We all know or have at least heard the rules or recommendations on staying healthy. We must eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, poultry and lean meats. We must also exercise and drink plenty of fluids. That of course is the condensed version of the rules and most importantly all should be followed in moderation.
By moderation what is meant is that you need not go crazy, exercising or feel that you must run a marathon every week. By simply staying active such as walking daily and running after your children if you are a parent will keep you in fairly good shape. When you combine healthy eating and staying active you will remain healthy on the inside and out. But were you aware of your teeth and your mouth?
You may be saying to yourself, of course, I know I must brush at least twice a day as well as floss. Visiting the dentist twice a year is also recommended. But did you know that you should also change out your toothbrush every 3 months? No, you must not simply wait until the bristles of the brush are unrecognizable or bent in every direction but up. It is recommended by dentists to not only brush at least twice a day, including flossing but also change your toothbrush. The germs or what we like to call the ‘invisible nasties’ will find a home in your toothbrush which will then lead to your mouth.
If you have suffered from illnesses such as colds, you will know the germs that can spread with a simple sneeze. You may consider changing your toothbrush more often if you have continued illnesses as well. Some ways to prevent the ‘invisible nasties’ from inhabiting your toothbrushes is to be sure to stand your toothbrushes up after every use. Do not simply place them on the sink to dry. Again germs will easily find a comfy home in the bristles if the toothbrush is not dried completely. You may also want to disinfect your toothbrush every week by either boiling in hot water or placing in a dish of water in the microwave for 2 minutes. The hot water will disinfect the bristles and keep them germ-free. But again, remember to have them dry in the upright position. Placing a toothbrush cap on the end is a wonderful idea but if not fully dried will only house the germs within.
Most importantly in order to remain healthy inside and out, you must choose healthy meals, stay active, brush and floss at least twice a day and don’t forget to change your toothbrush every 3 months.

~written by family health expert Dr. Daisy Sutherland’s aka Dr. Mommy.  Read more about Dr.  Mommy here.

We know how difficult it is to parent but this tip is quite simple, it’s basically to teach by example. When we are talking about our health, this is very important. If we don’t want our children to learn bad habits we must learn to practice what we preach. With that said, here are some tips to teach your children all about staying healthy by example.

• Eat fruits and vegetables – sounds easy enough but you’d be amazed at the adults that choose not to include either of these important food groups into their daily diets. Remember the concept is to teach by example, and if our children see us enjoying fruits and vegetables they will too. There are many tricks you can implement such as pureeing the vegetables or disguising them but the most important lesson is to truly enjoying eating them, especially in front of your children.
• Implement exercise – now, exercise sounds like a ‘dirty’ word, so I like to refer to exercise as ‘activities’. When we teach our children to stay active daily they will easily think that it is normal. Daily activities can include walking around the block, playing tag with the children, and swimming, biking, hide and seek and anything that will simply get you off the couch. We like to dance, which simply involves playing some tunes and acting silly. Activities don’t have to be complex to be effective.
• Relaxing – sounds odd after mentioning exercise, but many adults don’t take time to relax. Get into the habit of turning off all electronic devices and simply enjoying the quiet time. When you have little ones, this can occur during their daily nap times or simply pulling out a book and reading together works too. When we implement quiet time in our daily routines, we are giving our bodies the time to slow down. Less anxiety and stress will be evident and you will be teaching your children the importance of slowing down the pace.
• Hygiene – yes, I actually have to mention this one. Taking a daily bath or shower is essential to our well being and that also includes brushing our teeth. Teaching our children the importance of brushing our teeth at least twice a day is essential in creating the normal routine. While you are at it, teach them also to place their brushes in a cup so or somewhere that the brush can dry in the upright position. This will not only help to dry the bristles quicker but will also avoid the build-up of germs and bacteria we refer to as the ‘invisible nasties’.

Following these simple steps will ensure that not only will you as the parent stay healthy but that your children will adapt healthy choices as well. Remember our children will learn from us, the parents, so it’s important to display healthy choices for them to easily adapt into their lives. Let’s avoid the ‘do as I say’ mentality and simply ‘do’ things together. You will both benefit and you will be proud of the healthy choices your children will make in the future.

~written by family health expert Dr. Daisy Sutherland’s aka Dr. Mommy.  Read more about Dr.  Mommy here.

Brushing teeth is an exciting time in my house. My sons have always, always, always loved to brush their teeth. I always joke with them that they have the cleanest teeth in America! Ever since the boys were little, I have tried to make “brushing teeth time” as fun as can be. They love to do things together, and brushing teeth is no exception. I’ve had to get a little creative with them, or else I’m bound to have water and toothpaste all over the bathroom. So I try to find and buy fun products that will keep them occupied over the sink while the toothbrush is in their mouths.

My biggest problem with the boys while they brush is making sure they get all of their teeth clean! My son William used to just clean his front teeth, he didn’t realize he needed to go back into his mouth and get the other teeth, too! So what I started doing is making up funny little names for all of their teeth. With boys that are 5 and under, they still think this is hilarious! I even count to 30 while they brush so I make sure they’re not racing through the actual toothbrushing time. I also allow them to pick out new toothbrushes every few months. Right now my guys are into Bakugan, Diego and Spiderman… so they each have a toothbrush with these guys on them. My youngest guy Henry (he’s 2) has Dora. I also make sure we have “fun” toothpaste. Right now, we’re all about SpongeBob! It’s little things like this that make brushing teeth time fun for the boys and not a “chore.”

When I was a little girl, my mom used to do the same thing, she would make everything fun. She would sit and sing songs to me as I brushed my teeth and tell me funny little stories about what would happen if I didn’t brush my teeth! It used to make me smile and till this day still gives me warm memories. I wanted to create the same atmosphere for my own sons. I want them to know that there are little invisible nasties in their mouths that they need to clean.

~written by Parenting Expert Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations, read more about Audrey here