Topic: dental hygiene

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps May Play Beauty Tricks on You

I’ve been curious about Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, or “hippie juice” as a friend of mine calls it, since I first saw the 3,000-word tome on the bottle. The all-natural castile soap is supposed to be a gentle but effective multipurpose cleaner fit for washing your body, hair, teeth, clothes, and more. Or as the label says, “Clean body-mind-soul-spirit instantly uniting one! All-One!”

I’ve always been a little skeptical, and so was Alison Pels over at the blog Brokelyn. Pels tested Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap in seven capacities. She left out gardening (it was too cold), lice removal (she doesn’t have lice), and contraceptive douching (eww – not healthy and there are much better alternatives). More »

Morning Links: 6 Things You Should Never Put In Your Mouth

Fit and Famous – 5 celebrity couples with very different workout regimens and eating habits. (FitSugar)

What’s Up, Doc – 5 important questions to ask your dentist about radiation before those X-rays. (Rodale)

Are You Gonna Eat That? – 6 revolting food products you should never put in your mouth. (Grist) More »

Morning Links: 10 Best Anti-Aging Foods

Pause Before You Pop Those Pills – The real health risks behind over-the-counter pain medications. (HealthKey)

Park It, Poochie – So, health-wise, is it safe to sleep with your pets or not? (The New York Times)

Aging Gracefully – 10 foods to put on your plate to promote longevity. (Whole Living) More »

Kissing May Burn Calories and Prevent Tooth Decay

With the most romantic day of the year (according to candy and card companies) just two weeks away, lovebirds across the country can celebrate more than their passion and romance on V-Day. Turns out, swapping spit with your one and only can help prevent tooth decay and keep your smile sparkly.

Dr. Peter Gorden, a dental adviser to the British Dental Association, recently told LIVESTRONG: “After eating, your mouth is full of sugar solution and acidic saliva, which causes plaque build-up. [Kissing] stimulates saliva flow and helps bring plaque levels down to normal.” More »

Fight Against Fluoride: Did You Brush With Poison Today?

My first brush with dental care involved a stand-up Crest Kids bottle with a star-shaped dispenser. And I’ve been a Crest loyalist ever since then — up until a few weeks ago. Which means that more than 20,000 times over the course of my life, I’ve willingly put a chemical inside my mouth that many people consider toxic. That’s right, I’m talking about fluoride.

Claims supporting fluoride have always been strong. By 1952, enough studies had shown a link between fluoride and reduced tooth decay, that the U.S. Public Health Service started adding it to community water supplies. And it wasn’t long before commercial toothpastes like my beloved Crest followed suit. Today, the American Dental Association (ADA) says: “Community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay.” Pretty bold statement.

Like any scientific innovation, fluoride comes with a few good conspiracy theories. More »

The Case For Natural Toothpaste

Have you ever looked at the sparkling aquamarine gel on your toothbrush and, in your puffy-eyed morning haze, wondered what the hell you’re putting into your mouth? By the time we’re thinking clearly, we’re usually more worried about what kind of coffee to drink and what to do with our coffee grounds, but today’s post from GOOD’s blog, What’s Really In Your Toothpaste?, got us thinking about what’s really going into our mouths (and down the drain) twice a day, every day. More »

New Doctors Get a Break and Make Wine With Welch’s: Morning News Round-Up

Harrison Ford Makes Watches — That benefit Conservation International. (via Ecorazzi)

Make Wine — With Welch’s Concord Grape Juice. (via Gizmodo)

Mouthwash Makers Are Warned — About making false health claims. (via MSNBC)

New Doctors — Will now get shorter shifts. (via Yahoo! Health) More »

5 Moments of Nostalgic Zen Courtesy of Saturday Morning PSAs From Childhood

Time for this week’s five videos moments of nostalgic zen. We can’t think of a better way to end Monday than spending a few relaxing minutes with childhood PSAs that taught us important health and wellness habits including how to pick up litter, brush our teeth, and use condiments sparingly. And who do we have to thank? Why, the TV, of course.

Maybe the Brits are spinning tales to rationalize their obsessive tea-drinking habit, but a new study suggests that drinking tea may be even more beneficial than drinking water, according to a recent BBC News article. Tea (particularly the green kind) … More »

What We're Reading:

5 Best of Blisstree Last Week: Eclipse, Teeth, Vaginas, Relationships

1. “Eclipse” Trailer: How Stephenie Meyer, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart Stole My Non-Teenage Heart – If you don’t know what any of this means, you’re probably dead.

I Love Your Smile – Or, Discrimination In the Workplace

I Love Your Smile â�� Or, Discrimination In the Workplace

My teeth aren’t perfect. I drink coffee, I prefer stain-inducing red wine to white, and I didn’t wear my retainers as a teenager. But thanks to a mother obsessed with keeping me pearly and cavity-free, I got braces to reel … More »