20 Healthy Ways To Occupy Your Screen Time

 

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Too much screen time isn’t good for us. It can cause eye strain, give us headaches and can affect our sleep quality. However, much of the harm caused by screens comes down to the type of content we consume. When people talk about the dangers of too much screen time, they tend to refer to activities like doomscrolling or bingeing trash TV or online gambling. It’s these types of activities that can make us feel unproductive, angry and depressed. By thinking about how you interact with screens, you can turn them into a much healthier tool. Below are 20 examples of healthy ways to spend your screen time.

Online workouts

A lot of screen activities force us to be inactive. They can make us fat and lazy. However, not all screen activities are like this. Online workouts are a prime example of this - exercise videos and live workout classes can help people to stay physically active without having to go to a gym. They are one of several ways in which we can use our digital devices to stay fit.

Educational courses

Our digital devices can also be used to help us obtain an education. There are many courses that can now be studied online instead of having to visit a school or college. This is an example of how we can use screen time to improve our lives - helping us to expand our knowledge and gain new qualifications. 

Brain-testing puzzles

There are many ways in which we can use screens to exercise our brain. Solving online puzzles like crosswords and sudokus can help improve our problem-solving skills, while also potentially fending off conditions like dementia. Similar digital activities that are good for our brain include non-gambling card games like Spider Solitaire and digital versions of board games like Chess and Scrabble.

Documentaries and essays

The TV and internet is full of fascinating documentaries and essays that can teach us more about the world. These are another healthy way to occupy our screen time - they can help us to build out knowledge and potentially become an expert in a field. Of course, the quality of these documentaries and essays does make a difference (there’s a lot of factually inaccurate conspiracy theory content out there that is best avoided). 

Blogging

Starting a blog can be another healthy way to spend your screen time. Blogging is a chance to share your experiences and knowledge with the world. It can be a creative outlet for many people that can also look great on a resume, as well as potentially helping you to build online authority. This article compares the best platforms for starting a blog.

Journaling

Journaling involves recording thoughts, feelings and experiences. While it traditionally involves using a notepad, you can also use your notepad add or various specific apps to practise journaling. Unlike writing a blog, journaling is done in private as a way of relieving stress and practising mindfulness. It can be one of the few healthy screen activities to carry out before bed.

Making to-do lists

You can also use your digital devices to stay organised by creating to-do lists. This includes shopping lists, birthday gift lists, work plans or travel checklists. This is a productive screen activity that can also be a form of de-stressing if you’re anxious about an upcoming event, helping you to feel more prepared. 

Creating art

Creating art is good for the soul. It’s a way of expressing our feelings and being creative. There are many artistic hobbies that don’t require a screen. However, there are also many that do require a screen such as writing stories, creating digital illustrations, producing/recording music or creating animations/videos. 

Learning a musical instrument

Learning a musical instrument can improve our memory, motor skills and abstract reasoning. It’s also a fun talent that can enable us to learn our favourite songs and even compose our own music. The internet can be a great tool for learning to play an instrument - there are many free video tutorials and sheet music/tabs/lyrics that we can access. You could even hire an online music teacher and practise lessons via video call. 

DIY tutorials

Screens can also help us to build our DIY skills. Being able to carry out home repairs and improvements ourselves can save us money and help us to be more independent. Using video tutorials and how-to blog posts, it’s possible to learn all kinds of skills from installing a shelf to unblocking a u-bend under a sink. Just make sure you’re not attempting anything too advanced and that you have the right tools for the job. 

Learning craft skills

Many craft skills like jewelry making, crocheting, dressmaking and cross-stitching are possible to learn online through videos, diagrams and charts. Craft skills are a rewarding and therapeutic hobby for those that like creating things. It may even be possible to craft useful items for your home, gifts for loved ones or even items to sell for cash. 

