Many preschoolers have their first visit to the dentist while in preschool. However, it can be a hard task to get these little ones to keep their teeth “tooth fairy ready.” These dental health activities for young learners help children understand why it’s so important to take care of their teeth. They’ll learn about their teeth and mouths and get hands-on practice with brushing and flossing. Each of these hands-on activities is guaranteed to be fun—and that’s the whole tooth!
Whether for a unit on Community Helpers, celebrating Dental Health Month, or learning about the human body, these activities keep students actively engaged and learning – all while having fun!
Toothbrush Art
Art can be informative too! Students love painting with non-traditional “paintbrushes,” so grab some inexpensive toothbrushes from the discount store. Next, they use the toothbrushes to turn the yellow tooth into a bright and shiny white. Read more about this activity here!
Dental Health Math Mats
Enticing students to practice their math skills doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth with these fun math mats! Available in the Dental Health Unit, children practice counting, tracing, writing, and more as they work. Add props like these tooth-saver necklaces as counters to encourage even more engagement. (Yes, there are more tooth necklaces than any teacher would need – which is why there is another activity below that uses them!)
Dental Health Activities: Science
Science Center
Dentistry is a science – so it only makes sense to have a science center set up for more hands-on learning. At this science center, watch smiles grow as young learners engage in preschool science activities All About Teeth! Students learn the importance of dental hygiene and practice flossing and brushing on larger-than-life models (an ice cube tray purchased from a discount store). Hanging vocabulary cards by the center promotes literacy and encourages writing practice.
Light Table Dental X-Rays
Taking science to the light table doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply google some images of dental x-rays and print them out on transparency sheets. Students enjoy exploring the x-rays and getting an up-close look at what’s going on inside their mouths. Need more information on printing to a transparency sheet? It’s easy – just click here for directions!
Dental Health Activities: Literacy
Move letter identification to a vertical surface! Magnet dots added to the back of a tooth-themed letter-matching game get students to use different muscle groups, crossing their midline, and practicing their letter knowledge all in one center.
Sometimes, the simplest centers are the ones that have the most impact. Turning a writing activity into a dental-themed writing activity is as simple as adding a toothbrush! A shallow tray with a layer of salt, baking soda, or white sand is perfect for practicing letter formation. Practice even more fine motor control with letter-adorned clothespins, either purchased online or created by a crafty teacher by gluing wooden letters onto pincher-style clothespins.
Dental Health Sensory Center
Remember all those tooth-saver necklaces? Here’s where the rest of that massive set comes into play! Gather the following items:
- Sensory material of choice (pictured: rainbow-dyed dried chickpeas)
- Tooth saver necklaces, with the cord removed
- A permanent marker
- Cups – one for each student
- A tooth printed out with student’s names
- Tongs
First, write the letters from each student’s name on the plastic teeth. Next, tape the name cards to each cup. Add the items into the sensory bin. Demonstrate how to search and find the letters, using the tweezers to pick up the tooth and deposit it in the cup for each name.
Let’s Pretend: Dental Health Activity
Continue with the fine motor fun using dentist accessory kits. This blue set includes 25 pieces to clean and inspect teeth. Add an additional toothbrush and tooth model set to create space for two dentists to play together. Add lab coats to the back of the chairs and children will feel like real dentists!
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