Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1
Gather your materials. Kid-friendly magazines with lots of pictures of food work great for this activity. We used Parenting, Parents, and Disney Family Fun.
Step 2
We cut tooth shapes out of white construction paper and used markers to draw a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other side.
Step 3
The kids had fun looking through the magazines for things that make teeth happy (toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, dairy products for calcium, vitamins, fruits, and vegetables) and things that make teeth sad (soda, coffee, tea, sugary foods). I had fun listening to them discuss which side of the tooth to put each picture on. It is probably the only time I'll hear my son say "ice cream is very bad"!
Final result!
After they cut out a bunch of pictures, they glued them to the appropriate side of the tooth and we hung them up in a place of honor--the refrigerator door! Maybe it will remind my husband as he sneaks the late-night ice cream that too much sugar is bad for your teeth!
