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Last month my family decided to take the Listerine Sweet Smart Challenge and improve our oral health care. After hearing about how rapidly oral disease and dental problems can affect children I knew I wanted to up our game and get into a daily habit that would provide my family with healthier teeth.
Facts That May Surprise You
- 44 percent of American kids will suffer from pediatric dental disease before they reach kindergarten
- Of the 4 million kids born each year, more than half will have cavities by the time they reach 2ndgrade
- 43% of Americans lack dental insurance
- All in all, 16 million kids suffer from untreated dental disease
But, oral care isn’t just for children! I participated as well. Several years ago I was diagnosed with periodontal disease. I hadn’t kept up with my yearly cleanings and I thought just brushing was enough. I was so wrong. After a painful treatment, I was given a harsh, full strength fluoride rinse to use. Yuck, that’s what I say. I had to mix it with filtered water, it tasted horrible and I really had to make myself do it. Not only did I want to find a new way to treat my teeth, but I also wanted to make sure my kids don’t go through the same ordeal.
Getting my three year old to brush his teeth has always been a little difficult. What toddler wants to stand still and scrub their teeth? Not mine. When he saw the Perry the Platypus toothbrush from Reach – he was so excited! We used a children’s toothpaste and, for the first time, he actually wanted to brush. I placed his oral care products in the kitchen so we could do a quick brush after breakfast and before bed. Soon he was reaching for his toothbrush even during the day and having some ‘practice’ sessions.
My oldest, 15, wasn’t as convinced. At first he resisted the idea of using something that had the word ‘kids’ associated with it. But, when I told him these didn’t contain alcohol and they were fruit flavored – he gave it a try.
Big Man’s view: “I didn’t think I’d like them because I don’t like kiddie fruit flavor stuff. But this rinse is pretty cool. It doesn’t burn my tongue or make me feel like I just put rubbing alcohol in my mouth. Okay, I admit it. I like using it.” My husband had this to say: “I’ve used other brands of fluoride rinses before. I try to use one every day. But this is the first one that actually made my mouth feel cleaner. It even had this cooling feel after – I liked that.”
A fluoride-based rinse like LISTERINE SMART RINSE provides 12-hour cavity protection and strengthens teeth 99% better than brushing alone. It acts like a magnet to grab particles left from brushing, and when your child spits out the mouthrinse, you can see the particles right there in the sink – proof that brushing alone is not enough. – DR. KANETA LOTT, pediatric dentist
We also made a point to floss every day. I was horrible about flossing before. I was always worried about the pain. But, the Reach Total Care Floss is made like a soft ribbon so it’s less harsh on your gums but also covers more area so you don’t miss anything. It was very comfortable to use and I didn’t have bleeding after like with traditional floss.
I really enjoyed the ‘after cool’ as well. But, even more than that, it had a wonderful effect on the symptoms from my periodontal disease. After using the Listerine Smart Rinse for a month I had less sensitivity and my mouth felt clean longer. I actually had to resist using it every time I ate and stuck with a twice-a-day schedule. We kept track of our brushing, rinsing and flossing with a chart on the refrigerator.
We did forget to chart our progress on some days. Life gets hectic – but, even if we missed the chart, we made sure to brush and rinse! When the Halloween candy came home we made a new rule: If you want candy – you have to brush afterwards. It worked like a charm – even with my teen!
Now both kids are happy to do their oral care routine each morning and night – with no fuss. Little man, 3, can’t use the Smart Rinse yet — but for now we rinse with water after each meal to get him use to “swishing and spitting” for when he’s older. My teen has been using his Smart Rinse and floss every day. I’m loving my Barbie rinse and tooth brush as well. You’re never too old for pink! And I realized that using a softer brush actually cleans my teeth better. I was shocked. I thought harder = better. But, my soft Barbie Reach brush is doing a great job.
Tips for getting kids to practice good oral hygiene:
- Parents should brush their children’s teeth until age eight to demonstrate good brushing behavior.
- You can make brushing into a game – make funny faces, play music, use a calendar and give a star for every day that your child brushes without prodding.
For more information about Listerine for Kids and how to get your family into a good oral health routine – visit ListerineKids.com
*I received products from Johnson & Johnsom Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE SMART RINSE Sweet Smart Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this and subsequent related posts are my own.
