Sand and Water

All Kinds of Brushes

Cavity Free Kids > Activities > Sand and Water > All Kinds of Brushes
9

Supplies and Preparation

  • Variety of toothbrushes.
  • Variety of scrub brushes.
  • Pretend fruits and vegetables.

Note: Consider the age and experience of the children to determine if they can refrain from putting the toothbrushes in their mouths. If not, use only other brushes.

Print PDFs:

Parent Handout - Brush The Food Away PDF

Parent Handout - Tooth Protecting Tools PDF

Instructions

Place a variety of brushes in a water table. Encourage children to explore different kinds of brushes and use them to clean different things. Talk about what the different brushes are used for, if they are hard or soft, etc, and link to how we use special brushes for our teeth. Suggest to children that they can practice using small scrubs or circles.

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Activity Index

Brush, Floss, Swish

Goal

Brush Floss Swish

Big Bites: Things You Should Know
  • Everyone should brush their teeth for two minutes, two times a day (after breakfast and before bed).
  • Use a smear of fluoridated toothpaste starting with tooth eruption to age 3; after that, use a pea size.
  • Brush all sides of each tooth using a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste. Do not rinse your mouth out when you finish brushing.
  • Floss at least once a day to remove food and germs stuck between teeth.  Begin flossing a child’s teeth when the teeth touch.
  • When brushing is not possible, after eating rinse your mouth with water.  Swish the water around your mouth and then swallow it.  Children can usually swish and swallow at about age 3.
  • An adult should assist a child with brushing until they can tie a shoe lace, between 6 to 8 years old.

CFK Throughout the Day

Throughout the Classroom
  • Decorate a bulletin board with pictures of dental tools children may see at a dentist office. Label them.
  • Hang a chart in the classroom called “I had a dental check-up.” Create a thermometer visual that you color in as children get their dental check-up.
  • Set up a pretend dental office for dramatic play.   
At Meals and Snacks
  • Ask:  Who’s been to the dentist?  What do you remember about the visit?
While Brushing Teeth
  • Be a role model.  Brush your teeth with the children to show you take care of your teeth too.
  • Talk about making tiny, tickly circles with a toothbrush to clean the food and germs away.
  • Give each child an “I brushed my teeth today” sticker to wear home Tell children the dentist will be so proud of them when he sees how well they have been brushing.
  • Have children pretend their brushes are like the special spinning toothbrush the dentist uses and make a humming noise while they brush.
During Transitions
  • When children are getting ready to go home, put a sticker on each child that says, “Today I learned about visiting the dentist!”

 

Activities for Early Learning