Quarantine Dental Activities For Children

The majority of us have been social-distancing for about 2 weeks now and if you have children at home this may "seem" longer! Right now is the perfect time to teach your children about oral health.

Here are a few fun activities that I came across:

1. Toothbrush Painting Teaches Brushing Movements:Cut a tooth shape from a large sheet of white paper. Give your child an old toothbrush and let her dip it into poster paint and brush the paper tooth as if it's her own. Show him how to make movements up and down, back and forth and circularly on the painting. This art project is fun and teaches children the concepts of proper brushing. Please remind young children that old toothbrushes are for painting and not to be put in their mouth. 

2. How Sugar Affects Our TeethWe tell our children not to eat too many sweets because sugar that's not removed by brushing our teeth can cause cavities on the tooth enamel. For a simple experiment at home, submerge a hard-boiled egg (which is made of calcium carbonate similar to an enamel material) into a clear glass of cola or grape juice for 24 hours. Notice the discoloration of the eggshell. Invite your child to gently brush the egg with a toothbrush and toothpaste. As he removes the stain, ask what caused the stain. Now discuss why toothbrushing is so important after eating.

3. Happy Face SnacksMaking happy faces with your food is one of the many dental activities for kids that you can do with your family. Provide a variety of healthy snacks on the table. Give your children a paper plate and challenge them to create a happy face using foods like broccoli florets, carrot coins, orange and apple slices, cauliflower florets, nuts, raisins and popcorn. After they have finished their creation, snap a photo for the memory and let them enjoy their edible art. This is a great time to discuss healthy foods versus junk foods. Ask why your kids think these foods provide healthy teeth and a happy face.

There are also many places online where you can print off dental activities such as coloring pages, crossword puzzles, habit calendar, and etc. 

The activities listed are from Colgate!