Fill one container with water and another with soda pop that contains sugar such as cola or root beer. Put a hard-boiled egg in each container. Explain to children that the shell of an egg is much like the enamel of our teeth. This experiment illustrates the importance of brushing by showing the effect sugary foods have on our teeth. Leave the eggs in the containers overnight or for several days. When you are ready, pour out the liquid and examine the eggs. The shell of the egg left in the soda pop will be stained and softened.
Take two apples and poke a hole in one apple. Explain that the hole is like a cavity in your tooth. Leave the apples to sit out and have children observe the changes that occur over the course of a week. Compare the two apples. Explain that just like the apple with the hole is softening and turning brown, your teeth are affected by cavities the same way.
To help encourage children to brush, hang a tooth-brushing chart near the sink. You can buy one, make one or search the Internet for a printable tooth-brushing chart.These charts typically portray child-friendly characters and have pictures to cross off or a place for children to affix stickers. Use the chart to remind children to brush their teeth twice a day. Once the chart is filled, children can earn a prize for their good dental practices.
Using a collection of magazines, have children cut out pictures of mouths. Glue the pictures on to a large piece of paper or poster board. Talk about how the smiles in the pictures look healthy and white because they brush, floss and take care of their teeth. You can add more to the collage by cutting out pictures of toothbrushes, toothpaste and even healthy foods and beverages that contribute to overall dental health.