We invited a dental hygienist to hold a dental health class for all grades. The students checked the cleanliness of their teeth and reflected on their brushing habits. Some first- and second-graders said things like, “My tooth is wobbly!” or “I just lost an upper tooth!”—right in the middle of the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth. During lunchtime, some students even discussed what to do about their wobbly teeth.
Common oral problems include cavities. When your teeth hurt, it can make eating less enjoyable or cause discomfort when drinking. The most important thing is daily brushing! For the plaque-disclosing activity, students chewed a red tablet, which stained areas with plaque red. They then checked the red-stained spots in a mirror and brushed their teeth accordingly.
Reflections
- “By using the plaque-disclosing tablet, I could see that my brushing is cleaner than last year, which was good.”
- “There weren’t many red-stained spots, but I want to keep brushing properly every day.”
- “I learned that there are places my toothbrush doesn’t reach easily. I want to focus on these areas when brushing. I also thought it might be good to visit the dentist regularly.”
