Two Minutes to Help Your Kids Smile - Guest blogger Laila Ali for AdLibbing

As a champion boxer I39ve faced some tough opponents Christy Martin Mamp243nica Namp250amp241ez Jackie FrazierLyde But even I didn39t realize that one of the toughest jobs in my life would also be one of the most rewarding amp8211 being the mother to my two children Curtis and SydneyGetting my kids to brush their teeth was a special challenge They squirmed They lost focus Once the little one swallowed her toothpaste It39s no wonder that fewer than half of American parents currently report that their kids brush their teeth twice a dayThe truth is tooth brushing is more important than you may think Right now dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in America And for more than 16 million kids the disease goes untreated Minorities and children from lowincome families are disproportionately affected with double the number of reported casesGood health has always been a priority in my life I want it to be a priority for my kids too That39s why I developed this list of quick quotTooth ToDosquot to help busy parents maintain good brushing habits1 Make sure your kids brush with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes twice a dayUse a peasized dab of fluoride toothpaste for kids ages 2 to 6 and use slightly more when they39re older Teach them to spit out the toothpaste when they39re done so they don39t swallow itFor kids younger than age 2 use a soft toothbrush and a little water no toothpaste is necessary2 Teach your kids to floss between their teeth once a day every day to remove plaque and food where a brush can39t reach Kids39 teeth can be flossed as soon as two of their teeth touch each other3 Start taking your child to the dentist regularly no later than age 1Of course I39m not the only one working to help kids start good brushing practices early Last year a group of more than 35 leading oral health organizations called The Partnership for Healthy Mouths Healthy Lives came together with the Ad Council to launch a national public service advertising campaign along with a fun engaging website 2min2xorgThe site features free 2minute video clips that kids can watch while brushing Featuring characters like Elmo Bugs Bunny and the Dream Jam Band the videos keep my kids engaged for two full minutes and leave them asking for moreI know that in today39s supercharged world it may seem difficult to find two minutes to do anything But believe me when I say that the smiles on your kids39 faces will be worth itLaila AliLaila Ali is a worldclass athlete fitness ampamp wellness expert cooking enthusiast founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand and mother of two toddleraged children In addition to her latest work as a cast member of NBC39s highly touted reality program quotStars Earn Stripesquot where she competed to raise money for a charity that supports veterans and their children Laila is currently the host of quotEveryday Healthquot airing nationwide on ABC and former cohost of quotAmerican Gladiatorsquot Laila also authored and published a motivational book for young women titled quotReachquot Hyperion 2003 She has appeared in various cooking segments on Rachael Ray as well as Food Network39s quotEmerilquot quot Paula Dean quot and quotChopped AllStarsquot with tasty recipes geared towards a healthy active lifestyle In 2007 she captured the hearts of millions and made it to the final round of the fourth season of ABC39s quotDancing with the Starsquot She39s also appeared as a gueststar on popular fitness show quotBiggest Loserquot and tickled America39s funnybone with a hilarious role opposite Kevin Hart on the hit comedic series quotReal Husbands Of HollywoodquotCheck us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggerscomFollow our Twitter updates MediaBizBloggerThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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Two Minutes to Help Your Kids Smile - Guest blogger Laila Ali for AdLibbing

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