Recipes and cooking tutorials

Screens can also help us to prepare meals and choose ingredients. There are many recipe blogs online that you can use to learn new dishes. There are also plenty of cooking tutorial videos that can teach cooking skills. Many of us don’t have anyone to teach us how to cook well and can’t justify buying recipe books - online recipes and cooking tutorials can therefore be a great solution. 

Foreign language learning

Another healthy way to interact with screens is to use them to learn languages. There are now many language learning apps, language learning video channels and online language courses to choose from. Learning a language could allow you to travel more freely or even move abroad somewhere. It could also open up new job opportunities. On top of this, learning a language is a great form of brain exercise.

Investing money

From online savings accounts to stock trading apps, there are various ways in which you can use digital devices to invest your money. This is another productive way to occupy your screen time - helping you to build funds for the future. Just make sure that you’re also using digital devices to research investment opportunities and that you’re not just taking a risk on random stocks (which is as good as gambling). 

Jobhunting

The internet has become the primary way in which many of us discover new job vacancies. Job board sites can allow us to search through ads and apply for roles. Sites like LinkedIn can meanwhile be used for networking and building a public resume. This can be another productive way to interact with screens.

Meditation

It’s also possible to combine screen time and meditation. There are a number of apps that can provide guided meditation to help reduce stress or help focus on goals. This is an example of how screens can be good for our mental health when used correctly.

Mental health support

There are also several sites and apps that people can use to seek out mental health support. This includes AI therapist bots that you can talk out your feelings with, as well as apps that can help to manage different mental illnesses like depression or OCD. It’s also possible for therapists and counsellors to provide sessions virtually for those that don’t want to leave the house. While stepping away from the screen is sometimes advised as one of the best ways to improve one’s mental health, there are clearly ways in which it can be a remedy. 

Connecting with friends/family

We can also use digital devices to stay in contact with friends and family. This is another healthy way to use screens - providing that we are using them to talk to people who truly care about us. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and relatives who you haven’t spoken to in a while, while also keeping contact with those who you’re closer to.

Occupying exercise and chores

Screens can be used to entertain us while doing more mundane chores or doing our own workouts at home. Not everyone wants to watch an exercise video while working out, however being able to watch a movie or TV show could provide encouragement while carrying out reps with weights or running on a treadmill. Similarly, many of us find it hard to motivate ourselves to do the washing up or fold clothes - putting something on a screen to watch while doing these chores can make these tasks less boring. This is a way in which entertainment can be used productively. 

Digital decluttering

Our digital lives can get quite cluttered over time. Our email inboxes can start overflowing, our photo libraries can end up using up all our memory and our desktops can end up having too many icons. Taking the time occasionally to digitally declutter can be good for keeping our digital lives organised and reducing stress. This is another productive way to spend your screen time. You’ll find many guides online on how to digitally declutter. 

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How To Reduce Sleep Issues

Every year, sleeping disorders affect more than 40 million people in America. There are many things that can keep you from getting enough sleep, like work, household tasks, babies, worry, parties, or watching TV late at night. No matter why we don't get enough sleep, research has shown that it hurts our minds and bodies. Our bodies release hormones while we sleep that affect our mood, energy, memory, and ability to focus. Recent research has also shown that not getting enough sleep for a long time can lead to high blood pressure and make diabetes worse. With that in mind, here are some useful ways to reduce sleep issues where possible. 

 

Photo by Maierean Andrei

 

Sleep Issue – You’re In Pain

It seems obvious that a comfortable place to sleep is important for a good night's rest, but it's not just about having a soft mattress and a warm duvet. It's important to deal with pain the right way so that it doesn't keep you from sleeping and so that you have everything you might need during the night on hand. "Winding down" before bed is a good way to get our brains ready for sleep. For some people, taking a warm bath, drinking a milky drink, or doing some light muscle stretches can help them feel sleepy and reduce pain. For others, it's best to seek medical help. 

