Shailee Patel created a lesson plan to teach proper oral hygiene to 3-4 year olds. The plan involves demonstrating brushing and flossing techniques using an activity board, typodont, stuffed animals and sing-along music. Students will first watch a demonstration then practice the techniques. The lesson aims to explain the importance of brushing to remove "sugar bugs" which cause cavities if left on teeth. Students will participate in an activity and be asked questions to evaluate their understanding of proper brushing habits.

1. Shailee Patel
Lesson Plan: Oral Hygiene Instructions
Topic: Healthy Mouth = Happy Smiles 
Goal: To provide proper oral hygiene instructions using the roll method to the pediatric population (age
3-4) to improve overall health and to enforce good oral habits to help prevent caries.
Objectives:
 Given an in class activity and proper demonstration of oral hygiene instructions, the
pediatric population (age 3-4) will be able to:
o Demonstrate the proper way of brushing using the roll method and flossing with the floss
picks.
o Explain and understand the importance of daily brushing.
o Identify the difference between clean teeth versus teeth that contain plaque and food debris.
o Be able to brush for 2 minutes with a sing-along-song.
Strategy:
 The strategy of choice for this lesson is an in-class demonstration with the use of an activity board,
typodont, stuffed animals and a sing-along-song for brushing and flossing.
Teaching Skills Emphasized:
 In addition to the in-class activity board, I will be practicing my demonstrating, presenting and
interaction skills with this population (age 3-4).
Class Activities:
 Students will first watch me demonstrate step by step the correct oral hygiene method and then
will follow along and demonstrate by having them demonstrate on the typodont or the stuffed
animals with a sing along song.
o I will use a several large demo toothbrushes, my poster board, typodont, stuffed animals and I
will allow them to use them for the demonstration.
o If we are not able to have the children demonstrate by brushing their own teeth, I will have
them come up to the activity board one by one and have them demonstrate on the board,
typodont and/or stuffed animals.
Materials Needed:
 Activity board
 Children’s Toothbrush (ages 3-4)
 Children’s Toothpaste
 Large display toothbrush
 Stuffed animals
 Colgate Sing-along CD
*Note: I will be providing the above items through Fones School of Dental Hygiene
Evaluation:
 To determine whether the students can achieve the given objectives I will ask them
appropriate questions about the proper way of brushing and the importance of it. I will
self reflect on my performance from the presentation and identify areas of
improvement.

2. Lesson Plan Outline
I. Introduction (2 minutes)
A. Hi everyone my name is Shailee and I am a Dental Hygiene Senior intern.
B. I am from the University of Bridgeport Fones School of Dental Hygiene.
C. Today I am going to talk to you about how to brush and floss your teeth. I am also going to talk
to you about what “sugar bugs” are and how they affect your teeth.
II. What are sugar bugs? Why do you brush your teeth (5 minutes)
A. Definition: “sugar bugs” are formed from the sugar on candy, soda, cookies and sweets. When
you eat these foods, the “sugar bugs” grow on your teeth.
B. Discussion of the effects of “sugar bugs” on teeth: When these tiny “sugar bugs” stay on
your teeth and are not removed they cause your teeth to go bad by forming small brown holes
called cavities. These cavities cause pain and are unhealthy for your teeth.
C. How to remove the “sugar bugs” from your teeth: Cut down on unhealthy foods such as,
candy, soda, cookies, and donuts. Brush at least twice daily and floss at least once per day.
Flossing helps remove the really sticky sugar bugs that are stuck in between your teeth from
eating sticky foods like gummy bears, caramel, and taffy.
III. Board Presentation (5 minutes)
A. Show them pictures of toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss on the board.
B. Demonstrate how to brush using the roll method using a typodont
 Pick up tooth brush
 Place pea sized toothpaste on the toothbrush
 Place toothbrush on the teeth and show them to brush on top of teeth, back side of
teeth, and front of teeth on both arches.
C. Demonstrate how to floss using the teeth on a typodont.
 Gently slide the floss pick in between your teeth and move back and forth
 Then wipe it with tissue
 Continue onto the next set of teeth
IV. Activity (10 minutes)
A. Have 2 students come up at a time and demonstrate the proper brushing and flossing
techniques on a typodont and/or stuffed animals.
B. I will also play a sing-along song during this process.
V. Conclusion (5 minutes)
A. I will ask them the following questions as a group:
 How many times a day should you brush?
 Is it important to floss? How many times? Why?
 What are sugar bugs? Are they good for your teeth or bad?
 What happens if we don’t brush? Will the sugar bugs cause the teeth to get cavities?

3. References
Battling the Sugar Bugs (or How to Explain Oral Hygiene to Toddlers). (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2015,
from http://pediatricdentistryofglensfalls.com/battling-the-sugar-bugs-or-how-to-explain-oral-hygeine-
to-toddlers/
"Brush Your Teeth" Rap. (1991-2007). Dr. Rabbits and Friends: A Collection of Bright Smiles, Bright
Futures Songs. New York, NY: Colgate-Palmolive Company.
http://www.coloring.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Coloring-Pages-of-Lips-and-Teeth.gif