Jennie Garth’s tips to keep kids’ teeth healthy

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Jennie Garth’s healthy smile tips

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting U.S. children and can lead to a number of other diseases. Actress and mother Jennie Garth shares her tips for getting kids to learn good oral hygiene habits early

Actress Jennie Garth thinks it’s important to teach kids healthy habits right from the get-go, as she likes to say.

“They are not going to learn it anywhere else,” she told FoxNews.com. “So many kids are not taught about the importance of proper brushing, and they end up missing school, they have bad self-esteem, so many diseases, (which) are caused by bad oral health.”

That’s why Garth –  former star of the hit ‘90s TV show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and currently starring in her own reality TV show – has teamed up with Crest and Oral B to promote healthy teeth tips for kids.

Garth, who has three daughters – Luca, Lola and Fiona – said she got them to start brushing as young as age 2 by saying, “Oh, my gosh, there’s a froggy in your teeth, I’ve got to get him out.”

When the kids spit out the toothpaste, she’d put a little frog toy in the sink, so they’d really think there was an animal in there.

Garth said the kids would be so engaged in the game, they would let her brush their teeth as long as she needed to.

“That’s the thing with summer – at my house especially . . .there are no rules, you can stay up as late as you want, watch movies and don’t have to take a shower – but you still have to brush your teeth,” Garth said.

Garth said it’s time for parents to reinforce brushing habits as kids get ready to go back to school because poor oral health has been linked to a number of diseases
Jennie Garth’s tips to keep kids’ teeth healthy

Actress Jennie Garth thinks it’s important to teach kids healthy habits right from the get-go, as she likes to say.

“They are not going to learn it anywhere else,” she told FoxNews.com. “So many kids are not taught about the importance of proper brushing, and they end up missing school, they have bad self-esteem, so many diseases, (which) are caused by bad oral health.”

That’s why Garth –  former star of the hit ‘90s TV show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and currently starring in her own reality TV show – has teamed up with Crest and Oral B to promote healthy teeth tips for kids.

Garth, who has three daughters – Luca, Lola and Fiona – said she got them to start brushing as young as age 2 by saying, “Oh, my gosh, there’s a froggy in your teeth, I’ve got to get him out.”

When the kids spit out the toothpaste, she’d put a little frog toy in the sink, so they’d really think there was an animal in there.

Garth said the kids would be so engaged in the game, they would let her brush their teeth as long as she needed to.

“That’s the thing with summer – at my house especially . . .there are no rules, you can stay up as late as you want, watch movies and don’t have to take a shower – but you still have to brush your teeth,” Garth said.

Garth said it’s time for parents to reinforce brushing habits as kids get ready to go back to school because poor oral health has been linked to a number of diseases.
“Get your kids back in their flossing and brushing,” she said. “But I think as long as you start it sort of young, it sets the tone for them as they grow up, and they learn how to take care of themselves, which is ultimately the gift we want to give our kids as parents.”

Garth also emphasized the importance of annual dental visits, both for your child and yourself.

“Like anything, I think our kids mirror what we do,” she said, adding that if you take care of your teeth, they will want to take care of theirs.

“They want that healthy smile, they want that sense of confidence that comes along with it,” she said.

“Because when you show up somewhere, that’s the first thing that people see is your teeth – and your smile and how confident you are.”