Watch Cavities Form | Dental Worksheet

Have you ever wondered what a cavity might look like? With this activity, you can get a demonstration of the decay that bacteria can cause, as well as how to properly brush and floss your teeth. Click on the provided image to see the entire instruction sheet. Try this craft for yourself to see how cavities form!

The items you’ll need for this craft include one sheet of red or pink construction paper, six to eight styrofoam cups, play dough, a hot glue gun, yarn or string, an old toothbrush, nail polish remover with acetone, and a dropper or syringe for the acetone. To prepare for this activity, place the styrofoam cups in a U-shape on the construction paper. Hot glue the cups to the paper, and then put bits of playdough on and between the teeth to resemble bits of food.

For the brushing portion of the activity, use the old toothbrush to brush the pieces of Play-Doh off the cups. By doing this, you’re demonstrating how you brush the food and bacteria off your teeth when you brush. Then, for the flossing part, use the string to get the Play-Doh out from between the styrofoam cups. Finally, for the cavity activity, drip some of the acetone onto the cups and watch them dissolve. This demonstrates how cavities are holes that develop in the teeth.

Use this activity to spark conversation about dental health. Discuss what a cavity is, what the importance of brushing and flossing is, and why cavities are bad. Cavities are small holes that can develop in your teeth, and it’s important to brush and floss so that they don’t form. A cavity shows that a tooth is unhealthy and can be painful for you. 

Share this dental worksheet with a friend so that they can learn how cavities form as well!