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Take Back Your Bathroom! |
| ARA Content |
Nearly half of all children share bathroom cups with siblings and many others slurp from grimy hands
(ARA) - If yours is like most American households, millions of germs and bacteria are thriving blissfully on moist surfaces ranging from countertops and cups to toothbrushes and towels.
You can't see them, of course, but they're everywhere: virus-causing micro-organisms that can contribute to as many as ten colds per year for the average child, usually the first in the family to get sick.
It's Okay Not To Share
Let's face it, some things are just not meant to be shared. Think underwear, gum, lollipops and kazoos. And now, rinsing cups in your bathroom.
Helping rid your bathroom of some of its most commonly spread germs can be easily done using disposable cups -- and busting one of the most common myths of childhood: "Share and share alike."
A recent study of parents across the country uncovered some startling statistics about sharing and the dental hygiene practices of America's children during the post-brushing rituals of rinsing and spitting.
While four out of five children are rinsing regularly (very good!) nearly half of those are sharing a germ-infested, non-disposable rinsing cup with their siblings and other family members (very gross!).
Worse yet, a third of the parents surveyed reluctantly admitted their bathrooms contained no rinsing cups at all -- leaving Junior to slurp from his own grimy hands or directly from an equally germ-ridden faucet (beyond gross!).
Could Mom Have Been Right?
Millions of today's parents grew up using disposable rinsing cups in the bathroom: a time when riddle-telling after brushing was as much a tradition as storytelling after dinner.
It's time to give a nod to moms of yesterday by introducing a new generation to disposable cups, which are tossed away after every use -- taking with them thousands of nasty and potentially infectious micro-organisms.
It makes sense, since some cold and flu viruses linger on non-disposable rinsing glasses for up to 72 hours -- plenty of time for the germs to be picked up and passed around by several members of the family. Instead, use a disposable cup which is used once and should be thrown away immediately.
And don't just take it from mom: scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree. They encourage today's parents to stock their children's bathrooms with disposable paper cups for rinsing.
When it comes to our families, most of us like doing things our own way. But when it comes to using disposable cups to protect our children from the germs that cause colds and flu, our moms were right.
Smile!
Rinsing also keeps your children healthy for another reason: Great dental check-ups.
"Most of us know the three steps to good dental hygiene: brushing, flossing and rinsing," said Dr. Theodore Aspes, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Smyrna, Ga. "Unfortunately, parents often don't stress the importance of rinsing to their children, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease."
Even though Americans make about 500 million visits to the dentist annually and spend an estimated $74 billion on dental services, tooth decay is still one of the most common infectious diseases among children, according to the CDC.
Dental hygiene is important to maintaining your child's beautiful smile for life. Here are some tips to prevent the spread of germs while encouraging healthy dental habits in your child:
* Make sure each child has his or her own toothbrush, clearly marked for identification. Do not allow children to share or borrow toothbrushes.
* After children finish brushing, have them rinse their toothbrushes thoroughly with tap water and allow them to air-dry.
* Store toothbrushes in an upright position so they do not touch other children's toothbrushes.
* Provide children with paper cups for rinsing after brushing. Do not allow them to share cups and ensure that they dispose of cups properly after a single use.
* Having trouble getting your child to rinse? Select disposable rinsing cups that feature your child's favorite cartoon characters. Dixie cups now feature kids' favorites, like Winnie-the-Pooh, Lion King and Mickey Mouse.
For more information, visit www.dixie.com.
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©2005 All rights reserved
Courtesy of ARA Content
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