As ashamed as I am to admit, I take horrible care of my teeth.

I hate going to the dentist. I don’t brush nearly as often as I should. I NEVER floss! And rinsing with a mouthwash???? Fa-get about it! (said in my best New Jersey accent) And you can tell in this photo I “photoshopped” for my profile last year! The lighting may be horrible but you can tell my smile isn’t very bright or white!

It’s quite terrible considering I “know better” and took impeccable care of my teeth when I was a teenager. Shocking I know but I had braces so I carried a toothbrush & floss around with me everywhere. YES, EVERYWHERE! 

Trucker Hubby’s dental hygiene isn’t any much better.

The hardest part to admit…I think my kids are picking up our bad dental habits!

Thankfully Listerine sent me some helpful (and shocking) information regarding dental care as well as some great products to get our family’s smile brighter and healthier. Over the next six weeks we’re going to get into a dental care routine using some of the great products from Listerine and Reach.

Some of the shocking statistics about dental care they sent me included this:

• Many people don’t realize that brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth! And since there can be more germs in our mouth than there are people on earth, it’s more important than ever to make sure to do everything we can to keep our mouths healthy — including brushing, flossing and rinsing every day
• Just a few minutes a day for your mouth can help you establish healthy habits for a lifetime – adding a 30-second rinse, like LISTERINE® Antiseptic, twice a day, can help to provide 24-hour protection against germs that cause plaque and gingivitis*
• According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 50% of children between the ages of 5 and 9 have a cavity or filling – using LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® Anticavity Fluoride Rinse helps provide 12-hour cavity protection and strengthen teeth 99% better than brushing alone*
• Nearly 75% of American adults suffer from various forms of gum disease and don’t know it – brushing with the REACH® TOTAL CARE Multi-Action Toothbrush removes up to 90% of plaque* for a superior whole-mouth clean to help you on your way a healthier mouth

Seriously!?! More germs in our mouths than people. on. the. planet! I never wanted to sanitize my mouth so badly after reading that statement alone!

Unfortunately my kids are all to familiar with cavities, filings and crowns so that statistic hits home for me but going forward I’m hoping we can eliminate that problem. So we’re gonna bust out some of the new Listerine and Reach dental products and see if we can send cavities and gingivitis on a hike!

You can join us (and other families) on our journey to a brighter healthier smile by following the hashtag #healthyhabits on Twitter. You can start your own journey by buying the basics: Reach toothbrushes and dental floss plus Listerine mouth wash at Walmart’s everyday low prices.

*This is a sponsored post, dental products provided for my family but my opinion can’t be bought. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.