6 Ways to Teach Kids Good Teeth Care Habits + Sugar Free Gum Giveaway, Ends 12/27

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Giveaway, details below

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Here's something that may surprise you: Chewing sugar free gum is actually good for you and your kids. In fact the New York Times recently reported on some overlooked and little known benefits of chewing sugar free gum.

At 3 years old here I am still with my baby teeth, Vintage Photo

As a Baby Boomer in elementary school in the 1960s, I remember eating way too much candy and paying the consequences by getting fillings more than once at the dentist. Then just last month, I had to take my own four teenagers (triplets plus one more born a year apart) to the dentist to fill between two and four cavities each. Oy Vey. Some things never change. 

We apparently have plenty of company. That's because tooth decay in 2012 affects about half of all second graders and nearly 80 percent of 17-year-olds.

My own 4 kids, Children's Museum in Palm Springs, CA, Vintage Photo

A 2012 Trident Gum survey further underscores the problem. Despite the high prevalence of adolescent tooth decay, more than 84 percent of American parents still don’t consider this much of a health threat to our kids' mouths. Interestingly, Trident's survey also indicates an overwhelming 92% of parents believe that cavities in children are preventable.

I know it's really hard to get my teens to practice good dental hygiene even though we've stressed the importance of flossing and brushing regularly since we brushed their teeth for them with all four lined up on the counter when they were toddlers. There's a good chance you have similar struggles with your own family because, again citing Trident's research, getting a child to take care of their teeth is reportedly hard for 86% of us parents.

Trident Original Flavor was first introduced in the 60s in Cadbury, UK

So, to help get the word out about keeping your kids teeth as healthy as possible, Trident has provided some helpful tips for moms and dads to keep in mind 

• Brush - Remind children to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time (a total of 30 seconds on each side, top and bottom) using a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. 
• Eat - Good for you foods such as fruits, vegetables, cheese and products rich in Calcium such as milk to help build strong healthy teeth and gums. 
• Chew Sugar Free Gum - Try chewing a sugarless gum like Trident after eating to help fight cavities. 
• Floss - Teach kids to gently floss at least once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth. There are so many kid-friendly products to choose from at your local drug store -- from Justin Bieber Toothbrushes to animal shaped flossing tools that are easy and specially designed for young children with little hands to use.
• Avoid  - Stay away from overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. When kids do have a special treat -- especially around the holidays -- make sure they thoroughly brush and floss afterwards.
• Routine - Remember to get regular dental check-ups, ideally every six months and no less than once per year. The more you help kids incorporate healthy oral care habits in their every day life now, the more likely they are to continue good dental hygiene as adults.

With all those healthy dental care strategies, I am also thrilled that Trident has asked me to give away a YEAR's WORTH of Sugar-Free Gum to one lucky Mommy Blog Expert reader. Read on for all the details on how to enter this healthy and fun giveaway that both you and your kids can enjoy together.

Trident Sugar Free 

A Year's Worth Gum
60 full-size packs, $60 value

GIVEAWAY 

Ends 12/27/12

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends December 27, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive a Year's Supply of Trident Sugar Free Gum in one shipment, selected at random from all entries. Winner will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what why you'd like to win this prize. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries 
Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1. Follow MBE on Twitter 

2. Like MBE on Facebook
3. Follow MBE on Pinterest
4. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

5. Follow Trident Gum on Twitter

6. Like Trident Gum on Facebook

***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet to copy and paste:

WIN YEAR SUPPLY Sugar Free @TridentGum GIVEAWAY + 6 Tips to Teach Kids Good Dental Hygiene #children #health http://tinyurl.com/bwo33um

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Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post and Trident Gum is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway. However, thoughts in this blogpost are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.