Breaking News English Lesson: Flossing

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Flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of stroke (6th February 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Flossing - Level 3

Dental hygiene (looking after your teeth and gums) is good for you. It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can help your brain. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of having a stroke. A stroke is like a heart attack, but it affects the brain. It happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million are left disabled. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect around 3.5 billion people. He said these diseases are the most widespread health problems.

Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into the effects of flossing on our health. He said: "We aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits - has the greatest impact on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of different types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke "by reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is costly. Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy, affordable and accessible."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Flossing - Level 0, Flossing - Level 1 or Flossing - Level 2

Sources

https://nypost.com/2025/01/30/health/good-hygiene-habit-that-could-reduce-stroke-risk-revealed/
https://www.health.com/flossing-as-little-as-once-a-week-may-protect-against-stroke-8781732
https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/health-and-families/teeth-dental-hygiene-flossing-stroke-b2690742.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TEETH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teeth. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
dental / hygiene / teeth / gums / brain / risk / stroke / blood / disabled / diseases /
flossing / health / brushing / dentist visits / cheap / body / dental care / healthy habit
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FREE FLOSS: Students A strongly believe we all need and should get free dental floss; Students B strongly believe we shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DENTAL CARE: Why are these things important? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Importance	How Often
Toothbrush
Dental floss
Toothpicks
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Chewing gum

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. HYGIENE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hygiene". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DENTAL PROBLEMS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest problems at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Tooth decay
Gum disease
Stained teeth
Bad breath
Toothaches
Cracked teeth
Grinding one's teeth
Abscess

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	dental	a.	About teeth.
2.	hygiene	b.	To break open suddenly.
3.	gums	c.	Keeping clean to stay healthy.
4.	reduce	d.	The chance / possibility that something bad might happen.
5.	risk	e.	The soft pink parts around your teeth.
6.	burst	f.	To make smaller or less.
7.	tooth decay	g.	Damage to a tooth because of too much sugar or not enough cleaning / brushing.

Paragraph 2

8.	aimed	h.	Stopping something bad before it happens.
9.	determine	i.	Not less than.
10.	oral	j.	Tried to do or get something.
11.	at least	k.	Expensive; needs a lot of money.
12.	prevention	l.	To find out or decide something.
13.	costly	m.	Not too expensive; easy to buy.
14.	affordable	n.	About the mouth.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

The article says flossing helps your head and keeps your smile healthy. T / F
A stroke is similar to a heart attack for the brain. T / F
About 15 million people a year die from stroke. T / F
Tooth decay and gum disease affects 3.5 billion people. T / F
Researchers looked into the effects of health on flossing. T / F
Researchers say flossing once a day reduces the risk of stroke by 44%. T / F
The article says flossing is expensive. T / F
The article says flossing is easy and accessible. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

hygiene
risk
bursts
tooth decay
widespread
looked into
determine
reduce
infections
accessible

examined
splits open
convenient
find out
possibility
diseases
cavities
cleanliness
cut
extensive

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

looking after your teeth
reduce the risk
blood
tooth
the most widespread
the greatest impact
flossing teeth at
a cheap and easy way of
dental care
Flossing is a healthy

is costly
decay
health problems
on stroke prevention
vessel
habit
and gums
least once a week
of having a stroke
caring for your teeth

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

attack
hygiene
worldwide
blood
widespread
risk
diseases
brain

Dental (1) ______________________________________________ (looking after your teeth and gums) is good for you. It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can help your (2) ______________________________________________. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the (3) ______________________________________________ of having a stroke. A stroke is like a heart (4) ______________________________________________, but it affects the brain. It happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a (5) ______________________________________________ vessel in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people (6) ______________________________________________ have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million are left disabled. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral (7) ______________________________________________, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect around 3.5 billion people. He said these diseases are the most (8) ______________________________________________ health problems.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

costly
determine
lower
infections
effects
habit
types
impact

Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into the (9) ______________________________________________ of flossing on our health. He said: "We aimed to (10) ______________________________________________ which oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits - has the greatest (11) ______________________________________________ on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could (12) ______________________________________________ the risk of different (13) ______________________________________________ of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke "by reducing oral (14) ______________________________________________". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is (15) ______________________________________________. Flossing is a healthy (16) ______________________________________________ that is easy, affordable and accessible."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Dental hygiene (looking after your ______)
     a. tooth and gums
     b. teeth and gum
     c. teeth and gums
     d. tooth and gum
2) It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can ______
     a. help your brainy
     b. heap your brain
     c. help your brainier
     d. help your brain
3) A stroke is like a heart attack, but it ______
     a. effects the brain
     b. affects the brain
     c. infects the brain
     d. reflects the brain
4) when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel in ______
     a. a brain bursts
     b. their brain bursts
     c. this brain bursts
     d. the brain bursts
5) He said these diseases are the most ______
     a. widespread wealth problems
     b. widespread stealth problems
     c. widespread health problems
     d. widespread hearth problems

6) Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into the effects of flossing ______
     a. oh our health
     b. of our health
     c. off our health
     d. on our health
7) determine which oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or ______
     a. regular dentist visitors
     b. regular dentist visit
     c. regular dentist visits
     d. regular dentist visitor
8) flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of different ______
     a. types of stroke
     b. tapes of stroke
     c. tips of stroke
     d. tropes of stroke
9) flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for your ______
     a. teeth and bloody
     b. teeth and embody
     c. teeth and bodily
     d. teeth and body
10) He said many people have said that dental ______
     a. care is cost
     b. care is costly
     c. care is costs
     d. care is costed

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Dental hygiene (looking after your (1) __________________________________________________) is good for you. It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can (2) __________________________________________________. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of having a stroke. A stroke is like (3) __________________________________________________, but it affects the brain. It happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when (4) __________________________________________________ in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million (5) __________________________________________________. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect around 3.5 billion people. He said these diseases are (6) __________________________________________________ health problems.

Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into (7) __________________________________________________ flossing on our health. He said: "We aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or (8) __________________________________________________ - has the greatest impact on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at (9) __________________________________________________ week could lower the risk of different types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could (10) __________________________________________________ of stroke "by reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy (11) __________________________________________________ for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is costly. Flossing is a (12) __________________________________________________ is easy, affordable and accessible."

Comprehension questions

What does the article say dental hygiene is good for looking after?
What does a stroke affect?
What can burst in the brain?
How many people die from a stroke each year?
How many people have tooth decay of gum disease?
Who helped Dr Sen look into the effects of flossing on our health?
How often should we brush our teeth to reduce the risk of stroke?
What did a doctor say flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for?
What do many people say is costly?
What kind of habit does the article call flossing?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say dental hygiene is good for looking after?
a) your breath
b) your smile
c) your liver and kidneys
d) your teeth and gums
2) What does a stroke affect?
a) old age
b) the brain
c) the whiteness of your teeth
d) flossing
3) What can burst in the brain?
a) the brainstem
b) brain cells
c) thought
d) blood vessels
4) How many people die from a stroke each year?
a) about 15 million
b) about 50 million
c) about 5 million
d) about 5.5 million
5) How many people have tooth decay of gum disease?
a) around 6.5 billion
b) around 5.5 billion
c) around 4.5 billion
d) around 3.5 billion

6) Who helped Dr Sen look into the effects of flossing on our health?
a) dentists in New Zealand
b) patients
c) his team of researchers
d) a dental floss company
7) How often should we floss our teeth to reduce the risk of stroke?
a) at least once a week
b) several times a week
c) at least once a day
d) several times a day
8) What did a doctor say flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for?
a) your smile
b) tooth decay
c) your teeth and body
d) dental care
9) What do many people say is costly?
a) smiling
b) dental care
c) reducing oral infections
d) flossing
10) What kind of habit does the article call flossing?
a) a healthy habit
b) an expensive habit
c) a bad habit
d) a damaging habit

Role play

Role A – Tooth Decay
You think tooth decay is the biggest dental problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): gum disease, bad breath or stained teeth.

Role B – Gum Disease
You think gum disease is the biggest dental problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): tooth decay, bad breath or stained teeth.

Role C – Bad Breath
You think bad breath is the biggest dental problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): gum disease, tooth decay or stained teeth.

Role D – Stained Teeth
You think stained teeth is the biggest dental problem. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't so bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): gum disease, bad breath or tooth decay.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'flossing'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'teeth'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

good

suggests

happens

around

disabled

decay

looked

regular

once

reduce

caring

habit

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Flossing

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'flossing'?
What do you think of flossing?
How important is dental hygiene?
What do you do to look after your teeth?
What do you know about strokes?
Are you happy with your teeth?
What problems can people have with their teeth?
Do you ever get tooth decay?
What do you think of going to the dentist?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'teeth'?
What do you think about what you read?
How regularly do you floss?
For how many minutes should we brush our teeth?
How important are straight, white teeth?
What do you think of the cost of dental care?
What problems have you had with your teeth?
Has this article changed your opinion of flossing?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Dental hygiene (looking (1) ____ your teeth and gums) is good for you. It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can help your brain. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could (2) ____ the risk of having a stroke. A stroke is like a heart attack, but it (3) ____ the brain. It happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain (4) ____. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million are (5) ____ disabled. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect around 3.5 billion people. He said (6) ____ diseases are the most widespread health problems.

Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into the effects of flossing (7) ____ our health. He said: "We aimed to determine which (8) ____ hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits - has the greatest impact on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at least (9) ____ a week could lower the risk of different types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke "(10) ____ reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of (11) ____ for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is costly. Flossing is a healthy (12) ____ that is easy, affordable and accessible."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) after (b) then (c) before (d) up
(a) down (b) low (c) reduce (d) less
(a) effects (b) infects (c) affects (d) reflects
(a) feeds (b) tries (c) lowers (d) bursts
(a) right (b) up (c) left (d) down
(a) they (b) these (c) them (d) there
(a) in (b) on (c) at (d) to
(a) aural (b) oral (c) aerial (d) rural
(a) one (b) only (c) once (d) ones
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) by
(a) pairing (b) daring (c) sharing (d) caring
(a) fluoride (b) tooth (c) heritage (d) habit

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Dental ehigney
A stroke is like a rehta attack
a dolbo vessel in the brain bursts
5 million are left ildsadbe
tooth cedya
these dsiseeas are the most widespread

Paragraph 2

urgarel dentist visits
the greatest impact on stroke poverennti
different syept of stroke
eeucdr the risk of stroke
reducing oral fictoinesn
Flossing is a healthy athbi

Put the text back together

(...) cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people
(...) Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect
(...) impact on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of different
(...) which oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits - has the greatest
(...) for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is
(..1..) Dental hygiene (looking after your teeth and gums) is good for you. It keeps your teeth healthy, and it can
(...) Dr Sen and his team of researchers looked into the effects of flossing on our health. He said: "We aimed to determine
(...) of having a stroke. A stroke is like a heart attack, but it affects the brain. It happens when blood
(...) costly. Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy, affordable and accessible."
(...) help your brain. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risk
(...) around 3.5 billion people. He said these diseases are the most widespread health problems.
(...) worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million are left disabled. Researcher
(...) "by reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring
(...) types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke

Put the words in the right order

is Hygiene and after teeth looking your gums .
risk . your teeth Flossing reduce the could
reach It happens the when blood cannot brain .
blood When bursts . vessel in a the brain
diseases health are most the widespread These problems .
effects The on flossing health . of our
or like dental Oral behavior, hygiene brushing . flossing
of of risk different types Lower the stroke .
costly . have People dental that care is said
is a is that healthy Flossing habit easy .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Dental hygiene (looking after / before your teeth and gums) is good for you. It keeps / gives your teeth healthy, and it can help your brain. New research from the University of South Carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risky / risk of having a stroke. A stroke is like a heart attacked / attack, but it affects the brain. It happens / happening when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel at / in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke all / each year. Of these, about 5 million die, and 5 million are left / right disabled. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, effect / affect around 3.5 billion people. He said them / these diseases are the most widespread health problems.

Dr Sen and his team of researcher / researchers looked into the effects of flossing on / in our health. He said: "We aimed to determine which aural / oral hygiene behavior - dental flossing, brushing or regularly / regular dentist visits - has the greatest / best impact on stroke prevention." The team found that flossing teeth at least once / one a week could lower the risk of different types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent. Dr Sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke "of / by reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap / cheaply and easy way of caring for your teeth and body. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is cost / costly. Flossing is a healthy habit that is / are easy, affordable and accessible."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

D_nt_l hyg__n_ (l__k_ng _ft_r y__r t__th _nd g_ms) _s g__d f_r y__. _t k__ps y__r t__th h__lthy, _nd _t c_n h_lp y__r br__n. N_w r_s__rch fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f S__th C_r_l_n_ s_gg_sts th_t fl_ss_ng y__r t__th c__ld r_d_c_ th_ r_sk _f h_v_ng _ str_k_. _ str_k_ _s l_k_ _ h__rt _tt_ck, b_t _t _ff_cts th_ br__n. _t h_pp_ns wh_n bl__d c_nn_t g_t t_ th_ br__n, _r wh_n _ bl__d v_ss_l _n th_ br__n b_rsts. _r__nd 15 m_ll__n p__pl_ w_rldw_d_ h_v_ _ str_k_ __ch y__r. _f th_s_, _b__t 5 m_ll__n d__, _nd 5 m_ll__n _r_ l_ft d_s_bl_d. R_s__rch_r Dr S__v_k S_n s__d _r_l d_s__s_s, s_ch _s t__th d_c_y _nd g_m d_s__s_, _ff_ct _r__nd 3.5 b_ll__n p__pl_. H_ s__d th_s_ d_s__s_s _r_ th_ m_st w_d_spr__d h__lth pr_bl_ms.

