Bright and Healthy Back To School Smiles

Keeping kid’s teeth healthy and smiles bright can be tough, especially when school is in full gear! My kids go through spells where getting them to brush properly is…well, like pulling teeth! Other times they seem to brush without any reminders. Here’s a few tricks to keeping those smiles pearly white…

1. Get an electric toothbrush. My oldest son, J, LOVES his and it takes very little effort on his part to scrub off the plaque. They are not very expensive compared to when they first came out a few years ago. (I think we spent less than $10 on his)Most electric toothbrushes are made to change out the heads when it’s used past it’s prime so it’s a good investment in my opinion!
2. Opt for flossers. I was lucky enough to score some free Dentek flossers a few months ago and now I’m sold on them. The kids enjoy using them (I think they see it as a grown up thing they get to use). It makes flossing easier for them so I plan to send one with each of the kids every day to school so they’ll hopefully use them after lunch! Fingers crossed!!!
3. Establish a routine. Kids (and everyone else) should brush twice a day. Once you get into a routine and form a habit, it’s easy to maintain it. Whether it’s brush after breakfast, before bath time or however your family does it, a routine creates the path of least resistance!
4. Avoid super sugary snacks, treats and drinks. Halloween’s around the corner, then the holidays and of course there’s plenty of times in between when kids will eat candy or something super sugary. Just make sure they brush (or at least rinse really well with water or mouthwash or even chew sugarless gum) afterwards so the sugar doesn’t sit on their teeth for longer than necessary. This will help reduce the risk of cavities.
5. Embrace the tooth fairy. My kids are still small enough to believe in the tooth fairy so whenever a tooth is “lost” she leaves a loving note along with the loot. The older kids read it to the younger kids praising them of how well they’ve taken care of their teeth. I’ve The tooth fairy has even gone on to say the extra brightness of the tooth and it’s perfect condition increased the tooth’s value so she left a bit more $$$ than usual! This usually keeps the kids motivated for a few weeks. (I The Tooth Fairy also dresses the note and paper money up with some clear glittery nail polish just to “sell” it!)

These are a few of my healthy and bright smile tips. What are yours???

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Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.