 

Sleep Issue – You’re Stressed 

Sometimes you might feel sleepy, and you might even make it into bed and feel comfortable, but then your brain will start worrying about all the things you have to do the next day or the problems you’re facing in life – you might even start to think about things that happened years ago and that are still troubling you. 

 

The best thing to do is to reduce your stress levels as much as possible. This might involve the warm bath mentioned above, or it could mean listening to music. Some people like to go for a walk or meditate. You also need to deal with the things that are worrying you, so you don’t lie awake thinking about them. Whether it’s your job, your money, your relationship, or the fact that you need to find a good nursing home abuse lawyer, making changes and taking action will help you sleep much better. 

 

Sleep Issue – Your Bedroom

Rooms should be kept between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius, be kept dark and quiet, and be kept neat and tidy if we want any possibility of falling asleep there. Some people find that blackout shades, thick curtains, or earplugs help them get a better night's sleep in the bedroom, especially if noise is an issue.

 

It's crucial to make sure our bedrooms aren't being used for anything other than sleep, so separating the bedroom from the rest of the house can help. In the end, light and the distraction of the TV or other electronic gadgets can stimulate the brain and make sleep elusive, so it's better to leave them in another room, if possible, or set them on airplane mode while you're attempting to unwind.

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Healthy Habits That Really Make A Difference To Your Future

Whenever you do anything to try and be healthier, you are doing it because you want to have a brighter future. That is true of ensuring that you spend more time running, it is true of eating well and everything else in between as well. But there are some healthy habits which are likely to make a particularly large difference to your future, and these are the kinds of things which are really worth paying attention to. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the healthy habits that you can take on board which are really going to make an enormous difference to your future in a positive way. As long as you are taking these on board, you will be much better off generally.

Image Credit - CCO Licence

Get To Bed Earlier

People really underestimate how important sleep is, and that generally comes from a lack of understanding more than anything else. Sleep is essential if you want all of your other basic functions to work as well as possible. If you are trying to lose weight - well, metabolism is aided by good, deep sleep. If you are trying to eat healthily, you will find that sleeping well helps you to digest the nutrients you are trying to get into your body. And if you want to have good mental health, getting a good eight hours every night is going to be essential too.

All things considered, if you go to bed earlier and get some more sleep each night, you are setting yourself up for a brighter future. You will actually be more likely to live longer, and to be as healthy as you would hope along the way too. This is a fairly easy one to make happen, so try getting to bed earlier starting today and see how you feel.

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Drink More Water

Most of us fail to drink enough water, or even get anywhere close. You should be drinking about eight glasses of water a day, and if you have been drinking any alcohol in the past twenty four hours, then you might as well double that figure. Water does so much for you that you really can’t afford to avoid drinking it. It helps to replenish and moisturize your skin, so that if you keep up a regular water drinking habit you are going to hold on to your youthful skin for much longer. It will mean also that your joints are going to be in a much better condition, less likely to break apart or to suffer with arthritis. Drinking plenty of water helps to keep the disks between your vertebrates puffy and inflated, so that your spine can move easily - the opposite effect when you have not drunk enough water throughout your life is that these disks rub against each other, causing incredible pain and a lot of damage.

As you can see, there is plenty that drinking water does for you, and you need to make sure that you are going to drink as much as you should every day. A simple way to make sure this happens is to carry around a water bottle with you everywhere you go. That way, you will be able to sip on it whenever you feel like it - and you will find yourself doing so many times throughout the day.

Look After Your Teeth & Gums

We all know it is important to look after our oral health, but not many people appreciate just how important, or how many things are liable to be affected by poor dental hygiene. Actually, your teeth and gums are closely linked to the rest of your body, and if you fail to look after them properly, this has wider-reaching implications for your health than you might have realized. Those with gum disease are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s at a later age, clearly something that we would all rather avoid if at all possible. It is also true that gum disease is linked to an increased risk of heart problems. And of course, it is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults.

