This is one of my favorite photos — not only did I manage to get all five of my children in one picture (not an easy feat), but they’re all smiling too! I want to keep those gorgeous smiles looking their absolute best, and I’m sure you feel the same about your children.
Did you know that brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth? Wow, I didn’t either until I had the opportunity to participate in a live chat with several oral care experts last week!
They had plenty more interesting (and a little scary) facts to share, such as:
- 50% of children will have a cavity or filling between the ages of five and nine.
- Nearly 75% of American adults suffer from various forms of gum disease.
- There are more germs in our mouths than there are people on earth.
I also recently read that poor oral care habits can contribute to fertility issues and have even been linked to coronary heart disease. Kind of makes you want to go brush and floss right now, doesn’t it?
As a mom, I have to say these statistics are pretty alarming. Of course I make sure that my kids brush their teeth every day, but experts are now saying that’s not enough.
The American Dental Association now recommends that children ages six and up floss once a day and brush and rinse twice a day with a fluoride mouthrinse, something we definitely have not been doing.
So for the next month or so, my family will be participating in the Listerine Healthy Habits for A Lifetime Oral Care Challenge. Listerine and Reach have provided us with an array of oral care products designed to kill plaque and combat the gingivitis germs that brushing alone misses.
Of course my children are excited to brush and rinse with their new Reach character toothbrushes and Listerine Smart Rinse, but the real challenge will be in ensuring that they maintain these habits for the long term once the new and fun appeal wears off.
How do you make oral care fun and encourage your children to develop healthy behaviors?
I received products and compensation from Johnson & Johnson and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Oral Care Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.
