Fact! Did you know that brushing misses 75% of your mouth?  

Neither did I before I started the Listerine 21 day challenge. I always thought brushing and flossing was enough to keep my mouth healthy. I never thought about getting gum disease or increasing my barrier against cavities.

I have learned that Listerine helps:

• Prevent gum disease
• Whitens teeth
• Helps fight cavities
• Give fresh breath
• Helps with tooth sensitivity

All this for a 30 second swish!

Creating Great Oral Habits

Let’s face it, we barely have enough time to get our clothes on to get out the door. We would be able to free up so much time if we could leave on our jammies, forget about all the “getting ready” stuff and head out to run errands. Unless you want to wind up on one of those “OMG Look at this person” site, I suggest to make a regimen that fits all your health and beauty needs.

As I said in my last article, you create a habit in 21 days, so let’s talk how I was able to keep up with my swishing. The key was to psych myself that I was only adding 30 seconds to my oral hygiene. I also added that if I add this little bit of time it would save me lots of time sitting in a dentist chair having work done.

BRUSH

At least twice daily, using a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

FLOSS

At least once a day, to clean hard-to-reach areas between teeth.

RINSE

Use an antimicrobial mouthwash like LISTERINE rinse for 30 seconds twice a day.

This is also how you teach your family healthy habits. You become the role model!

I Have A New Habit

I took the 21 day challenge and I was very surprised at the difference. I feel like my mouth is cleaner and healthier. Truth be told, when I started this I was thinking it would be helping my mouth be healthier but I would not actually feel a difference. I was impressed at the difference in the first few times I swished. I couldn’t swish for a full 30 seconds (I started at about 10 seconds) but I’m proud to say practice does work. I’m now a 30 second swisher!

You can be a swisher too- The week of March 1^st, visit your local Walgreens store to purchase LISTERINE Antiseptic for only $4.49; a great price to help keep you going with your new rinsing habit!

Tips On How To Teach Your Family Healthy Habits

We already talked about you being a role model but sometimes with children, a little more creativity is involved. Listerine makes it easy with so many different products so whether your priority is teeth whitening or ensuring that your child’s teeth are protected from cavities, they meet your needs.

-Make swishing a game- 30 seconds may be a long time for a younger child so start out with see who can swish the longest.
-Get everyone their own Ultraclean Access Flosser and share a mirror to start using it to count the teeth as you go.
-Try swishing to music or sing while they swish.
-If your child is old enough to gargle- try making noises, we whale talk
-Have fun little prizes for when they’re done- maybe stickers or something else fun. They shouldn’t be rewarded with treats, after all you just got their little mouths clean.
-Go shopping for a new toothbrush and Listerine products together (Walgreens can help you to stick with healthy habits as they offer a wide range of wellness products, including Listerine!)

 

Remember it becomes a habit after 21 days so you are setting them up for healthy oral care for the rest of their life!

 

 

 

 

Disclosure: “I received LISTERINE^® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE^® 21-Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.”