Image Credit - CCO Licence

If you struggle to look after your teeth properly, it might be worth looking at the possible reasons for this. If you have a fear of the dentist, then finding a stress free dental experience in your area might be a good way to overcome this. If you tend to become lazy or forgetful about brushing and flossing, then set yourself a reminder. It really is important that you are taking proper care of your teeth and gums. Your future self will be thankful.

Eat Slowly

Many people rush through their meals, barely stopping to appreciate what they are eating. If you find that you are often guilty of this, then you might want to think about trying to slow down a little. Actually, there is plenty that slowing down as you eat can do for you, and it's something that is well worth thinking about if you want to pave the way for a better future for yourself. By eating more slowly, you not only appreciate your food more, but you are more likely to avoid gastro problems which could become an issue later in life. You will also find that you notice when you become full sooner, and so you will eat less overall and hopefully find it easier to keep that weight off. Keeping a natural weight is an important thing to do for your own future, so that is something that is really worth thinking about.

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Meditate

If you take up a daily meditation practice, you are going to find that it helps you out in the future in a number of interesting and useful ways. For one thing, it will give you the ability to keep a mindful watch over your own thoughts, which is useful as they can often run away from you without you meaning them to. That in turn helps to curb anxiety and depression, two of the major mental health issues we all face.

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Improving Our Dental Health Habits One Day at a Time with the Help of LISTERINE Products the Whole Family Can Use #MC #Sponsored #Listerine #healthyhabits

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for LISTERINE® . I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

A couple of weeks ago I shared a post about how I was working to improve the health habits of my family, with the help of some wonderful LISTERINE®  products I was sent. Today, I wanted to share an update on how things are going, and rave about a few of my favorite LISTERINE®  products that we are loving, and that have helped improve our overall dental care.

If you follow my blog then you probably have heard me share about how I used to be a health educator before becoming a stay-at-home.  You would think being a health educator by trade and having taught the importance of dental health in schools and the community, that my family would have great oral health habits.  Quite the contrary, especially with two children under the age of 5 yrs. old.  Not only do I have to fight with them to brush at least twice a day, but I also struggle to get them brush for a minimum of 2 minutes and not just stand there and chew on the bristles.  

I have tried so many tactics to teach better oral health care with my girls, from rewarding them when they brush right, have a sticker chart to track their healthy brushing habits, and have even bought musical and light up toothbrushes, which don't work at all, as they are more into dancing to the music (if they can hear it) or watching the flashing lights on the toothbrush.  With so many struggles to get the girls to brush consistently and correctly, I found myself slacking on flossing their teeth.  

So, when I was given the opportunity to try out LISTERINE®  products for the whole family and asked to share about ways I am improving my family's oral health, flossing the girls teeth and using mouthwash for my husband I were top on my lists of things to work on.  And, thanks to the amazing LISTERINE® product offering, for all teeth types, we are making improvements and feeling better and have brighter, healthier smiles as a result. :-)

Out of all the LISTERINE®  goodies sent last month, I have to say that our favorites were the LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse, LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss and the handy LISTERINE® POCKETPAKS® breath strips, which I was sent in fresh burst.

I, personally, have sensitive teeth and gums due to my radiation treatment for head and neck cancer back in 2008.  Although maintain proper dental health and good oral hygiene is key to keeping my teeth in tip top shape, I also have to be aware at the different types of products I use, due to my sensitive teeth and gums.  I can't use mouthwashes and rinses that have alcohol as I have a dry mouth and this only makes it work.  The alcohol also inflames my gums, making them painful. This is one reason why I stopped using mouthwash after brushing, as I couldn't find a brand I liked and that was gentle enough for my teeth.  But, after trying LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse, which contains no alcohol, I now have my go-to mouthwash for fresher, cleaner breath.  

