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Losing a Tooth

Wiggle, Wiggle, Pop! All About Losing Teeth

This lesson is designed to be fun, gentle, and informative, helping preschoolers understand that losing baby teeth is a normal, healthy part of growing up. Most children start losing teeth between the age of five and seven.

Learning Objectives

Normalize: Understand that losing baby teeth is a natural growth milestone.
Identify: Recognize the roles of baby teeth (chewing, speaking, smiling) and permanent teeth.
Promote Hygiene: Reiterate the importance of taking care of the teeth we have.
Show the students a model of teeth in a mouth. Discuss the different sizes and shapes of teeth. Demonstrate how to brush the teeth and keep them clean. Sometimes a local dentist will donate toothbrush kits for the children in your class, if you ask.

Circle Time Discussion: "The Wiggle Game"

Start by asking the children if they have ever felt a loose tooth or know a sibling or friend who has.

The Big Idea: Explain that just like our bodies grow bigger, our mouths grow too!
The Explanation: "We have tiny 'starter' teeth called baby teeth. When our jaws get big enough to make room for our 'forever' adult teeth, those baby teeth get wobbly and fall out to make space for the new, strong teeth coming in."
Visual Aid: Use a doll with a mouth or a large model of teeth to show how a tooth might wiggle before it says "goodbye."

Teacher Tip: Keep the tone excited rather than scary. Use words like "growing up," "surprising," and "ready for your new, big teeth."

Storytime Recommendation

Read a gentle book about losing teeth to provide context.

Recommended Book: The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss (or Theo LeSieg) or Dear Tooth Fairy by Alan Durant. These books normalize the experience and keep it lighthearted.

Activity: The "Wiggle" Dance

Get the wiggles out with a short movement activity.

Instruction: Tell the children they are all baby teeth waiting for their turn to grow.
The Action:
- "Start very still!"
- "Now, start to wiggle just a little bit!" (Wiggle shoulders)
- "Wiggle a little more!" (Wiggle whole body)
- "Pop!" (Children jump up and strike a big, happy smile pose).
Connection: Remind them that when a tooth "pops" out in real life, it’s just the body’s way of saying "I’m growing up!"

Hands-On Craft: "My Smile Chart"

Help the children create a craft to take home to talk about with their families.

Materials: Paper plates, white cardstock tooth shapes, glue, crayons.
The Task:
1. Give each child a paper plate (the face) and a cutout of a big tooth.
2. Have them draw a picture of themselves with a big, missing-tooth smile.
3. Glue the paper tooth to the center of their smile area.
4. Label the top: "Growing Up!"

Wrap-Up: Keeping Teeth Healthy

End the lesson by reminding them how to keep their current teeth happy while they wait for their new ones.

Key points to cover:
- Brush twice a day (morning and night).
- Eat healthy snacks like apples and carrots (which make teeth strong).
- If a tooth comes out, tell a grown-up so they can help keep the spot clean.

Teacher's Note: Sensitivity

Fear: Some children may be anxious about losing a tooth. Validate their feelings: "It can feel a little strange at first, but it doesn't hurt, and your grown-ups will be there to help you."
Individual Differences: Remind students that everyone grows at their own speed. Some might lose teeth now, and some might not lose them for a long time—both are perfectly fine!
Not many children lose teeth in preschool, but for those that do it is handy to have a little tooth holder to save their tooth in.

These stories are great for children who might be nervous about their first loose tooth or the process of losing one.

Bear's Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson: A wonderful, rhythmic story where Bear's friends reassure him that losing a tooth is perfectly normal.
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey: A classic, gentle story about a young girl named Sal who discovers a loose tooth while enjoying a day by the sea.
Little Beaver and the Big Front Tooth: Specifically written for children with a "wobbly" tooth to help ease anxiety.
Amanda Pig and the Wiggly Tooth by Jean Van Leeuwen: A relatable story about a little pig who is excited for her tooth to come out but nervous that it might hurt.

Funny & Mischievous Tooth Fairy Tales

These are perfect for a laugh and show that the Tooth Fairy experience can be full of surprises.

Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat by Deborah Underwood: A funny book where a cat tries to trick the Tooth Fairy into meeting him.
How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Russell: A clever story that is always a hit with young children.
You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? by Sherry Bell-Rehwoldt: Gives a behind-the-scenes look at the "action-packed" life of the Tooth Fairy.

Educational & Cultural Perspectives

These books offer a broader look at why we lose teeth and how different cultures celebrate the occasion.

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss (Theo LeSieg): A classic, rhythmic introduction to why we have teeth and how to take care of them.
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler: A fascinating, lighthearted look at how different countries handle lost teeth (like throwing them on roofs or into mouse holes!).
The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez by René Colato Laínez: A charming tale that introduces the legendary Hispanic character, El Ratón Pérez, alongside the traditional Tooth Fairy.

Interactive "Lost Tooth" Mysteries

For students who find the idea of a "missing" tooth more funny than scary, these stories turn the experience into a detective game.

I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems (Unlimited Squirrels series): An excited squirrel who loses his tooth, and his friends are confused about where his tooth is now.
King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth by Dori Hillestad Butler: A mystery story about a girl and her dog searching for a missing tooth.

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