It happens very often, but it’s something that no one really wants to talk about (or at least admit to out loud): their children have bad breath. Even though there can be a number of reasons why many kids walk around with foul breath at school, most of the time it’s because their child might have forgotten to brush their teeth in the morning. That, or they might have deliberately not brushed their teeth. After all, getting some kids to take care of their hygiene is often one of the biggest challenges many parents try and teach their kids each day.

Luckily, there’s a new program that aims to teach kids good oral hygiene habits at an early age. Colgate is looking to give Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers free toothbrushes and toothpaste as part of their Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program. They plan to provide students with oral care education that will help keep their teeth healthy and their smiles shiny and bright (if not also beautiful).

Each teacher who signs up for the program will receive up to 25 Colgate toothpaste and toothbrush samples for their students. They will also receive fun instructional materials for their students along with the necessary tools to teach them how to properly brush their teeth and maintain those pearly whites.

The Colgate website says, “The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures classroom kit is full of easy to use classroom materials, plus Colgate toothpaste and toothbrush samples for 25 kindergarteners or first-grade students. We make it easy to help kids learn healthy oral care habits that will last a lifetime.”

As many adults know, if you don't brush your teeth regularly, bacteria can build up to form a clear sticky film on your teeth that is better known as plaque. Many dentists advice that brushing your teeth regularly helps to remove plaque and prevent it from forming. It's important to avoid plaque, since it can cause tooth decay, and that’s something you want to avoid regardless of your age. In the most severe cases, gum disease can cause gum destruction and bone loss which can lead to losing teeth.

With that being said, many dentists recommend that adults and children brush, floss, and swish with an antiseptic mouth rinse like Listerine at least twice a day, when they wake up and before they go to bed at night.

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