Smart Food Choices for a Healthy Smile

An Exploration of Nutrition Labels and Oral Health

Authored by Grace Wilhelm and Designed by Emma Tillman

Grades:6, 7, 8

Oral Health Subjects: Nutrition and Oral Health, Sugar Consumption, Tooth Decay, Preventive Dental Health Behaviors. Bacteria

Keywords: Nutrition Label, Serving Size, Calories, Added Sugars, Ingredients List, Dietary Fiber, Protein, Sodium, Tooth Decay (Cavities), Bacteria

Learning Goals:

Comprehend and explain the main elements of a nutrition label.
Identify and analyze ingredients on a nutrition label in order to determine if the product is possibly harmful to oral health. Identify different cultural modifications of the smile.
Evaluate and select food/drink options to support oral and overall health using knowledge of nutritional labels.

Educational Standards

National Health Education Standards

1.8.2 – Analyze how practices and behaviors support a variety of dimensions of wellness.
Students examine how food and beverage choices affect oral health and overall physical wellness.

1.8.3 – Analyze behaviors that reduce or prevent illnesses and injuries.
Students analyze how limiting added sugar, drinking water, reading nutrition labels, and practicing appropriate oral hygiene can reduce the risk of tooth decay.

1.8.4 – Analyze practices and behaviors that support health and well-being.
Students connect nutrition choices and preventive dental behaviors with maintaining healthy teeth and bodies.

2.8.1 – Analyze the interrelationships between various influences on health and well-being.
Students consider how nutrition labels, ingredient lists, product types, and food marketing may influence their choices.

2.8.2 – Analyze individual, interpersonal, community, societal, and environmental factors that influence health behaviors and outcomes.
Students examine how access to packaged foods, beverage options, product labeling, and common eating habits can affect oral-health decisions.

5.8.2 – Determine when health-related situations require the application of a thoughtful decision-making process.
Students recognize that selecting snacks and drinks requires consideration of sugar, acidity, nutrients, and serving size.

5.8.3 – Use an individual, supported, or collaborative decision-making process to maintain or improve health and well-being.
Students use nutrition facts and ingredient lists to select foods and drinks that support oral and overall health.

5.8.4 – Evaluate how various options may affect health-related outcomes.
Students compare snack and beverage options and predict how each choice may affect tooth enamel, cavity risk, and general nutrition.

5.8.6 – Evaluate the results of a health-related decision on self and others.
Students evaluate the likely effects of choosing tooth-friendly, occasional, or tooth-risky foods and beverages.

7.8.2 – Analyze practices and behaviors that support personal and community health and well-being.
Students analyze practices such as limiting added sugar, drinking water, eating sugary foods with meals, and caring for their teeth.

7.8.3 – Demonstrate practices and behaviors that support personal and community health and well-being.
Students demonstrate healthy decision-making by ranking and selecting foods and beverages using nutrition-label evidence.

National Literacy Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.1 – Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.
Students use evidence from nutrition labels and ingredient lists to classify and compare foods.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.4 – Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and domain-specific words and phrases.
Students interpret terms such as serving size, percent daily value, added sugars, carbohydrates, protein, and sodium.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7 – Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words with information presented visually.
Students combine written explanations with numerical and visual information from nutrition labels.