Skip to main
amr@hscni.net

KS1: Oral Hygiene

Pupils learn how plaque forms and why and how sugary food and drink can damage your teeth.

Scroll down to find out more and to download the resources.

Decorative
Download the complete lessonDownload DOCXDownload PPTDownload PDF

Learning objectives

  • Explore how plaque forms on teeth and understand the impact of sugary food and drinks on dental health, empowering them to make better choices to protect their teeth.

Background Information

Dental health is extremely important; over 23% of children in England have tooth decay and it is the main reason for children aged 5 to 9 being admitted to hospital. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria within the plaque.

The good news is that tooth decay can be prevented by limiting the number of times we eat foods and drinks with added sugar, brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and regularly seeing the dentist to check the health of our teeth and gums.

This lesson plan will support you to introduce the concept of tooth decay to students and the importance of avoiding sugary foods.

Activities

Main activity:
  • Eggshell Experiment
Extension activities:
  • Tooth Brushing Cards
  • Healthy Food Swaps

Curriculum links

Curriculum Key Elements

  • Personal Health and Moral Character

Curriculum Skills

  • Communication
  • Managing Information
  • Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • Working with Others

Curriculum Areas of Learning

  • Personal Development (PDMU)
  • The World Around Us (TWAU)

Supporting Materials

Teacher sheets
KS1 Oral hygiene teacher guidance
Student worksheets
SW1 Tooth brushing chart
SW2 Food swap
Student handouts
SH1 Healthy foods fact sheet
SH2 True or false card