"New LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse offers effective teeth-whitening results. The unique formula safely whitens teeth and is the only leading whitening product on the market that does not contain peroxide but includes the added benefit of fluoride to restore enamel, offering a gentler, non-irritating whitening experience while simultaneously preventing cavities."

Paired with brushing and flossing, the addition of the LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse really made my teeth feel cleaner, and my breath was fresher, and offers oral health benefits including:

• Peroxide-free for a gentler whitening experience
• Removes and prevents tough stains
• Restores enamel
• Safely whitens
• Formulated to whiten without irritation
• Kills bad breath germs
• Prevents cavities
• Helps prevent tooth decay

As far as floss, I have been using and loving LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss --- Again, for those with sensitive teeth and gums in mind, this is a great floss, as it  a soft woven floss instead of stiff string, which I find also irritates my gums, and can be moved in and out of the sides of my teeth with ease, without getting stuck or cutting my gums.

The girls and I love the LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss, which comes in cool mint, as it is a "soft, springy and resilient dental floss that works great at removes plaque effectively around sensitive gums."

 

For anyone who hates to floss as they find it painful or hard to maneuver the floss between the tight spaces in between their teeth, I would highly recommend trying the LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss for its springiness and softness.  It really makes flossing more enjoyable and less painful.

My husband, although he doesn't have sensitive teeth, has been sneaking my LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss and LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse supply, and also loves them.  I ended up going out the other day to pick him up his own supply. :-)

In addition to the LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss and LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse, both my husban and I are also fans of the LISTERINE POCKETPAKS.  These breath strips are great for carrying around in your pocket, stashing in your purse, glove box, etc., and pulling out a dissolvable strip to pop in your mouth, when you need to quickly freshen your breath.  They are not overpowering or leave you with a funny taste or chalky feel in your mouth, like other breath mints and breath strips.  I love the fresh minty breath I have seconds after I pop one of the strips in my mouth. :-)

Available in COOL MINT®, ARCTIC BERRY, FRESH BURST® and COOL HEAT, these handy LISTERINE® POCKETPAKS® breath strips work quickly and leave your breath smelling great.  Even my husband, who usually doesn't like breath mints or fresheners, has found himself reaching for a dissoluble strip after meals. :-)

"Refresh your mouth after your morning coffee, before a meeting, or to prep for a big date!"

So, while we will continue to work on improving and maintaing proper oral hygiene in our home, with the help of LISTERINE^®, we are well on our way of getting gold stars each day for a job well done!  Our teeth are sparkling and our breath is fresher.  And, can you believe, the girls are getting excited about brushing the right way, and having me floss their teeth like big girls. :-)

Maybe it is time for you to re-evaluate your dental health habits and those of your children. Could you improve in some areas?  Make oral care an important part of your daily habits, and teach by example, showing your kids the importance of brushing, flossing, etc.

Check out the LISTERINE^® YouTube page, where you can watch the Healthy Habit Heroes video series -- http://bit.ly/1ryY7Jr.  I have been watching and laughing at the videos, especially the "negotiator" ones that show parents going to great lengths to get their kids to eat more fruits and vegetables and stay hydrated.  

See, I am not alone in how I try to talk/negotiate with my girls to brush and even try new foods.  I can't wait to hear which videos make you smile and laugh, so be sure to share them with me in the comments section below.  :-)

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To learn more about LISTERINE^®, including the products I mentions above and others available in local retail stores near you, visit http://www.listerine.com/.  Having trouble locating Listerine products in your areas? Head on over to http://www.listerine.com/shop-now to find stores in your area, as well as online retailers like Amazon.com, Drugstore. com and Soap.com, to name a few.

Don't forget to follow LISTERINE^® on their social media pages to stay up-to-date on new product additions, special offers and money saving coupon opportunities, and more...

