Dental Fun for the Whole Family

Teaching the kids about proper oral health can be fun! Check out these family activities from Dr. Joy Lunan and show them what happens when you don’t take good care of your teeth.

To show children the importance of brushing and rinsing, gather food coloring, water, and a measuring spoon. Mix 4 drops of food coloring with a ¼ cup of water. Then have them swish this around in thier mouth for about 10-15 seconds. Look in the mirror together and show your child where the food coloring stuck to their teeth. This shows where the plaque buildup is. Have them brush their teeth again and then rinse with the colored water again to see how well they did at removing it. This will help to show them where they can improve their brushing.

To show your children how to floss, gather some yarn and an egg carton. Use the yarn like a piece of “floss” and the egg carton as “teeth” and show your child the proper way to floss.

Once they have mastered the art of flossing, show them why it’s so important. Collect a disposable rubber glove, washable finger paint, and a piece of yarn. As the parent, place the glove on your hand and paint between the fingers. Then, hold your fingers tightly together, as if they were “teeth”.  Explain to your child that the paint between your fingers is the “plaque” the toothbrush misses. They can practice flossing between your fingers with the yarn to see how well they do at removing the “plaque”.

Lastly, try this experiment to show how sugary drinks can damage your teeth. You will need 2 hard boiled eggs with the shell intact, a can of soda, 2 large glasses and toothpaste. Take one of the eggs and place it in a glass filled with soda. Take the other egg and coat it with toothpaste, then place it in the second glass filled with soda. Wait for 1-2 days and then take the eggs out of the glasses. Have your child notice how the shell of the of the first egg is brown, but the egg with the toothpaste on it was protected against the soda.

Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office in Middlebury, CT hopes your family enjoys these dental activities. Feel free to share your stories with us.