Listerine #HealthyHabits Oral Care Challenge [spon]

OK, now.  Raise your hand if you truly brush, floss and rinse twice a day EVERY day.

If you raised your hand, this post is probably not for you.  And I totally commend you, by the way.

This post is for the rest of us...and, yes, I said US.  I'll admit it.  I don't always.  Not every day.

Although I can with clear conscience say that I do floss and brush EVERY morning.

Not a great rinser.  I don't like that alcohol taste masked by mint. Excited to try Listerine's Total Care ZERO.  The zero means it is sans alcohol.

While we're at it, another confession: sometimes I'm exhausted at night and *gasp* forget to brush altogether.

I recently was asked to join a chat with Listerine oral care experts to learn more about why a complete oral care routine is so important.

Oh, the knowledge I gained.

Did you know that brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth?

So despite my daily flossing and brushing, I was only cleaning 25% of the germs away.

Ewww... gross!

Anyone wanna kiss?!

Didn't think so.

February is Children's Dental Health Month.  I have a higher standard for my kids than myself and insist that they always brush, floss and rinse twice a day. 

Do as I say, not as I do... sure to win Parent of the Year... ehem.

Together we are going to take on the Oral Care Challenge of brushing, flossing AND rinsing twice a day for an entire month.  We have a handy, dandy chart (pdf) to keep track and I'll even let them give me a star if/when I remember to follow through.  Feel free to print out the chart and join us.

Quite honestly, it won't take much to change my oral care routine.  Just having the awareness of the amount of germs floating around in my mouth and that I was missing most of them through brushing alone... well, that was enough to motivate me to start rinsing.

An aside: I also learned that it is completely OK to floss first before brushing.  There is no set rule (or benefit) to the routine of brush, floss and rinse.  It has always made more sense to me to floss first to get out any food particles before brushing.  All of the oral care experts agreed that the order wasn't a big deal.  Guess I'm not as much of a rebel as I thought.

Coming soon: Walmart will be launching an oral care area of their website with tips from leading dental experts along with great values and prices on oral care products.

So, tell me the truth.  Do you brush, floss and rinse EVERY day twice a day?  Do you floss before or after brushing.  I really want to know.

Disclosure:  I received products and compensation from Johnson & Johnson and TheMotherhood as part of my participation in the Oral Care Challenge.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are clearly my own.