Are you homeschooling your child? Just because the importance of oral health for kids in Glenpool isn’t taught at most traditional schools doesn’t mean it’s not important. In fact, teaching your son or daughter how to take care of their teeth at a young age can instill habits that will set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. With that in mind, a dentist has provided three experiments to help you teach your little one about their dental health while homeschooling.
Plaque Attack
It’s often hard for kids to visualize what can happen if they don’t brush their teeth. That’s where this “plaque attack” experiment comes in. Fill two plastic cups with two teaspoons of yeast and one cup of warm (not hot) water. Then, add one tablespoon to only one of the cups. Stir each of the cups with a separate spoon. You’ll notice that the cup with added sugar will soon be overflowing due to the plaque that was created.
As you talk to your child about the results of this experiment, tell them how sugar in the mouth also creates plaque, and that they can avoid their own “plaque attack” by brushing twice a day.
(Peanut) Butter Fingers
Your son or daughter knows they need to brush their teeth, but are they also cleaning between their pearly whites? An experiment using peanut butter (or another sticky food product like jelly or marshmallow fluff if they have a peanut allergy) can show your child the importance of flossing.
Put a rubber glove on their hand and smear peanut butter between their fingers. Have them hold their fingers tightly together. Explain that their fingers are like teeth and the peanut butter represents the food and bacteria that builds up throughout the day. Tell them to keep pressing their fingers together while trying to clean away the peanut butter with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Then, have them spread their fingers to show how much peanut butter remains between them. Lastly, have them press their fingers together again and use dental floss to remove the lingering peanut butter.
This shows your child that while brushing is important, it doesn’t clear away all of the food and bacteria. That’s why daily flossing is essential – it cleans the places toothbrushes can’t reach.
Apple Cavity
This experiment can show your child what happens to a tooth when a cavity forms and lets bacteria inside. You’ll need two apples, two paper bags, a sharpened pencil, and a sharp knife.
Poke a hole in one of the apples with the pencil. This represents a cavity, or a break in the enamel. Place both apples in separate paper bags and leave them alone for at least 24 hours. The next day, take them out of the bags and use the knife to cut the apples in half. The uncut apple should look normal, while the punctured one has started to decay.
The skin of an apple protects the fruit inside of it, much like the enamel on the surface of your teeth. When a cavity breaks that barrier, bacteria can enter the tooth and cause decay. Now that your child has a picture of what that might look like, they’ll be more motivated to keep their teeth clean!
Homeschooling can be difficult, but with these experiments, having your child maintain a healthy smile shouldn’t be!
About the Author
At Glenpool Braces, Dr. Dalia Georgy provides comprehensive orthodontic services for patients of all ages. She loves to set children on the path to a lifetime of healthy smiles with the right preventive care. She’d be happy to teach you more about oral health for kids in Glenpool. To learn more, contact her office at 918-201-1414.