Author: Cyerra Davis

Title: How to Properly Brush Your Teeth

Abstract: The aim of this lesson is to teach children how to properly brush their teeth and to
educate them on cavities, how to prevent cavities, oral hygiene, and how to create a routine.
Age: Preschool-5th Grade
Approximated time: 20 mintutes
Group Size: Small groups with 3-4 children
Life Skill: Oral Hygiene, Health
Teaching Style: Lecture, group discussion, social interaction, collaborative/discovery learning
Intended Learning Outcomes: 1) Children will exercise basic knowledge on oral hygiene. 2)
Children will be able to identify different types of food and drinks that cause dental carries. 3)
Children will collaborate and collectively generate ideas and opinions on prior knowledge of
how to brush your teeth and how often they need to brush 4) Children should be able to
demonstrate how to brush their teeth with a corn on the cob and a tooth brush.
Background: The children should be able to know from their parents’ teachings what times of the
day are the best times to brush their teeth. They should also have had some prior experience with
brushing their teeth.
Materials
 Tooth Brush
 Floss
 White Board
 Markers
 Corn on the Cob
 Bowl of dirt
 Water at sink
 Plastic sheeting on floor
Introduction:
1) Split the children up into groups and pass out a corn on the cob to each child. Stand at the
front of the class and tell each student to look at the corn and see how it corn could be a
good representation to our own teeth.
2) Ask the children how cavities are made and write their answers on the white board. Tell
them that cavities are formed from eating sugary food and drinks such as candy and soda.
Tell them that if we do not brush our teeth regularly that these foods and drinks will
cause those cavities which are decay and holes in the tooth that will then need to be fixed
by a dentist.
3) Pass out tooth brushes and separate bowls of dirt and water. Tell the students that the
corn is meant to represent our teeth and that for this exercise we will have the children
dip their corn into the dirt and spread the dirt all over the corn. Then you will have them
use their toothbrushes and water to brush all the dirt out of their corn.
4) Have the children explain what they observe from brushing the dirt out of their corn. Ask
them if they are able to get all of the dirt out or if there is still dirt even after brushing.
Ask them how many times a day they should brush and if brushing is the only thing they
should be doing, or if they should do more than just brush. Write down their answers on
the white board.
5) Repeat their answers back to them to reinforce that you need to brush at least twice a day,
morning and night. Tell them that just like the corn, even after just brushing, there may
still be food lodged in their teeth. Inform them about the process of brushing, flossing,
and rinsing with mouthwash.
6) Have half of your class watch you demonstrate how to properly floss your teeth and
inform them that if their gums bleed that they are not flossing regularly. Have each
student go to the back sink with their corn and tooth brush. Allow the other half of the
class to brush their corn on the cob with the water running over it, creating a “rinsing”
sensation like mouth wash would do.
7) Tell your class that it is important to do each of these things to prevent cavities and bad
breath.
8) Pass out a handout on reminding the children to brush morning and night and to floss and
rinse regularly and to put it on their bathroom mirror.