I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for LISTERINE. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.
Keeping the Kids Teeth Clean This Halloween
October kicks fall into high gear with peak foliage, pumpkin and apple recipes, and Halloween decorations! It is also a time when my kids start talking about Halloween on repeat, changing their minds at least three times per day about which costume they have to have and of course, the candy. They certainly don’t forget about the candy! I am pretty sure October is synonymous with candy in their minds.
Even with setting limits on how much candy my kids can eat and when I still have concerns about that sweet sugary loot’s effects on their teeth! My kids vary on their oral hygiene with one or two of them pretty practicing LISTERINE Heroic Habits recommendations but they all have weak areas. My middle child, for example, was so annoyed when at her last dental cleaning the dentist asked her about flossing – she told him that of course she flossed and the hygenist strongly disagreed. But, I digress!
Anyway, if you are like me, you might be wondering how to let your kids enjoy Halloween and all its candy glory without spending a fortune at the dentist by Christmas. The American Dental Association recommends these 10 ways you can help your children stay mouth healthy during Halloween and year-round.
- Eat Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime.
- Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time.
- Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth.
- Drink more water and opt for fluoridated water when you can.
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. W
- Chew gum that has the ADA Seal.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between teeth daily with floss.
- Visit an ADA member dentist.
In accordance with or addition to these ADA recommendations, we’ve stocked up with some awesome LISTERINE products that promote Heroic Habits and fight the gum goblins and sugar monsters awoken on the “Day of the Dead.”
LISTERINE Heroic Habits
One of my favorite LISTERINE products is the LISTERINE Smart Rinse Anticavity Fluoride Rinse. When my son’s braces were removed a few years ago his enamel was a bit weak and after a very short time of using the rinse a few times a day his dentist (who recommended the rinse to begin with) noted much improvement. Plus, the flavor is one that the kids don’t mind as opposed to regular adult mouthwash and the rinse helps to remove particles missed with brushing alone.
We all love the LISTERINE Floss varieties, with a flavor for each of us. One of the ways that I found I was able to encourage my daughter to floss regularly was to give her her own floss and, because she wasn’t flossing regularly and has sensitive gums, I chose the LISTERINE Gentle Gum Care floss for her. It’s soft and springy but resilient. It has a cushioned design made specifically for gentle cleaning perfect for sensitive gums.
My boys like the LISTERINE ULTRACLEAN ACCESS Flosser because its easier to get into those hard to reach places without having to figure out how to hold the floss and maneuver it between the teeth. I prefer the LISTERINE HEALTHY WHITE floss because I’m always working on whitening my teeth and I love that the baking soda removes stains between my teeth where its hard to brush well. I also use the LISTERINE Healthy WHITE rinse because while it is tough on stains, its gentle on my tooth enamel. My husband loves the LISTERINE Breath Strips since they ensure he’s still getting a kiss after a garlic laden dinner.
Click here to learn where you can purchase LISTERINE products and sign up for Coupons & Offers to save on the products you love!
These are just a few of our family’s LISTERINE Heroic Habits. LISTERINE has a really fun YouTube channel that features other LISTERINE Heroic Habits as well as Heroic How-Tos. Check it out here.
What are some of your Heroic Habits? Have you tried any of these LISTERINE products?
We all use Listerine in my house. Halloween gets tricky because we love sweets!
We use many Listerine products in our house, too. They help get those hard to reach spots!
I am a huge fan of Listerine products. We have issues with getting kiddo to brush longer. She has a bad habit of not really doing what she should when it comes to take care of her teeth.
We use Listerine a lot of the time and love it. It has been a favorite of ours for a while now!
We use Listerine a lot of the time and love it. It has been a favorite of ours for a while now!
I didn’t know that you should eat candy with meals or shortly after mealtime! I try to do everything I can to protect my teeth.
Listerine rocks! I love all of their products. Kids have been taught good habits so we don’t stress out about 1 day of the year 😉
All the sweets are definitely not good for little teeth. I’ve heard of people giving toothbrushes out instead of candy, it didn’t go over too well with the kids but the parents were thrilled.
I love this! No one thinks about the dental health aspect of Halloween. Lol. they only care about the candies. Great post
Listerine is part of our daily teeth cleaning. I can not imagine a day without it!
These are great tips! One of the things I like about using listerine is that it’s not as abrasive as using a toothbrush so it’s perfect for that post sugary treat rinse.
I love Listerine products, all of them. If you put some of the gold Listerine in your pedicure water your feet will be soft and feel so refreshed!
Yes a good way to scare your kids this season is to tell them if they dont brush properly and gargle with mouthwash, they will get a visit from the Gingivitis fairy! LOL Listerine is a great brand!
If nothing else, that scary guy will encourage your kids’ teeth to stay clean! We love Listerine products!
We always have Listerine in the house! Thanks for this habit info!
I think I need to show my kids these images. Maybe it will help them realize that they better start brushing their teeth and worrying about eating candy.
The pictures are great and so is the advice on when to eat different kinds of candy. My kids grew up with Listerine and it is one of the products that has stayed with them as adults. Strong, healthy teeth are worth the flossing, brushing, and swishing.
These are great tips. It’s nice to have a reminder about how to keep good habits. Kids get so much candy this month and we tend to get a little lenient.
Great post! I never thought about dental health and Halloween like this.
I read that dentists at least prefer chocolate since it is less likely to stay in the mouth for long unlike hard candy. Another great reason that I am a chocolate fan!!
Great post and tips. Good info to have.
I was the mom who let her kids eat as much as they wanted, just keep the teeth brushed. You need a lot of helpers just like the products you showcase. Floss is easily used at school too.