Listerine and Reach Oral Care Challenge

My family has been participating in the Listerine Oral Care Challenge for the past few weeks. I had thought our teeth brushing routine was pretty good, but I learned it can be better!

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 50% of kids between ages 5 and 9 get a cavity or filling!

To help with the upcoming candy frenzy of Halloween, and other holidays, Listerine and Reach created the “October Oral Care Challenge” for kids 6 and older. To complete the challenge, you and your child need to brush, floss and rinse every day, twice a day for two weeks—a key step in building a strong foundation of good oral care habits.

I have found that brushing and flossing my teeth along with my children makes them more likely to do theirs without being told a million times. Teaching them to do it correctly is important too. Sometimes I catch them rushing through a brushing without flossing. Listerine has a product called Agent Cool Blue, it’s a pre-brush rinse that gives the teeth a slight tint. This way they know to brush until the tint is gone. I think this a great idea for younger children who aren’t sure how long they’re supposed to brush for. It also ensures they get all the places they tend to skip! Plus it’s kinda fun to have blue teeth!

Another way to help your children get into the habit of brushing and flossing regularly is to reward them. A simple monthly chart with stickers posted by the bathroom sink is great and can really motivate some previously uncooperative kids! I like to let them choose a small weekly reward for filling up their chart such as a special snack, movie or something similar.

One thing my 9 yo daughter has struggled with is flossing. She just can’t get a good grip on the dental floss and looks so awkward as she tries to maneuver it between her teeth without hurting herself. I was surprised at how much she liked the Reach Access Flosser. It has a handle similar to a toothbrush and disposable snap on floss heads. She is a pro at using it now and can change the heads herself too! I love that she can take better care of her teeth, and like watching her take pride in doing something that used to frustrate her. She’s also been using the LISTERINE^® SMART RINSE anticavity mouthwash. It has a really cool new “MAGNETIC CLEANING ACTION™” that attracts particles—showing kids what brushing may have missed.

• Contains fluoride to help prevent cavities
• Kills bad breath germs
• And shows proof in the sink of a cleaner mouth!

With great flavors like mint or berry shield you won’t have to fight the kids to rinse! To make sure it works you need to have them rinse vigorously with 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of LISTERINE^® SMART RINSE™ for 1 minute in the morning and the evening after brushing and once daily flossing. Visit www.listerinekids.com to find great tips for you and your children.

My favorite has been the LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash in Cinnamint flavor. Wow! It makes my mouth so fresh and clean feeling! I have always disliked mouthwash because of the gross medicinal taste. The Listerine total Care has a great taste, and while I thought it was a little strong at first, I’ve gotten used to it and really look forward to the tingly sensation it leaves behind!

The Total Care line also comes in Icy Mint and Fresh Mint. It has 6 great benefits for your mouth!

• Helps Prevent Cavities
• Restores Minerals to Enamel
• Strengthens Teeth
• Kills Bad Breath Germs
• Freshens Breath
• Fights Unsightly Plaque Above the Gum Line

We’ve loved using these products and will definitely be buying them in the future. I think we’ve all been doing a better job at keeping our mouths happy and clean. One thing I was really impressed by was the bottle design. I absolutely love the neck of the bottle, it is extra long so that when you pour the rinse into your cup it doesn’t spill! Such a little detail , yet it makes all the difference! Let me know if you have tried any of these items and what you thought of them!

Find $1.00 off coupon for Listerine Agent Cool Blue or Listerine Smart Rinse here.
Find $2.00 off coupon for Listerine Total Care Cinnamint, Icy Mint or Fresh Mint here.

* I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate. These opinions and esperiences are solely mine and my family’s, yours may vary.