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They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit, and I would have to agree.    My family just finished the LISTERINE 21-Day Oral Care Challenge to brush, floss, and rinse using LISTERINE® Antiseptic twice daily, every single day!  The challenge as been a great way to teach my children how to care for their teeth and gum, and establish a healthy routine.  Yes, I said it! The LISTERINE 21 Day Challenge helped me get my kids to brush their teeth, and take better care of their teeth and gums without mom following them around.  Taking part in the challenge was fun, and it helped remind me how well my kids respond to something when I make it fun!

Teaching Children Good Dental Care Habits

Brush, Rinse, Floss – REPEAT!  Teaching children good dental care habits can be tricky.  They often don’t understand the consequences of not taking care of their teeth.  I have found myself fighting a never-ending battle when it comes to getting my children to practice good oral care.  I have one child who wants to brush her teeth all the time, and the rest I used to have to fight with.  Taking part in the LISTERINE 21-Day Challenge helped me remember the most important factor when it comes to teaching my children anything – FUN!  We all learn better when something is fun, oral care can be fun too!  Don’t belive me, ask me kids!  We have taken something they didn’t like to do, made it fun, and in return they have started to make it part of their daily routine.  We are still working on the mornings, lol, but their bedtime routines now include good dental care habits!  

How To Get Kids To Brush Their Teeth 

I was excited to get start the LISTERINE 21-Day Challenge, and I am even more excited to share my results with you.  Of course, my mouth feels amazing, and the challenge helped my husband and I, but I am even more impressed on how well my children responded to everything.  If you are having a hard time getting your little ones to brush, rinse and floss you might try these few tips my husband and I used to get our kids brushing, rinsing and flossing better too.

Teach Kids To Brush Their Teeth

You know, before I had my daughter, I had 3 children.  I know sounds crazy they are my stepchildren, but we do NOT refer to one another as step anything.  They ARE MINE, but until I had Mattie I was a little less thoughtful, I guess you could say.  That thing they say about motherly skills kicking in when you have a child, that was true in my case.  The moment I had Mattie, I changed with all my kids.  I suddenly was more motherly.  Before I had Mattie, I assumed the kids knew how to brush becasue they were doing it.  Little did I know, I needed to watch them and make sure they were doing it right.  It’s funny, but little things like that can be easily missed.  Just becasue the kids go into the bathroom, and put toothpaste on their toothbrush, and start brushing doesn’t mean kids know how to brush.  We have to teach them, and I have learned it’s an ongoing process.  I am still teaching Vayda how to brush her teeth.  Which is fine, it’s my job, I only wish I would have thought about these things earlier.

Who Said a Toothbrush Can’t Make Things Fun?

Be a champ, and let them choose their own toothbrush.  You remember being a kid, anything cute, that was your favorite character, or that you liked was motivation to do something!  It even made it fun at times.

We Only Live Once Make It Fun! 

We made brushing fun in the evenings.  We had a brushing partner, which helped because they would remind one another.  Once BOTH teammate finished brushing they could add a start to next to their team name, if they BOTH rinsed they could add another site, and if they BOTH flossed they would add another star.  The team with the most stars at the end of each week I would buy a prize, or make them a special treat. 

Timer  

If they do not have a toothbrush that times them, put on in their bathroom, use your phone, or find an alternative way to be sure the kids are brushing for the correct amount of time.

Yes, Mouthwash Can Be LOADS of Fun! Right LISTERINE®?!?!

Just like the toothbrush, it made a huge difference with my younger children.   When it’s fun, it’s fun.  What little girl who loves Barbie doesn’t want to invite Barbie to her daily brushing routine.  Also, rinsing twice daily is GREAT!  I even have my kids brush after they have sweets.  Take care of those pearly whites kids!

Lead By Example

If you expect your kids to do it, do it too! 

Your Kids ROCK, So Tell Them They Do!

If they brush their teeth good, remember to floss, brush, rinse, or remind you tell them how proud of them you are.  Get excited, give them a huge and tell them how proud you are. they are doing such a great job.  If they remind you get up and brush, it’s a great way to show them support, and let them know tey are doing AWESOME! 

Make It a Habit

Do something to make brushing, rinsing and flossing a habit.  I had a blast doing the 21 Day Challenge for LISTERINE, and noticed a huge difference not only in myself, but my kids.  It helped me put more focus on my teaching my kids to brush their teeth in a fun way.  We always brush, but because of the challenge we had more fun doing it.  Which taught me a lot not only about teaching my kids to brush their teeth, but on making it a habit.  Now when I ask them about brushing 70% of the time they have already done so!!  Yepie, for making brushing, rinsing and flossing a habit.  

This was really a good reminder for me.  I know kids learn best when things are fun, most of us do.  I think I forgot, and this was a great reminder to make things fun so the kids pick it up faster, and remember it better.

We had a blast taking part in the LISTERINE 21-Day Challenge, but more importantly it helped all of us develop a better routine.  Oral care is important, because it means a healthier you. 

My kids favorite part of the LISTERINE Smart Rinse, because it’s bright pink and there is a picture of Barbie on it.  Hey if it means healthy teeth and gums, I am all about it.  I think the LISTERINE Smart Rinse has even been part of the reason my kids are so excited to brush, lol.  They know once they are finished brushing, it’s fun.  They get to use the cool pink mouthwash, and floss! 

My favorite part about the challenge is that I have started to notice my kid’s remember on their own to brush at night.  They didn’t do so good in the mornings, but at night it’s become part of their bedtime routine.  My youngest daughter still wants to brush 932 times a day, which is fine as long as she is brushing, rinsing, and flossing.  Which hey, that’s okay right.  She has the cleanest mouth in the house!

Shawn and I now have a new favorite toothpaste – LISTERINE® Whitening® Original Gel Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste is AWESOME!  We both have the same toothbrush, my husbands is green (I think) and mine is pink, but they have these little rubber pieces on them that are supposed to help get more plaque off your teeth.  

Well anyway, the first time we both used the LISTERINE® Whitening® Original Gel Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste those rubber pieces squeaked against our teeth.  FYI, that has never happened before!  We change our toothbrushes often, but when I bought these toothbrushes I bought a package of 8 so we have been using the same kind of toothbrush for a while, and out teeth have never been squeaky clean!  We really like, and will continue to use LISTERINE® Whitening® Original Gel Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste!

If you missed my first post, go back and read it – LISTERINE 21 Day Challenge

Help a Child in Need with a “Swish Selfie”

Another fabulous part of this campaign is that we have also been able to help children in need.  If you read my first post your might remember reading about the “Swish Selfie” campaign.  Be sure to take part in it and help a little one who is in need.  For every person who posts a “Swish Selfie” to LISTERINE^® Brand’s Facebook page, LISTERINE^® Brand will make a $5.00 contribution to Oral Health America’s Smiles Across America^® program, up to $85,000, toward their goal of connecting 210,000 children with needed oral health services in 2014. 

Learn more about the “Swish Selfie” by visiting LISTERINE^® Brand Facebook page. 

You can also learn more about LISTERINE®, and all the fabulous products they offer by visiting their .