Dr S_n _nd h_s t__m _f r_s__rch_rs l__k_d _nt_ th_ _ff_cts _f fl_ss_ng _n __r h__lth. H_ s__d: "W_ __m_d t_ d_t_rm_n_ wh_ch _r_l hyg__n_ b_h_v__r - d_nt_l fl_ss_ng, br_sh_ng _r r_g_l_r d_nt_st v_s_ts - h_s th_ gr__t_st _mp_ct _n str_k_ pr_v_nt__n." Th_ t__m f__nd th_t fl_ss_ng t__th _t l__st _nc_ _ w__k c__ld l_w_r th_ r_sk _f d_ff_r_nt typ_s _f str_k_ by 22 p_r c_nt t_ 44 p_r c_nt. Dr S_n s__d fl_ss_ng c__ld r_d_c_ th_ r_sk _f str_k_ "by r_d_c_ng _r_l _nf_ct__ns". H_ _dd_d th_t fl_ss_ng w_s _ ch__p _nd __sy w_y _f c_r_ng f_r y__r t__th _nd b_dy. H_ s__d: "M_ny p__pl_ h_v_ s__d th_t d_nt_l c_r_ _s c_stly. Fl_ss_ng _s _ h__lthy h_b_t th_t _s __sy, _ff_rd_bl_ _nd _cc_ss_bl_."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

dental hygiene looking after your teeth and gums is good for you it keeps your teeth healthy and it can help your brain new research from the university of south carolina suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of having a stroke a stroke is like a heart attack but it affects the brain it happens when blood cannot get to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year of these about 5 million die and 5 million are left disabled researcher dr souvik sen said oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease affect around 35 billion people he said these diseases are the most widespread health problems

dr sen and his team of researchers looked into the effects of flossing on our health he said we aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior dental flossing brushing or regular dentist visits has the greatest impact on stroke prevention the team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of different types of stroke by 22 per cent to 44 per cent dr sen said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke by reducing oral infections he added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for your teeth and body he said many people have said that dental care is costly flossing is a healthy habit that is easy affordable and accessible

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Dentalhygiene(lookingafteryourteethandgums)isgoodforyou.Itkee
psyourteethhealthy,anditcanhelpyourbrain.NewresearchfromtheU
niversityofSouthCarolinasuggeststhatflossingyourteethcouldreduc
etheriskofhavingastroke.Astrokeislikeaheartattack,butitaffectstheb
rain.Ithappenswhenbloodcannotgettothebrain,orwhenabloodvesse
linthebrainbursts.Around15millionpeopleworldwidehaveastrokeeac
hyear.Ofthese,about5milliondie,and5millionareleftdisabled.Resear
cherDrSouvikSensaidoraldiseases,suchastoothdecayandgumdiseas
e,affectaround3.5billionpeople.Hesaidthesediseasesarethemostwid
espreadhealthproblems.DrSenandhisteamofresearcherslookedinto
theeffectsofflossingonourhealth.Hesaid:"Weaimedtodeterminewhic
horalhygienebehavior-dentalflossing,brushingorregulardentistvisit
s-hasthegreatestimpactonstrokeprevention."Theteamfoundthatflo
ssingteethatleastonceaweekcouldlowertheriskofdifferenttypesofstr
okeby22percentto44percent.DrSensaidflossingcouldreducetherisk
ofstroke"byreducingoralinfections".Headdedthatflossingwasacheap
andeasywayofcaringforyourteethandbody.Hesaid:"Manypeoplehav
esaidthatdentalcareiscostly.Flossingisahealthyhabitthatiseasy,affo
rdableandaccessible."

Free writing

Write about flossing and oral hygiene for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Dental floss should be given to everyone for free. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. TEETH: Make a poster about teeth. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FREE DENTAL FLOSS: Write a magazine article about dentists giving free dental floss to everyone. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on teeth. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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