Oral Health Lesson Plans/Teaching Tools

• Overview of Supplemental Oral Health Curricula for Preschool, Kindergarten, 2nd and 7th Grade (pdf)
  These guides contain lessons that encourage students to take care of their teeth as well as teach them oral health concepts. Each of the student activities in the Oral Health Supplemental Resource Guides includes a list of needed materials, background information, step-by-step instructions and suggested extension and evaluation activities. These guides are primarily designed for classroom use.
• Oral Health Curriculum: Preschool (pdf)
  This resource guide is intended for parents and young children to work on together.
• Oral Health Curriculum: Kindergarten (pdf)
  This resource guide has activities for kids aged 5 and 6. The lessons are designed to involve the young child in hands-on activities that will acquaint them with their mouth and how to care for their teeth; help them learn to like healthy foods, and encourage them keep their smiles safe. This guide is designed for use in both K-4 and K-5 classrooms.
• Oral Health Curriculum: 2nd Grade (pdf)
  This resource guide has activities for kids aged 7 and 8.
• Oral Health Curriculum: 7th Grade (pdf)
  This resource guide has activities for young teenagers.
• Afterschoolers Oral Health Resource Guide (pdf)
  This resource guide has activities designed for students in grades 1-5 participating in after-school programs. The "lessons" involve the elementary-age child in hands-on activities that will acquaint them with taking care of their teeth and understanding why that is important; teaching them to like and to choose healthy foods; and encouraging them keep their smiles safe and injury free. This guide is designed for use in child care centers and schools with after-school programs. It would also be a good resource for homeschool associations and parent and community outreach programs.
• Brush up on Healthy Teeth -- Simple Steps for Kids' Smiles (pdf)
  Flyer to hand out to kids and parents.
• Teacher Activities for the Early Childhood Classroom (ML-025192) (pdf)
  This resource guide has activities for infants through age 4. The "lessons" are designed to involve the very young child in hands-on activities that will acquaint them with their mouth and how to care for their teeth; help them learn to like healthy foods; and encourage them keep their smiles safe. This guide is designed for use in childcare centers serving infants-preschoolers and would be a good resource for homeschool associations and parent and community outreach programs.
• Oral Health for Preschoolers: Parent Information Booklet (ML-025191) (pdf)
  This Parent Information Booklet contains information for parents that is developmentally appropriate and based on recommendations from the Bright Futures in Practice: Oral Health By P. Cassamassimo. The sheets are easy to understand and can help parents take an active role in establishing and maintaining good oral health for their child. General topics include taking care of teeth, selecting the right toothbrush and toothpaste, good nutrition, safety, and going to the dentist.
• Oral Health Puppet Show for Schools and Head Start Centers
  Flora and Floppy go to the Dentist is a 20 minute interactive puppet show for children ages 3-8. The Columbia Marionette Puppet show is designed to engage and entertain preschool and school-age children while teaching them key messages about how to maintain good dental health.

DPH School Dental Prevention Programs

• Public Health Manual: SC DPH School-Based Dental Prevention Program (pdf)
  The manual provides the dental programs that enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with DPH with clearly stated expectations and standards for the DPH School-Based Dental Program.
• SC DPH School Dental Prevention Program Informational Flyer (ML-025295) (pdf)
  This is information for parents of children in schools served by the DPH School Dental Prevention Program. It describes how the program works and the importance of preventing tooth decay.

Resources for School-Based Dental Programs

• Healthy Communities Success Stories
  This site provides a worksheet and sample success stories to assist you in developing your success story.
• Seal America: The Prevention Intervention
  This online manual (2007, revised 2011) is designed to assist health professionals initiate and implement a school-based dental sealant program to help prevent dental cavities in children.
• Mobile Portable Dental Manual
  This is a manual on how to create an effective mobile or portable dental clinic, based on experience by the Cincinnati (Ohio) Health Department.