Primary 1-3, Lesson Plan for Oral Health Talk
Length / Session Topic / What it Involves / Equipment Needed
3 min / Why do we need teeth? /
  • To help us to eat - sharp teeth at front to bite into food, chunky teeth at back to chew food.
  • To help us to speak – helps our tongue make the correct shape to talk
  • To help us to look nice – nice smiles help us to feel good.
/ Show teeth on large teeth model
Ask pupils for a lovely smile.
2 min / What do healthy teeth look like? /
  • Shiny and clean.
  • No black bits and fillings.
  • Can be crooked and wobbly.
/ Show poster of healthy mouth.
2 min / What can do to keep our teeth and mouths healthy?
Key Messages. /
  • Brush teeth every morning and at bedtime.
  • Avoid sugary snacks and drinks.
  • Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes or as special treats.
  • Visit the dentist.

5 min / Toothbrushing. /
  • Invisible germs called bacteria live in our mouths. Some of these form a sticky coat on the teeth called plaque. It is difficult to see at first but as it grows it can feel furry on our teeth.
  • We need to brush the plaque off every morning and before bedtime.

Toothbrushing. Cont. /
  • A small toothbrush is best; some of you may use electric brushes.
  • A pea sized blob of toothpaste is placed on the brush. Toothpaste helps to keep teeth strong.
  • Place brush onto teeth and gums and make small circles as you brush. Count up to six in your heads as you move from teeth to teeth. Make sure you clean all the outside and inside. Scrub backwards and forwards on the tops of the teeth making sure you clean the big chunky teeth at the very back of the mouth. Looking into a mirror helps you see.
  • Spit out the paste and do not rinse the mouth.
/ Show small children’s brush and place on a pea-sized blob of paste.
Ask children to draw circle shape with finger in air.
Demonstrate brushing on large teeth with large brush, asking children to count to six as you move from teeth to teeth.
7 min / Avoid sugary snacks and drinks. /
  • When you eat sugary foods and drinks, plaque gobbles up the sugar and turns it into acid. Eating sugary snacks often will make lots of acid which can damage the teeth causing holes to form.
  • It is very important to eat snacks between meals which are healthy and safe for teeth.
  • There are lots of tasty snacks that are less harmful to our teeth e.g. raw vegetables, fresh fruit, bread and cheese.
  • Milk and water are the only safe drinks for teeth.
  • Sugary and fizzy drinks are not good for teeth.
  • If having sugary foods keep to mealtimes, having them as a dessert/pudding. Use a straw for sugary/fizzy drinks.
  • Sweets are best eaten only on special occasions as treats. Best to eat all in one go.
/ Ask children to give examples of healthy snacks for teeth.
Ask children to sort out play foods into “Healthy Snack” or “Unhealthy Snack” boxes.
Play board game – groups to match healthy and unhealthy foods to correct card.
5 min / Visit the Dentist. /
  • Dentist is a doctor who takes care of mouths.
  • Will show us how to keep our mouth and teeth healthy.
  • If teeth have been damaged by plaque, will make them strong again e.g. fillings.
  • Puts special coating on teeth to keep them safe.
/ Ask for volunteer and dress up as dentist with gloves, mask, tunic, mirror and torch.
3 set tooth model showing healthy, decayed and filled fissure.
5 min / Recap on key messages /
  • Brush morning and bedtime with pea size blob paste. spit don’t rinse.
  • Avoid sugary foods and drinks between meals.
  • Visit the dentist.
/ Answer any questions and let pupils demonstrate brushing technique on large model.