| Quick Answer: Spring is a great time to refresh your child’s dental routine — and the activities that work best are hands-on, visual, and tied to daily habits. Free pediatric-dentist-approved options include the American Dental Association’s MouthMonsters coloring pages, weekly brushing charts, the eggshell-and-soda experiment, snack-sorting games, and dental-themed reading. Combine activities with a spring dental checkup, and you’ve covered both education and prevention. |
Spring is when families naturally start fresh — and your child’s oral health is one of the easiest places to focus. At Kids Choice Dental, we love it when Denver-area families come in already running brushing charts at home and asking smart questions about fluoride. Those are the kids who breeze through visits and grow up cavity-free.
Here’s a roundup of free, fun spring activities that build real cavity-prevention habits.
Note: while April is sometimes informally called “Oral Health Month,” the official ADA/AAPD-recognized observance is February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. Either way, these activities work year-round.
Free Dental Coloring Pages
Free PDFs are everywhere — and they’re surprisingly effective with younger kids. The best sources:
- American Dental Association (ada.org/MouthMonsters) — friendly cavity-monster characters defeated by tooth-brushing heroes; kids love these
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (mychildrensteeth.org) — coloring pages and activity sheets
- Crest, Colgate, and Sensodyne websites — free educational materials in their kids’ sections
- Pinterest — dozens of free printable dental coloring pages
Print a few, set out crayons, and let your child color while you talk through the lesson behind each page (why brushing works, what cavities are, why water beats juice).
The Eggshell-and-Soda Experiment
The classic pediatric dentistry science demo. What you need: 2 hard-boiled eggs, a glass of cola, toothpaste.
How to run it:
- Soak one egg in cola overnight
- Brush the other with toothpaste each morning for a few days
- Compare them after 24–48 hours
The unbrushed shell stains and softens — that’s exactly what acid does to enamel. Kids genuinely remember this experiment for years.
Weekly Brushing Charts
Visible accountability beats reminders. The setup:
- Print or buy a weekly chart with morning and bedtime spots
- Tape it to the bathroom mirror
- Each completed brushing earns a sticker
- 14 stickers a week earns a small reward — a new toothbrush, a book, a movie night
Works for ages 3 through about 10. Free printable templates are widely available.
“Tooth Heroes vs. Sugar Bugs” Snack Sorting
This activity covers diet, the second half of cavity prevention.
How to do it:
- Get a sheet of paper. Two columns: “Tooth Heroes” and “Sugar Bugs”
- Have your child sort common snacks
- Tooth Heroes: water, milk, cheese, apples, carrots, plain yogurt, nuts
- Sugar Bugs: soda, juice, candy, sticky fruit snacks, sports drinks
Talk through why frequency matters more than amount. Sipping juice all day is far worse than one juice with lunch.
Dental-Themed Reading
A few books that consistently work:
- The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
- Brush Brush Brush! by Alicia Padron
- Show Me Your Smile! Trip to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer)
- The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist
- Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer
Public libraries usually carry several. Read a few in the days before a dental visit to build familiarity.
Schedule the Spring Checkup
Activities are great. But the single most impactful thing for kids’ teeth is twice-yearly dental visits. Spring is the strategic time:
- School routines are predictable — appointments are easy to fit in
- Summer travel hasn’t started
- Catching anything before summer means simpler treatment
- Insurance benefits from the new year are still fresh
If your child’s last visit was more than 6 months ago, this is the moment.
Visit Kids Choice Dental
We see Denver-area kids from infancy through teen years across our Denver, Aurora, and Wheat Ridge locations. We accept most insurance plans. Schedule a spring checkup at the location closest to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find free dental coloring pages for kids?
The American Dental Association (ada.org/MouthMonsters), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (mychildrensteeth.org), Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne, and Pinterest all offer free dental-themed coloring pages and activity sheets.
What dental activities help teach kids about oral health?
Hands-on activities work best — the eggshell-and-soda experiment, plaque-revealing tablets, weekly brushing sticker charts, snack-sorting games, and dental-themed coloring pages. Kids retain these far better than lectures.
At what age should I start dental activities with my child?
As young as age 2 for simple activities like coloring pages and reading dental-themed books. Add the eggshell experiment, plaque tablets, and snack sorting around age 4–5 when kids can engage with cause-and-effect concepts.
How often should we do dental activities at home?
A printable a week is plenty. The brushing chart works daily, but the bigger activities only need to happen a few times a month. Consistency beats intensity.
What’s the best brushing chart for kids?
A simple weekly chart with morning and bedtime spots, taped to the bathroom mirror. Two stickers a day, 14 a week, a small reward at the end. Works for ages 3–10.
When should I schedule my child’s spring checkup?
Right now, ideally — before summer travel and end-of-school events take over the calendar. Aim for early-to-mid spring so any needed follow-up treatment can happen before summer.
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Time for your child’s spring checkup? We truly care about your child’s health and happiness. Reach out to get your child’s appointment scheduled. We can’t wait to see you. Kids Choice Dental │ Denver • Aurora • Wheat Ridge │ Contact Us → |