Health: Dental Health Taking Care of Your Teeth
Healthy habits for strong teeth and gums
Health: Dental Health Taking Care of Your Teeth
Healthy habits for strong teeth and gums
Health - Grade 2-3
- 1
How many times each day should you brush your teeth?
Think about brushing after you wake up and before you go to sleep.
You should brush your teeth two times each day, usually in the morning and before bed. - 2
Mia brushes her teeth for 20 seconds. Is that long enough? Explain your answer.
A good brushing time is longer than 1 minute.
No, 20 seconds is not long enough. Mia should brush for about 2 minutes to clean her teeth well. - 3
Circle the tool that helps clean between teeth: toothbrush, floss, spoon, or comb.
Floss helps clean between teeth where a toothbrush may not reach. - 4
Why is it important to brush your tongue gently?
Your tongue is part of your mouth too.
It is important to brush your tongue gently because germs can sit on the tongue and cause bad breath. - 5
Write one healthy snack that is good for your teeth.
A healthy snack that is good for teeth is an apple, carrot sticks, cheese, or plain yogurt. - 6
Which drink is usually better for your teeth: water or soda? Explain why.
Sugary drinks can hurt teeth if you have them often.
Water is usually better for your teeth because it does not have sugar that can feed germs and cause cavities. - 7
What can happen if food and germs stay on your teeth for a long time?
Plaque is a sticky layer on teeth.
If food and germs stay on your teeth for a long time, they can form plaque and may cause cavities. - 8
Put these steps in order: rinse your toothbrush, brush all sides of your teeth, put toothpaste on the brush.
The correct order is put toothpaste on the brush, brush all sides of your teeth, and rinse your toothbrush. - 9
How often should you visit the dentist for a checkup if your dentist says to follow the usual schedule?
Many people go two times each year.
Most children should visit the dentist about every 6 months, unless their dentist gives different advice. - 10
Sam only brushes the front teeth he can see. What advice would you give Sam?
Sam should brush the front, back, and chewing surfaces of all his teeth to help keep his whole mouth clean. - 11
Why should you use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste?
A little toothpaste can still work well.
You should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste because it is enough to clean your teeth and helps you avoid using too much. - 12
True or false: You should share your toothbrush with a friend or family member. Explain your answer.
False. You should not share your toothbrush because germs can spread from one person to another. - 13
What should you do after eating a sticky sweet treat if you cannot brush right away?
Water can help clean your mouth until you brush.
If you cannot brush right away, you can drink or rinse with water to help wash away some sugar and food bits. - 14
Name one thing a dentist or dental hygienist does to help keep your teeth healthy.
A dentist or dental hygienist can check teeth, clean teeth, take X-rays if needed, and teach good brushing habits. - 15
Draw or describe a bedtime tooth care routine with at least two steps.
Think about what you do before going to sleep.
A good bedtime routine includes brushing teeth for 2 minutes, flossing with help if needed, rinsing the toothbrush, and not eating more food after brushing.