LISTERINE^® on Facebook

LISTERINE^® on YouTube 

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for LISTERINE. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

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LISTERINE Helps Improve Families' Oral Health Habits w/ Their Assorted Product Line for Kids and Adults #MC #Sponsored

Disclosure:  I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf ofInfluence Central for LISTERINE. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

One of the things I miss about being a health educator is going into the schools and teaching children about things like dental health and proper oral hygiene.  Halloween was the busy time of year that teachers would ask for myself and my staff to talk with the kids, as they would be eating a lot of sweets and candy.  And, if the kids didn't brush and take care of their teeth, it could lead to cavities, gum disease, etc.  But, while I am not longer a health educator by trade, I still get to teach about things like dental health to my girls. :-)

From the time my girls' teeth began coming in, I made a point to brush their teeth.  And, now a few years later, they have all their baby teeth, and see the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning. I began educating my girls about proper dental health by reading books geared towards their age about brushing teeth, showed them on fake teeth I used to use in the classroom, and even let them practice on me, so that I could see they had the proper brushing technique down.  Just like with washing your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds, I remind the girls that good teeth brushing should about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes for children.  Unlike washing hands and singing the "Happy Birthday" song, I have the girls using a tooth timer so that they make sure they are getting a good brushing.  

While I try to instill good habits like proper teeth brushing, there are times that the girls try to fight me on brushing.  If they wake up groggy in the AM, they may not want to brush before breakfast.  Or, if they are too hyper before bed, they will try to do a quick brushing or again fight me on it.  When times like these occur, I need to breath :-) and then take a few moments to remind the girls about why they are brushing and if they don't keep their teeth clean, they could get cavities, painful teeth, etc.  Usually after a few minutes to this, and asking them to brush or show me how they brush as I forgot, they will brush.  Flossing, on the hand, is another story.  This is one area that we continue to work on with the girls, especially Bella who still uses a bottle for her milk, and seems to always have plaque in between her front two teeth on the tops and bottoms. Because of this, I need to make sure she is letting me floss, so that when it comes time to see the dentist, they don't have to work hard to chip away at the plaque.

Try telling an almost 3 or 4 yr. old child that they need to let you floss their teeth.  I feel like I am talking to myself half the time, as they dont' think it is important.  They can't feel anything being removed -- unless I am removing popcorn or food that gets stuck in their teeth. But, I have to remind them that along with brushing, you need to floss, to keep your teeth in tip top shape.  I show them that even adults brush and floss 2-3 times daily, like they do, and that as they get older, making sure they brush, even when they don't want to, is necessary for good dental health.  Besides your baby teeth, you are only born with one set of teeth, and can't get a replacement. 

Recently, I was sent an assortment of dental care products from LISTERINE^® to use with my family.  

My 7 yr. old nephew, who lives with us, even got excited about the package of LISTERINE samples, as it contained a fluoride rinse he and my niece could use, as well as different floss, to keep their teeth clean and cavity free.

LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® mouthwash is an anticavity mouthwash for kids ages six and older that:

• Provides 12-hour cavity protection
• Strengthens teeth 99% better than brushing alone*
• Provides 2.4 times more fluoride than ACT Kids mouthwash*
• Makes rinsing fun with Barbie™, Avengers™ and Phineas & Ferb rinses.

*Based on laboratory testing. Data on file.

Savannah, my oldest, couldn't get over the different types of flosses and flavors available, and couldn't wait to try out each and every one.  Hmm, a light went on in my head -- when the girls fight me about brushing and flossing, maybe if I show they an assortment of products to choose from, maybe they will be more willing to brush and floss.  And, guess what?  It worked!

Since receiving the following sample of goodies from LISTERINE^®, the girls have been busy helping me review each of the flosses, and even like the LISTERINE® ULTRACLEAN® ACCESS® Flosser, which they can hold and use to floss their own teeth.  

