February is National Children's Dental Health Month, which makes it the perfect time to brush up on toothy knowledge by incorporating themed activities, dental hygiene—and yes, even the Tooth Fairy!—into your lessons. Kindergarten teacher Shari Carter has great ideas for books and activities to share with your class.

Books About Teeth and the Tooth Fairy

Dental Health Month is fast approaching, so stock up on all of the best books about teeth and the Tooth Fairy! As you explore the topic of dental health and hygiene as a class, these books will supplement the lesson in a fun way, whether your students read independently or as a class.

Missing Teeth Math

Subtraction can be a difficult concept for kindergarteners, but manipulatives make it easy! For this subtraction activity, give each student a set of “teeth” manipulatives (miniature marshmallows), a Missing Teeth Mat, and a Missing Teeth Recording Page. The amount of “teeth” you give each child should depend on their number sense and ability level. 

Each student should fill their Missing Teeth Map with marshmallow teeth and then “subtract” teeth from the mouth to see how many remain. They should use their marshmallows to create and then write 10 different number sentences on their recording page. To keep things fair (and hygienic), throw away the marshmallows used as manipulatives and give each child a brand-new set of teeth to munch on after they complete the assignment.

Why Brushing Your Teeth Matters

This cavity experiment couldn’t be easier! All you need are two apples and a knife to poke a hole in one of them. Tell your students to pretend the apples are their teeth. Poke a hole in the first apple and do absolutely nothing to the second apple. If you start this experiment on a Monday, your students will be able to make observations throughout the week and even record their observations in their science journals. 

At the end of the week, gather your class around the apples to talk about the results and draw conclusions. By then, the apple with the hole in it will have started to rot. Talk about how this is similar to getting a cavity and how a little hole in your tooth can get pretty yucky inside! Your students may be grossed out by the apple, but it will really get them thinking about taking care of their teeth!

What Does the Tooth Fairy Do With Your Teeth?

What could be more fun than writing about—and drawing—the Tooth Fairy? After reading a book or two about the Tooth Fairy, your students will know that the Tooth Fairy collects baby teeth that fall out… but then… what does she do with them?

Assign your students to write a short opinion piece about what they think the Tooth Fairy does with all the teeth she collects! For added charm, use tooth-shaped writing paper. You can pair this writing assignment with a simple directed drawing lesson starring the Tooth Fairy for a darling bulletin board display all month long.