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Dental Hygiene Science Ideas

 

 

Healthy and Unhealthy Foods

 Have the children categorize the different foods.

 

Stained Tiles

Scrounge some small white ceramic tiles (from construction sites, tile stores, parents
who are remodeling, etc). Provide children with a variety of food products to smear
 on the tiles such as: jelly, ketchup, syrup, peanut butter etc, have children brush
 the teeth with toothbrushes and real toothpaste. Which tiles are stained?

  

Dental X-Rays

If possible, ask your dentist for some old dental x-rays.  As you hold the x-ray up to a light,
encourage the children to talk about what they see.  Help your child realize that the dentist
 takes x-ray pictures to look for cavities that are hidden inside and between teeth.

 

Oreo Residue

We all eat an Oreo (while discussing the sticky sugary foods that stick to teeth and
 cause cavities) and then use small mirrors to examine our teeth.  The children
 record their findings by coloring all the black stuff they see stuck in their teeth
 on a picture of their teeth. Then, we all eat a slice of an apple, and then look
 to see how some of the residue has been removed. Again, we draw to record!

 

Filling Cavities

Mix gray powdered tempera paint with white glue or paste. Have children create
holes in Styrofoam blocks.  Then fill cavities with paste mixture using craft sticks.

 

What Happens If We DON'T Brush Our Teeth

Allow the children to examine two hard boiled eggs.  Let them touch and feel the eggs to see how
 hard they are.  Explain that the hard shell of the egg protects the soft egg inside.  Point out that
 teeth are covered with a hard shell called enamel that is similar to the eggshell.  The enamel
 protects the soft part of the tooth that is inside.  Next, place each egg into a clear plastic jar.
 Cover one egg with water and the other with sugar sweetened cola.  Set the jars aside and
allow the eggs to remain in the jars for several days.  Each day check the eggs to discover
 any changes.  The egg in the cola should begin to show some changes.  The sugar should
 begin to eat through the eggshell.  This is similar to what happens when sugary foods,
such as sweet beverages, candy, and other foods, are not brushed away.  To prevent
 this from happening, explain that we must brush our teeth after every time we eat.

 

Red Disclosing Tablets

Disclosing tablets are made of a harmless vegetable dye that stains plaque bright red. Get them
 from your dentist or you can purchase these tablets at any convenience stores like Kroger and
 Wal-mart. Have you kids brush their teeth and then take the tablets and let them see where they missed.

 

 

Pre-K Fun Theme Pages are for educational reference only! 
No copyright infringement is intended.
I do not claim any of these as my own ideas.  
They are shared from friends and fellow group members.  
Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!

 

   

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