Dental Care
Health - English Lesson
Discuss this quote with your classmates. You may have seen this quote on a poster in a dentist’s office.
“
You should only floss the teeth you want to keep.
”
Author Unknown
5 REASONS TO FLOSS YOUR TEETH
WARM-UP ☀
Why do you hate going to the dentist?
I don’t like the flavor of fluoride.
I worry I am going to have a cavity.
I worry how much money it will cost.
I think the dentist will ask if I’ve been
flossing.
What other reasons are there for not wanting
to go to the dentist? Do any students in your
class like going to the dentist?
PRE-READING WARM-UP QUESTIONS ☀
1. Remove plaque from between your teeth
Dentists always ask if you’re flossing regularly.
Brushing only reaches about 65% of the surface
of your teeth. Flossing reaches the spaces
between your teeth where cavities often form.
2. Keep your breath fresh
Food can get stuck in between your teeth and
cause bad breath. Plaque buildup can also cause
bad breath. Flossing after each meal keeps your
breath fresh.
1. Did you learn to floss your teeth when you were a
child?
3. Reduce your risk of heart disease
2. How important is flossing one’s teeth compared to
brushing?
Bacteria in your mouth can go to your heart!
Dentists say that good oral hygiene can reduce
your chance of having a heart attack.
3. Why do many people forget to floss?
4. Why is oral hygiene so important?
4. Keep your teeth until you die
Do you want to have your teeth forever?
Inflamed gums can eventually cause your teeth
to fall out. You can prevent the need for false
teeth if you maintain healthy gums.
5. Reduce your medical bills
Dental floss is inexpensive, but dental bills are
pricey! Flossing will prevent costly surgery and
reduce the need for medication.
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Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Dental Care
Health - English Lesson
COMPREHENSION ✍
VOCABULARY REVIEW
Practice asking and answering the following
questions with your partner. Then write the
answers in complete sentences in your notebook.
A. Match a definition on the right to a word on the left.
1. What is the primary purpose of the list on page 1?
2. What would be an alternative title for this list?
3. What does the list say about inflammation?
4. According to dentists, what can good oral hygiene
do for the rest of your body?
5. What are three benefits of flossing every day?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
plaque ___
gum disease ___
cavity ___
hygiene ___
floss ___
a. clean between your teeth
b. a buildup of film that causes tooth decay
c. cleanliness and upkeep related to the body
d. a decayed place in a tooth
e. gingivitis
B. Match a word on the left with a word on the right. Indicate
whether you found a synonym or an antonym.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
inflamed
costly
cavity
build up
gum disease
a. pricey
__________________
b. swollen
__________________
c. wear down __________________
d. tooth decay __________________
e. gingivitis
__________________
LISTENING PRACTICE
Corner Questions:
Designate each corner of the wall in your classroom as one of the following:
Strongly Agree / Agree / Disagree / Strongly Disagree (Tape a piece of paper to the corners.)
Listen to your teacher read out the following statements. Walk to
the card that best describes your feeling about each statement:
1. I like peppermint-flavored toothpaste the best.
2. I have a dentist that I see regularly.
3. Dental health is more important than eye health.
4. Flossing takes longer than brushing.
5. My parents taught me good oral hygiene.
6. I like going to the dentist.
7. Dental care is very expensive in my country.
8. I eat too many sweets.
9. You should brush your teeth for three minutes or more.
10. I would like to be a dentist.
DISCUSS
How important are
straight teeth? Are
braces worth the
money ?
ROLE PLAY:
Dentist’s Orders
Get together with a partner. Act out a scene
between a dentist and a patient suffering
from gingivitis (inflamed gums). Try to use
vocabulary from the reading.
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Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Dental Care
Health - English Lesson
CREATE A POSTER FOR A DENTAL OFFICE ✍
BRAINSTORMING
When talking to kids, dentists often call plaque
“sugar bugs”. Create a poster for a dentist
office. The poster will teach kids how to
prevent sugar bugs. Use this box to brainstorm
ideas for your poster. Can you find any quotes
to use?
Write the text for your poster below. Make
your poster in list form. When you are finished
writing, create your poster on a separate sheet
of paper. Remember that this is a poster for
kids!
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Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.
Dental Care
Health - English Lesson
ANSWER KEY
Lesson Description: In this lesson, students learn 5 important reasons to floss. They get to move around during a
listening exercise, do a role play, review important vocabulary, and make a poster for a dentist’s office.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. The primary purpose of the list on page 1 is to convince people of the importance of flossing.
2. Answers will vary. For example, an alternative title for this list could be “Why Flossing is Important” .
3. The list says that inflamed gums can eventually cause your teeth to fall out. You can prevent the need for false teeth if
you maintain healthy gums.
4. According to dentists, good oral hygiene can keep your heart healthy.
5. Answers will vary. For example, three benefits of flossing every day are having better breath, keeping your teeth
forever, and reducing the cost of medical bills.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Matching
1. b
2. e
3. d
4. c
5. a
B. Synonyms and Antonyms
1. b - synonym
2. a - synonym
3. d - synonym
4. c - antonym
5. e - synonym
Spelling Note: The text and tasks show the American spelling of the words ‘Flavor’ and ‘Flavored’. Most other Englishspeaking countries spell it this way: Flavour and Flavoured. Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in
the lesson and see if they know the alternate spelling.
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Copyright 2012, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.