Over the years, I have had so many kids who have been afraid of the dentist. That one fact makes Dental Health Month a difficult one when it comes to getting kids excited! But what if I told you that teaching about dental health could be fun and engaging?! Yes really! Let’s dive into my favorite dental health activities and why they’re a total game-changer for your students!
Why Teaching About Dental Health is Important
So why are we working on this topic in the primary classroom anyway? So glad you asked! February is Dental Health Month, but really, this topic can be taught at any time of the year. And it should be covered in depth! Many children are scared of the dentist or haven’t been taught about dental health. By addressing this topic in school, we can ensure everyone gets the health education they need for strong, healthy teeth!
But the big dilemma that comes into play is how to approach it in an engaging way. It might not seem exciting at first glance, but trust me. . . With the right activities, it’s going to be a big hit in your classroom! Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the dental health activities!
Dental Health Educational Videos
I’m a big fan of using visual support in the form of educational videos for new topics like this one. YouTube is filled with great resources that will complement your lessons, help students understand important concepts, and unveil the mystery of the dentist’s office. Here are a few of my personal favorites!
Why Do We Brush Our Teeth? is a great way to show students the importance of proper brushing. This is a fantastic option to kick off your lessons with!
How to Brush Your Teeth Properly provides a great visual aid on using a toothbrush correctly. After watching, try giving each child in your classroom their own toothbrush to practice with!
ABC Dentist is perfect for teaching the alphabet and showing students how nice dentists are! This video is actually a read-aloud that walks through a dental term for each letter of the alphabet.
A Visit to the Dentist is a great way to give students a virtual tour of what happens in the dentist’s office. Students will love to follow along as Catie takes them through a routine visit.
Books About Dental Health
If you know me, you already know that picture books are my jam! They’re a wonderful way to teach students about a new topic and anchor your lessons. Try using some of these books during your introduction to Dental Health Topics.
The Tooth Book by Edward Miller
If you’re looking for a picture book that covers the importance of gum health and taking care of teeth, this is a great option! This book provides detailed information on why this is so important and practical advice for doing so. Students will also learn what to expect at the dentist, what to do when they lose a tooth, and more!
Bear’s Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
Looking for a picture book that will make your kids smile? They’ll love this one! Follow along as Bear navigates how to handle his wiggly tooth with his forest friends. Bear’s friends help assure him that this is normal and nothing to worry about. This is a great book for the primary crowd who are losing their first teeth left and right!
Let’s Meet a Dentist by Bridget Heos
I love Cloverleaf Books, and this one is another great picture book from the community helpers series! In this book, students will gain insight into what a dentist does, why they are so important for our health, and what to expect at a dentist visit. I recommend walking through this book slowly and making time for a discussion afterward. This one is jam-packed with gems that will lead to discussion and help calm fears of visiting the dentist!
These are just a few of my favorite books on this topic. You can find my whole list over on Amazon! Be sure to check it out if you need more inspiration when it comes to planning your dental health activities and lessons!
Incorporate Music into Your Dental Health Activities
If you teach primary students, you likely already know the power of song and rhyme in your classroom. After watching some of these videos and reading books, consider learning a new song to help boost excitement for teeth brushing! Here are two of my favorites:
Brush, Brush, Brush (Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat) – Author Unknown
Brush, brush, brush your teeth, at least two times a day.
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, fighting tooth decay.
Floss, floss, floss your teeth, every single day.
Gently, gently, gently, gently, whisking plaque away.
Rinse, rinse, rinse your teeth every single day.
Swishing, swishing, swishing, swishing, fighting tooth decay!
Brush Your Teeth Sing Along
This one is a fun sing-along that your kids will catch on to right away. Head on over to YouTube to watch it here! I like to play this one after recess, or when the kids need to get up and shake out some wiggles. We all know there are plenty of times a song and dance come in handy in the primary years! Plus, this one will help encourage students to get excited about brushing their teeth, win-win!
Thematic Dental Health Activities
There is so much to learn when it comes to Dental Health, so why not incorporate some themed activities into your lessons throughout the month of February? That’s exactly what you’ll find inside my February Learning Unit! Here’s a peek at what’s included:
- Dental Health Non-Fiction Readers
- Expanding Tooth Booklet Craftivity
- Dental Health Labeling Pages
- Healthy Foods Activities
- Dental Health Board Games
- Tooth Missing Numbers Math Center
- Dental Health Word Families Literacy Center
- Dental Health Crowns and more!
This unit is designed to help take the stress out of finding dental health learning activities and give you some of your time back! Try weaving these engaging dental health activities into your lesson plan as a follow-up to books you read to expand on learning.
Oh, and this unit has WAY more than just dental health activities, too. You’ll be able to use it all month long to learn about topics like Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and more! Grab the February Learning Unit today and set yourself up for success when planning your Dental Health Activities!
Dental Health Activities for Skills Practice
Another great way to fully embrace the dental health topic in your classroom is by incorporating themed skills practice activities. My all-time favorite option for this is Color by Code. These no-prep worksheets are great for practicing a wide variety of skills and allow you to tailor them to the needs of your students. Plus, they’re great for morning work, centers, independent learning, fast-finishers, sub days, and even homework! Once you start using them in your room, I know you’ll be hooked!
When it comes to the dental health theme, I have Color by Code Resources for both Sight Words and Number Recognition. The Sight Word Set includes pre-made pages with 40 pre-primer words, as well as 52 primer words. The Number ID Set includes pre-made pages with numbers up to 30. These pre-made pages are literally “print and go” and will make it super simple to get some skills practice in as you’re learning about dental health.
These resources also include editable versions, too! The editable versions allow you to fully customize the pages and practice other skills such as letters, number sense, spelling words, and more! The options are endless and add to the flexibility of this resource. Grab the dental health color by codes here and use them again and again as you work on this topic in your classroom!
More Dental Health Activities
Beyond these ideas, here are a few more that are always a hit in my classroom:
Have a Dentist Visit
If you’re able, this is the BEST way to calm fears about dental health, losing teeth, and going to the dentist. They often bring goodie bags with tooth brushes and floss, and talk about proper tooth care, too!
Tell Loose Tooth Stories
Just like adults, kids love hearing about firsthand experiences. Ask your students to share their stories of losing a tooth and what it was like during your morning meeting. I promise, everyone will perk right up!
Dentist Dramatic Play
If you’re able, consider grabbing a playset like this one for kids to practice tooth care with. It’s got a lot of fun pieces and a plastic set of teeth to brush and clean. Just be sure to remind your students that these tools don’t go in their friends’ mouths!
Make Dental Health Fun!
I hope this post inspired you and showed you that dental health activities don’t have to be a drag! With the right activities and plenty of support, this will become a favorite topic in your classroom. Head on over to TPT to grab my ready-made Dental Health Activities right here! They will take the stress out of planning and ensure you have plenty of support to craft your own dental health lesson plan!
Looking for More?
Check out these posts next!
- Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids
- Low-Prep Holiday Activities to Save Your Sanity
- Picture Books About Feelings and Emotions
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