Oral Health
Mouths are the gateway to our digestive and respiratory tracts and germs, by encouraging children to care for their teeth we can prevent diseases elsewhere in the body.
Use these messages to help children learn how to best care for their teeth and gums and why it is important.
Read our Top Ten Messages on Caring for Babies & Young Children for children to learn and share to the right. Scroll down to see ideas on what children can do to understand, find out more, take action and reflect on this topic.
Use the links below to browse our FREE resources to help children learn more, share their knowledge and become agents of change.
10 Messages on
Oral Health
- We get two sets of teeth. The first baby teeth fall out between 6 and 12 years. The second is our last and final lifelong set.
- We have two different kinds of teeth. Front teeth are for biting and back teeth for chewing and grinding.
- When teeth and gums are not brushed properly, germs grow in our mouth and live in something called ‘plaque’ that causes bad breath, tooth decay and cavities.
- Having teeth checked by health workers or dentists can help prevent problems and catch problems quickly.
- Tooth decay is painful. Eating and drinking sweet things cause children’s teeth to decay fast.
- Brush teeth properly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque, prevent decay and have strong, healthy teeth and gums.
- Give young children water or milk in a cup. Sugar in drinks like fruit juice and sodas cause teeth to decay.
- As the first teeth push through, brush baby’s gums and teeth at least twice a day with safe, clean water and a soft clean cloth. At six months, add a small squeeze of toothpaste.
- Imagine your mouth divided into four parts. In each one, brush at a 45-degree angle, from the bottom up, front and back. Brush the tongue. Spit, but do not rinse out the toothpaste.
- Fluoride is a chemical that strengthens teeth and prevents decay. Use toothpaste containing fluoride.
Children can learn, collect & share these messages!
While teaching these messages, encourage children to…
MAKE their own Oral Health Messages using their own words in their own language!
LEARN these messages so they never forget them!
ADD these messages to their collection!
SHARE these messages with other children and their families!
If your class or group is struggling to stay connected and engaged, we have loads of ideas for ideas to help them! Have a look at Closing Games & Activities.
Use the questions/discussion topics below to help children to memorise the messages and really understand them.
What can children make?
CREATE a short play about when they need to call a health worker or dentist to help.
MAKE a chart that records the snacks or drinks that children in our class eat each day, are they tooth kind or sugary?
MAKE a poster showing ‘tooth-friendly’ snacks.
CREATE a song or drama about losing our baby teeth, gaining our lifelong teeth and caring well for this one special set of lifelong teeth.
MAKE a snakes and ladders game with messages that help us learn how what to do and what NOT to do, to prevent tooth decay.
What can children do?
CHECK the health of the teeth of younger brothers and sisters.
STOP babies and young children sipping sweet liquids from a bottle or cup for any more than a few seconds.
HELP to clean the teeth of a baby or young child with clean water and a clean cloth.
SHARE stories of having tooth pain and what happened.
USE a tooth dye that shows how well they brush their teeth. Remaining plaque will be visible.
DEMONSTRATE good tooth brushing in the classroom and to younger children.
PLAY a game to label a picture of the inside of the mouth.
What can children ask?
ASK parents, teachers or health workers where people go to have teeth checked.
ASK family members: What happens when one of our family has toothache? What is the best way to care for our teeth? What toothbrushes do people use in our community? Do we need toothpaste with fluoride in our community?
FIND OUT what tools they need to care for their teeth and where they can get them.
Download these free materials now to help children learn and share these
essential health messages. See our free resource section for more!
