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GOAL: To teach preschool & kindergarten students how to keep their teeth clean & healthy.

Objectives:
Following this presentation, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate the proper brushing & flossing technique
2. Identify healthy vs unhealthy foods
3. Explain the importance of using a mouthguard during sports
4. Explain the importance of regularly visiting the dentist

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Print out that kids can bring home

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As you might guess, the number-one dental problem among preschoolers is tooth decay .

One out of 10 two- year-olds already have one or more cavities

By age three, 28% of children have one or more cavities

By age five, nearly 50% of children have one or more cavities

Many parents assume that cavities in don't matter, because they'll be lost anyway. But that's not true. Dental decay in baby teeth can negatively affect permanent teeth and lead to future dental problems.
Teaching Good Dental Habits

The best way to protect your child's teeth is to teach him good dental habits. With the proper coaching he'll quickly adopt good oral hygiene as a part of his daily routine . However, while he may be an enthusiastic participant, he won't yet have the control or concentration to brush his teeth all by himself. You'll need to supervise and help him so that the brush removes all the plaque-the soft, sticky, bacteria- containing deposits that accumulate on the teeth, causing tooth decay. Also, keep an eye out for areas of brown or white spots which might be signs of early decay.

Toothbrushing

As soon as your child has a tooth you should be helping your child brush her teeth two times a day with a smear (size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste on a child-sized toothbrush that has soft bristles. There are brushes designed to address the different needs of children at all ages, ensuring that you can select a toothbrush that is appropriate for your child.

Amount of Toothpaste

At age 3, you can start using a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste , which helps prevent cavities. If your child doesn't like the taste of the toothpaste, try another flavor. Also try to teach your child not to swallow it, although at this age they are often still too young to learn to rinse and spit. Swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can make white or brown spots on your child's adult teeth.

Brushing Motion

You'll hear all kinds of advice on whether the best brushing motion is up and down, back and forth, or around in circles. The truth is that the direction really doesn't matter. What's important is to clean each tooth thoroughly, top and bottom, inside and out. This is where you'll encounter resistance from your child, who probably will concentrate on only the front teeth that he can see. It may help to turn it into a game of "find the hidden teeth." Incidentally, a child cannot brush his teeth without help until he's older-about six to eight years old. So be sure to supervise or do the actual brushing if necessary.

Too Much Sugar

Besides regular toothbrushing with the right amount of fluoride toothpaste, your child's diet will play a key role in his dental health. And, of course, sugar is the big villain. The longer and more frequently his teeth are exposed to sugar, the greater the risk of cavities. "Sticky sugar" foods such as sticky caramel, toffee, gum, and dried fruit-particularly when it stays in his mouth and bathes his teeth in sugar for hours-could do serious damage. Make sure to always brush your child's teeth after a sugary food item. In addition, do not allow your child to have any sugar-containing liquid in a for a prolonged period.

Dental Checkups

During regular well-child visits , the pediatrician will check your child's teeth and gums to ensure their health. If she notices problems, she may refer your child to a pediatric dentist (pedodontist) or a general dentist with an interest in treating the dental needs of children. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that all children see a pediatric dentist and establish a "" by age one.

As part of her dental checkup the dentist will make sure all teeth are developing normally and that there are no dental problems and give you further advice on proper hygiene. She also may apply a topical fluoride solution to provide extra protection against cavities. If you live in an area where the is not fluoridated, she may prescribe fluoride drops or chewable tablets for your toddler. For more guidance on fluoride supplements, talk to your pediatrician.

Additional Information:

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics)

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Dental Health & Hygiene for Young Children

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​Many parents assume that cavities in baby teeth don't matter, because they'll be lost anyway. But that's not true. Learn why.

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Download activity sheets, coloring pages, crossword puzzles, games and seasonal materials to help teach about dental health.

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Show the proper way to brush and floss with this mouth model.
You will need:
-Marshmallows for teeth
-Yarn for floss
-Construction paper for model
-Glue
-Toothbrush

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Draw a tooth on a piece of yellow construction paper to show how teeth can become discolored if not cleaned or brushed. Then have them paint the tooth with a toothbrush and white washable paint to show how white and shiny the tooth gets if you clean it

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Teach the difference between healthy foods and bad foods for your teeth.

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Let them get creative and have them design their own toothbrush to fit their personality!

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You can have the children write down how their teeth feel after brushing

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Children can make their own "mouth model" based on how they see their own mouth and how many teeth they have.

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Play a Gravity Quizlet game.
You will read the question out and the students will be able to answer yes or no.

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Gravity: Are These Foods Healthy For Our Teeth? | Quizlet

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Quizlet is a lightning fast way to learn vocabulary.

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Another way to make sure our teeth stay strong and healthy is have regular visits to the dentist!

The dentist will check your teeth for:
- Cavities
- To make sure your teeth are growing properly
- To make sure you are brushing and flossing well

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How Can We Keep Our Teeth Clean and Healthy?

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How Can We Keep Our Teeth Clean and Healthy?

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To protect your teeth while playing sports!

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                         Keeping Teeth Clean and Healthy!

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                         Keeping Teeth Clean and Healthy!

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Why do we want to keep our teeth clean and healthy?
- To have a nice smile?
- To help us chew our food?
- To help us talk?

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-Using actual tooth brushes to demonstrate
-Watching videos that are age appropriate
-Fun craft activities and games
-Presentation method
-Giving informational items to take home

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Class time

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Class room setting

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-Teach proper brushing technique (Fones method) and why it is important to brush and floss.
-Teach why it is important to visit the dentist.
-Teach nutritional vs bad foods for your teeth.

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Preschool- Ages 2 1/2- 5 years old
Kindergarten -Ages 4-6 years old

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Keeping Teeth Healthy by Brushing, Flossing, and Choosing Healthy Foods.

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Keeping Teeth Healthy by Brushing, Flossing, and Choosing Healthy Foods.

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How to Brush Your Teeth Properly - For Kids