Works great at getting into those hard to reach spaces in the back of your mouth

They feel like big girls, as they look into the mirror and floss between their teeth.  And, the plaque I used to see between Bella's front two upper and lower teeth is almost gone, thanks to her willingness to want to brush and floss.  There are days that after she has sweets or a meal that she will ask to brush, so that her breath is fresher and her teeth feel cleaner. :-)  I never thought I would hear the girls say this, or ask me for their toothbrushes or to have their teeth flossed.  

Bella and I both love the LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss, which comes in cool mint, as it is a "soft, springy and resilient dental floss that works great at removes plaque effectively around sensitive gums."

 

For anyone who hates to floss as they find it painful or hard to maneuver the floss between the tight spaces in between their teeth, I would highly recommend trying the LISTERINE^® Gentle Gum Care Dental Floss for its springiness and softness.  It really makes flossing more enjoyable and less painful.

I have also been enjoying the LISTERINE^® samples sent, including the LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse.  

"New LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse offers effective teeth-whitening results. The unique formula safely whitens teeth and is the only leading whitening product on the market that does not contain peroxide but includes the added benefit of fluoride to restore enamel, offering a gentler, non-irritating whitening experience while simultaneously preventing cavities."

I brush and floss daily, but I rarely used mouthwash. How about you? Do you use mouthwash daily?  Back in the day I used to use mouthwashes that had a strong alcohol taste, which would deter me from using.  But, after trying the LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse which I was sent recently, I was pleasantly surprised about the flavor, and how fresh it left my breath.  Paired with brushing and flossing, the addition of the LISTERINE® HEALTHY WHITE™ GENTLE Rinse really made my teeth feel cleaner, and my breath was fresher, and offers oral health benefits including:

• Peroxide-free for a gentler whitening experience
• Removes and prevents tough stains
• Restores enamel
• Safely whitens
• Formulated to whiten without irritation
• Kills bad breath germs
• Prevents cavities

• Helps prevent tooth decay

See, even adults may find themselves slacking when it comes to things like proper dental health.  Some may skip the flossing or mouthwashing, or only brush 1 time a day.  But, like I said earlier and you all know, we only have 1 set of adult teeth, and the last thing we want to do is have to go to a dentist for a filling or worse, a painful root canal due to poor dental health.

And, when I find myself on the go and needing to freshen my breath, I am loving the LISTERINE® POCKETPAKS®, which were also included in my LISTERINE sampler.  These breath strips, which come in a resealable container fit in my pocket or purse, so that I can pull them out when I need to freshen my breath on the go.  Available in COOL MINT®, ARCTIC BERRY, FRESH BURST® and COOL HEAT, these handy LISTERINE® POCKETPAKS® breath strips work quickly and leave your breath smelling great.  Even my husband, who usually doesnt' like breath mints or fresheners, has found himself reaching for a dissoluble strip after meals. :-)

"Refresh your mouth after your morning coffee, before a meeting, or to prep for a big date!"

With the kids back in school and everyone getting back into a routine, why not take a few moments to re-evaluate your dental health habits and those of your children.  Could you improve in some areas?  Make oral care an important part of your daily habits, and teach by example, showing your kids the importance of brushing, flossing, etc.

And, don't forget to check out the LISTERINE^® YouTube page, where you can watch the Healthy Habit Heroes video series -- http://bit.ly/1ryY7Jr.  I have been watching and laughing at the videos, especially the "negotiator" ones that show parents going to great lengths to get their kids to eat more fruits and vegetables and stay hydrated.  

See, I am not alone in how I try to talk/negotiate with my girls to brush and even try new foods.  I can't wait to hear which videos make you smile and laugh, so be sure to share them with me in the comments section below.  :-)

To learn more about LISTERINE^® and their products, including the ones I shared above, visit: http://www.listerine.com/.

Having trouble locating Listerine products in your areas? Head on over to http://www.listerine.com/shop-now to find stores in your area, as well as online retailers like Amazon.com, Drugstore. com and Soap.com, to name a few.

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Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf ofInfluence Central for LISTERINE. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

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