Brushing Teeth Task Analysis
Brushing teeth broken into 6 small steps, each with a real photo: toothpaste, outsides, insides, chewing tops, the full time, then spit and rinse. Print it free or change any step.
Make the photos look like you: show a light or dark skin tone, then print or download the matching PDF.
- 6 steps
- Free printable PDF
- Editable in browser
Editor preview
All 6 steps with a real photo each, ready to customize before you print.
- Step 1
Put Toothpaste on the Brush - Step 2
Brush the Outsides - Step 3
Brush the Insides - Step 4
Brush the Chewing Tops - Step 5
Brush for 2 Minutes - Step 6
Spit and Rinse
Printable preview
What the free PDF looks like once you download or print it. Every toggle above updates it.
Show the photos in a light or dark skin tone, and pick your layout, card size, page size and orientation. The preview and PDF follow your choice.
A task analysis breaks one skill into the small steps it is made of, in order, so each step can be taught, practiced and checked on its own. Brushing teeth looks like one job, but it hides several: getting the paste on, reaching every side of every tooth, keeping going long enough, and finishing up.
The steps here follow the order a dentist teaches. The usual advice is to brush twice a day for two minutes, and the outsides, insides and chewing tops each get their own photo because they are the parts most often missed. Two minutes is hard to judge, so a timer step sits in the middle: a phone timer, a song or an electric brush that buzzes all work.
Every step is a real photo of an adult's hands at a real sink. A photo reads faster than a drawing, and it keeps the page from looking like it was made for a small child.
Use the cards on the mirror as a visual prompt, or print the steps as a checklist to record which ones are done without help. Support staff often use the same list to note the prompt level for each step, then fade the prompts one step at a time.
Eight self-care routines as full-page visual task cards for teens, with a Did I Finish self-check strip, cut-apart sequencing cards, comprehension checks, a weekly self-monitoring tracker, wallet-size mini cards, and three difficulty levels.
When to Use This Template
Use it when brushing gets rushed or skipped, when someone is learning to brush without reminders, or in a teaching program where each step of the task analysis is practiced and recorded.
How to Customize This Template
- Add a step for flossing or mouthwash after brushing if it is part of the routine.
- For an electric toothbrush, change Brush for 2 Minutes to name the brush's own timer.
- Use the checklist layout to record each step as done, done with a reminder, or not yet.
- Swap a photo for one of your own toothbrush and sink in the maker.
Take this further with Beacon
Build, save, and share daily schedules in Beacon. Adjust them as the routine changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a task analysis for brushing teeth?
- It is the routine broken into small steps in order, such as putting paste on the brush, brushing the outsides, the insides and the chewing tops, brushing for the full time, then spitting and rinsing. Each step can be taught and checked on its own.
- How long should you brush your teeth?
- Two minutes, twice a day. A timer, a two-minute song or an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer makes the time easy to follow.
- Can adults use a picture schedule for brushing teeth?
- Yes. Real photos of an adult's hands at a sink suit teens and adults, and the steps are the same at any age. Print the cards for the mirror or use the checklist to tick each step.
- How do I use this for teaching?
- Print the checklist and record each step as done alone, done with a reminder, or not yet. Practice the hardest step on its own, and fade reminders one step at a time as each one becomes routine.
- Can I change the photos to look like me?
- Yes. Use the Skin tone toggle to show the photos in a light or dark skin tone. The preview, the printable and the PDF all match. In the maker you can also swap any photo for one of your own.