- Health and safety
- Classes 1-2
- 3 min read
Brushing teeth properly
Learn how and when to brush, how much toothpaste to use and which foods are friends of our teeth.
Let us begin
The big idea
Our teeth help us bite, chew and smile. Taking good care of them is easy. Let us learn how to brush the right way so that our teeth stay strong and clean.
We should brush our teeth two times a day: once in the morning and once at night before we sleep. Night brushing is very important because germs work on our teeth while we sleep.
Use a soft toothbrush and only a small pea-sized bit of toothpaste. Brush the outside, the inside and the top of every tooth. Do not forget to brush your tongue gently.
Brush gently in small circles for about 2 minutes. Then spit out the toothpaste, rinse your mouth with water and do not swallow the paste.
Sweets and sticky foods can harm our teeth. Water, fruits, vegetables and milk are good for them. If we eat sweets, we should rinse our mouth with water afterwards. A visit to the dentist now and then keeps our teeth healthy.
Worked examples
See how it works
Morning and night
Asha brushes after breakfast and before bed. That is 2 times a day, so her teeth stay clean all day and all night.
How much paste
Dev puts a pea-sized amount on his brush. A big blob is not needed. A small bit is enough to clean well.
After a sweet
After eating a toffee, Sia drinks a few sips of water and swishes her mouth. This washes away sugar that sticks to her teeth.
Try it at home
Two minute brushing song
You will need
- A toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- A cup of water
- A clock or sand timer
What to do
- Put a pea-sized bit of toothpaste on a soft brush.
- Set the timer for 2 minutes.
- Brush the outside, inside and top of your teeth in small circles.
- Gently brush your tongue, then spit and rinse.
- Tick a chart each morning and night this week.
Ask a grown-up: An adult can check the toothpaste amount and help you reach the back teeth.
Practice sheet
Check what you learned
Practice sheet: Brushing teeth properly (Classes 1-2, Health and safety)
- How many times a day should we brush?
- Why is brushing at night important?
- How much toothpaste should you use?
- For how long should you brush?
- Name two foods that are good for our teeth.
- Name one food that can harm our teeth.
- What should you do after eating a sweet?
- Should you swallow the toothpaste?
- Who can check your teeth now and then?
- Why do we need healthy teeth?
Answer key
Answers: Brushing teeth properly
- Two times: morning and night.
- Germs work on our teeth while we sleep, so we clean them before bed.
- A small pea-sized amount.
- About 2 minutes.
- Sample answers: apples, carrots, milk, water.
- Sample answers: toffees, sticky sweets.
- Rinse your mouth with water.
- No. We spit it out.
- A dentist.
- To bite, chew food, speak clearly and smile.