Keeping Teeth Healthy

Curriculum Links

Subject: PSHE
Year Group: Year 2-3
Curriculum Area: Health and Wellbeing
UK PSHE Association Links:

• Year 2: The importance of personal hygiene and how to maintain it.
• Year 3: The benefits of a healthy lifestyle, including dental hygiene.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 20-minute session, students will:

• Understand why it is important to look after their teeth.
• Identify foods that help and harm teeth.
• Learn correct brushing techniques.
• Recognise the role of dentists in keeping teeth healthy.

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Lesson Plan

1. Introduction – The Tooth Detective! (3 minutes)

Teacher reveals a letter found in the classroom:

"Dear Year 2 and 3,
Something strange is happening to teeth everywhere! Some are turning yellow, some have little holes, and some are even falling out too early! We need your help to investigate how to keep teeth healthy. Will you become Tooth Detectives and solve the case?"

Ask students:

• What do you think is happening to these teeth?
• Why do you think they might not be healthy?

2. The Sugar Experiment (5 minutes)

Prepare four jars (or use printed images if resources are limited), each containing a picture of these foods/drinks:

1. Water
2. Milk
3. Fizzy drinks
4. Sweets

Ask students:

• Which ones do you think are good for teeth?
• Which ones might harm them?

Reveal the sugar content using sugar cubes or spoons of sugar (older students can estimate amounts first). Explain how sugar causes plaque to grow, leading to tooth decay.

3. The Mystery of Brushing Teeth (5 minutes)

• Show a large model of teeth (or a printed diagram).
• Discuss how and why they should brush their teeth twice a day.
• Demonstrate with a giant toothbrush or on the diagram.
• Introduce the "2-Minute Tooth Dance":
  • Move the brush in small circles!
  • Don’t forget the back teeth!
  • Brush the tongue for fresh breath!
  • Spit but don’t rinse!

Let students practise “air brushing” with pretend toothbrushes while following the dance instructions.

4. Quick Fire Dentist Quiz (5 minutes)

Teacher asks rapid-fire, fun true or false questions for students to answer by giving a thumbs-up (true) or thumbs-down (false):

1. You should brush your teeth once a week. (False)
2. Eating apples helps keep teeth clean. (True)
3. You don’t need to visit the dentist if your teeth feel fine. (False)
4. Drinking water is good for your teeth. (True)
5. Toothpaste is just for fun – it doesn’t do anything! (False)

5. Closing – Tooth Detective Awards! (2 minutes)

• Praise students for becoming expert Tooth Detectives.
• Hand out “Tooth Detective Certificates” (these can be printed or simply verbal recognition).
• Ask students one thing they will do today to take care of their teeth.

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Resources

• Printed letter from the "Tooth Detective"
• Jars or printed pictures of different foods and drinks
• Sugar cubes or pictures of sugar amounts
• Large tooth model or diagram
• Giant toothbrush (or printed image)
• Certificates for completion (optional)

Assessment

• Observation during discussions and activities.
• Student responses in the quiz.
• Verbal reflections at the end of the lesson.

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Adaptations

• For SEN learners: Use visual prompts, repeat simple key messages, and allow peer support.
• For more confident learners: Challenge them to explain why sugar harms teeth in more detail.

Teacher’s Reflection – After Lesson:

• What worked well?
• Did all students engage with the activities?
• How might this be expanded in future lessons?

This lesson encourages practical learning, active student engagement, and creative storytelling to wow students and teachers alike! 🎉