This post has been updated. To see an updated version, visit: Best Egg and Toothpaste Experiment.
Eggs may seem very simple and plain, but there is so much to learn about them and there is a lot that you can do with them beyond cooking. These exciting egg experiments will have you looking at eggs in a whole new way!
I took my kids to the dentist the other day – no cavities! However, my kids then had a bunch of questions about their teeth and how cavities are formed.
We have talked about how to care for teeth and brush properly, but I thought that these egg and toothpaste experiments would be a great hands-on visual for answering their questions.
I love doing science experiments with kids that involve materials that kids use and see in their daily lives. It creates a strong understanding of the world around them and a love of science.
These egg experiments are popular ones that I have done with kindergarten children for many years. The egg experiments can easily be done at home and with kids of all ages.
Materials
You don’t need a lot of materials for this experiment and most of the materials are things often found at home. You will need:
- Clear Cups
- Eggs (At least 6. We did not hard boil the eggs)
- Vinegar
- Pop (Do not use Diet or Sugar Free)
- Toothpaste
For more STEM and Science experiments, visit 45+ STEM Challenges for Kids and 81+ Science Experiments for Kids.
The Egg Experiments
We started by examining an egg. We know that the shell is fragile, but strong enough to keep the egg yoke inside and protected. The shell of the egg is similar to our tooth enamel.
We started by covering three eggs in toothpaste. My kids thought that this was a lot of fun. They used their fingers to cover the eggs in a coating of toothpaste, but you could also use a toothbrush to put the toothpaste on.
Next, I labeled 6 clear cups with the following labels:
- Water
- Water with Toothpaste
- Pop
- Pop with Toothpaste
- Vinegar
- Vinegar with Toothpaste
In the cups with water, we put one plain egg and one egg with toothpaste.
In the cups with pop, we put one plain egg and an egg with toothpaste. Make sure that the pop you use is not sugar free or diet. The experiment will not work properly without the sugar.
Finally, in the last two cups with vinegar, we put a plain egg and an egg with toothpaste.
Once all of the eggs were in the liquids, my kids each predicted what they thought was going to happen. Then, like most science experiments, we waited.
My kids made great observations right away that some of the eggs began to bubble and one egg even floated! We guessed what we thought would happen and then left the eggs for about a day and a half.
We checked on our eggs several times over the next day to watch for any changes in the eggs and in the liquids. There were a lot of bubbles all over the eggs as they sat in the liquids.
The Results of Our Egg Experiments
You can leave the eggs in for several days and then removed them from the liquids – being careful to remember which cup you take each out of.
Once we took the eggs out of the cups we talked about what we saw and how the eggs had changed. Some results were drastic, others were not!
Eggs in Water
Our eggs in the water, did not look any different from each other or from when we first put them in. We decided that this shows that water is okay for our teeth and does not hurt them.
The toothpaste was not needed to protect them from water.
Eggs in Vinegar
Our eggs in the vinegar were a different story. The enamel completely rubbed off of the egg without toothpaste. The enamel on the egg with toothpaste also largely rubbed off, but not to the same extent as the one without toothpaste.
Vinegar is an acid and eats away at the shell. The results of these egg and toothpaste experiment showed my kids that the toothpaste protected the egg from the vinegar.
Just like our teeth! If we eat a lot of acidic foods, like lemons, it can begin to break down our enamel and make our teeth less strong.
But that’s not all that happened! The really interesting thing with this egg was that the egg was squishy and we could actually bounce it!
The vinegar had completely changed the feel and structure of the egg. The enamel/shell of the egg was no longer making it strong and the shell had become transparent.
Eggs in Soda Pop
The results of the eggs in soda pop were also very interesting. This egg and toothpaste experiment most clearly shows how the toothpaste protected the egg.
The egg with toothpaste was considerably less stained than the other egg. However, the egg in pop, without the protection of the toothpaste, was very brown and discolored.
The egg in the pop that was covered in toothpaste, was still a bit stained, but considerably less than the other egg. My kids found these eggs really interesting – and gross!
These egg experiments teach kids so much about how liquids are different. They also teach children about the importance of good dental health. It even teaches kids a little bit about the structure of eggs and shells.
Extension Ideas for Your Egg Experiments
These egg experiments will keep kids curious and intrigued for days. When you are done, there is still lots more you can do!
What would happen if you leave the eggs in for a week? (I’ll warn you though that they may get pretty gross. But what would happen if you left them in, in the fridge?)
What other (safe) liquids could you put the eggs in? Juice, salt water or even lemon juice are great options.
Since the eggs have been left out for days to do this experiment, make sure not to eat them after you are done the experiment.
Keep the fun and learning about eggs going with a Spring STEM Activity for Kids. Challenge children to create a path for an egg to be blown through.
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More Hands-On Teaching Activities
If you enjoyed this egg and toothpaste experiment and other activities, you may also like these other hands-on activities below. From more egg experiments to stem challenges and escape room, there is lots to keep kids busy and learning.
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