I learned from an early age that oral health can affect relationships. I remember holiday gatherings when I wanted to avoid certain family members because their mouth smelled bad. Even though I was little, I knew it was rude to say anything but I recall asking my parents why I had to let them get so close to me even though they were stinky. Poor oral health can impact your life in numerous ways, including your career and personal relationships.
While nearly 8 in 10 people believe they have healthy mouths, the truth is, nearly all Americans suffer from some form of oral disease. A recent national survey revealed that the health of one’s mouth can have a significant impact on how they are perceived by others including opinions about their success in romantic relationships and career, and assumptions about their overall health and hygiene. Luckily, using a therapeutic mouthwash like Listerine Antiseptic twice a day can help prevent many of the oral care issues that Americans experience.
Did you know that most people would prefer having toilet paper stuck to their shoe or sweat stains on their clothing rather than having bad breath when meeting someone new? First impressions are important! Would you consider a second date with someone that had bad breath? You might think twice!
Americans agree, having an unhealthy mouth negatively affects building relationships. It’s common for those with oral health issues to avoid smiling when talking to others, being close to someone when talking and to avoid kissing and cuddling. That’s pretty sad when you think about it. Especially when prevention is so easy!
Good oral health is important to me and my family. I certainly don’t want my husband to avoid getting close to me and I would be heartbroken if my kids didn’t want to hug or kiss me because of a yucky mouth. We take our oral health pretty seriously and try to teach our children how important it is to take care of our teeth and mouths. Instilling good habits now will protect their futures and hopefully prevent them from becoming a statistic — nearly half of American adults over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease. This increases to 70% in adults ages 65 and over. Staggeringly, about half of all Americans aged 20-64 have lost a tooth due to oral disease.
We do our oral care routine at the same time every morning and every night to create a healthy habit. It might sound strange but our kids brush and rinse in the kitchen. There’s more room for them and more room for us to supervise.
In addition to twice yearly cleanings and exams, we are proactive about our oral health by brushing at least twice daily. We’ve recently added swishing with a mouthwash to our routine as brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth leaving millions of germs behind that can lead to plaque, gingivitis and other oral care issues. Listerine Antiseptic cleans virtually 100% of your mouth for up to five times healthier gums in two weeks and up to nine times healthier gums in four weeks. It’s never too late to change your habits. Pick up some Listerine and add swishing to your family’s routine too!
It helps to have products that kids enjoy using. My kids love Listerine SmartRinse, not only because of the fun packaging and Bubble Blast flavor but because it helps remove particles that brushing can miss. It actually turns the particles blue so they can see how clean their mouths are getting!
Take control of your oral health and save $1 on a variety of Listerine products with this coupon (scroll to the bottom of the page). To learn more about the LISTERINE® Brand survey, click here.)
“I received LISTERINE® Brand products from Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in this LISTERINE® campaign. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.”