Dental Health Theme Ideas for Preschoolers

Teeth Brushing Practice

• This activity provides preschoolers with brushing practice and shows them just how important brushing their teeth is. Hard boil an egg in water with a tea bag--as the eggs boil, the tea will turn it a shade of brown. Show children the eggs and tell them that they represent their teeth. Set the egg in a container. Provide children with a toothbrush and toothpaste and instruct them to gently brush the eggs. As they brush, the tea stains will actually come off of the eggs and they will become white again.

Toothbrush Art

• Engage children in toothbrush-themed art activities. Provide them with a piece of paper, some inexpensive toothbrushes and Tempera paint. Instruct them to use the toothbrushes as paintbrushes, dipping them in the paint and using them to paint pictures. Another idea is to have them make a large toothbrush from construction paper. Have them select a color construction paper for the handle and cut it into a rectangle. Cut out a square from white construction paper and glue it to the end of the rectangle. Instruct children to cut slits in the white paper, making bristles for the toothbrush. Have them use crayons, markers and glitter glue to embellish the handles of their toothbrushes.

Happy Teeth, Sad Teeth Collage

• After reviewing foods that are good and bad for our teeth, present children with an activity that allows them to practice their healthy teeth food knowledge. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper and on one side, draw a happy face and on the other, draw a sad face. Provide children with grocery store circulars. Instruct them to go through the circulars and cut out images of foods that are good and bad for their teeth; have them glue the images in the appropriate column.

Teeth Brushing Song

• Sing a song that promotes teeth brushing with your preschool students. This song is sung to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush":

  "This is the way we brush our teeth,

  Brush our teeth,

  Brush our teeth.

  This is the way we brush our teeth

  So early in the morning.

  This is the way we brush our teeth,

  Brush our teeth,

  Brush our teeth.

  This is the way we brush our teeth

  Before we go to bed."

  While children are singing, they can hold their fingers up to their mouths and pretend they are brushing their teeth.