the children in your classroom. Be aware that some children may not have received dental care or may be frightened of the dentist. Address any concerns as they arise. Dental hospitals and local dentists often offer free or reduced-cost services to families unable to pay for dental care. Refer families to these services, if appropriate.
Research
Introduce the topic of dental care by reading books, watching movies or visiting a dentist's office. Some museums and hospitals may offer curriculum boxes for rental. Check with a local dental school for possible resources. Dentist offices or dental schools may donate toothbrushes and floss for your students.
Literacy Connections
Make individual or class books about dental care, based on your findings. Include directions on brush and floss teeth, as well as information on what happens if you do not care for your teeth. Make a poster as a class that contains similar information on dental care. Make a "loose tooth" graph that charts when children in the class lose their teeth. Keep in mind, though, that some children may not lose their teeth until much later and often feel disappointed or embarrassed. Read "Arthur's Tooth" by Marc Brown for a comforting, entertaining story about the process of loosing teeth.
Hands-On Experiments
Set egg cartons in the art or messy area. Provide shaving cream, yarn and toothbrushes or paint brushes. Tell the children that the egg cartons are alligator, dragon or dinosaur teeth. Spray the cartons with a bit of shaving cream and brush the "teeth." Use the yarn as floss. Place one egg in a glass of vinegar and another egg in a glass of cola. Wait several days and then check and chart the results. The shell of the egg placed in the vinegar completely dissolves, leaving a firm, rubbery, pickled egg. The egg placed in the cola is stained a dark brown. Discuss that acidic, dark or sugary foods can damage or teeth in the same way. This fun exercise provides a powerful visual of the effects food can have on our pearly whites.
Dramatic Play
Set up a dentist office in your dramatic play center with white coats, mirrors and toothbrushes. Instruct the children not to actually put the brushes or instruments in their mouths. Display posters of teeth and dental care.
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