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Mouth |
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You know the drill: you brush, you floss,
you gargle. Yet, women-friends of ours have complained
violently about the awful state of men’s mouths. Not to mention
the commonly uncomfortable run-ins we have with co-workers whose breath
makes you ever so delicately take a few steps backwards when they speak
to you (move slowly and don’t startle them; they might speak louder or
longer). Cleaning
Women we’ve talked with have mentioned time and again that we’d be
surprised at the number of guys out there with foul teeth and
mouths. You’ve heard it since you were 6, but one more time with
feeling - the daily oral regimen, according to the American Dental
Association:
Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
Use a soft bristle manual or electric toothbrush. Brush gently so not to remove tooth enamel. You’re not mad at them, you just want them clean.
Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper to do the job. Just don’t gag yourself.
Floss daily to clean in between teeth and gums. As our dentists say, “You don’t have to brush and floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.”
Rinse your mouth each morning with an antiseptic mouthwash.
Visit your dentist for a routine checkup twice a year.
Bad Breath
This is not funny. Stop laughing. Certain foods, such
as garlic, coffee, onions, and chocolate and activities like smoking
will really make your breath, how shall we say, objectionable. Smoking,
as you know, has a litany of negative effects and bad breath
is one of them. Bad breath may indicate that there are issues
with your gums (“issues” is diplomatic for disease). This is
dentist/periodontist territory, so if you suspect it’s more than the
garlic pizza you had for lunch, get yourself there. A short-term
fix is to carry strong mints and drink plenty of water.
Lips
Always carry lip balm. Have you ever been talking to someone
with dry, chapped lips and you find yourself obsessively licking your
own? If you plan on using your lips for something other than talking, make sure they don't look like bike tires.
Teeth Whitening
Home teeth whitening kits have come a long way in the past few years
and professional whitening has become more affordable. Whitening
toothpastes are the simplest and cheapest way to make a change, but are
minimally effective. At-home bleaching kits and whitening strips
have a greater impact than the toothpaste and vary in cost (from $10 up
to as much as $50). In-office bleaching (which involves making molds
of your teeth and a concentrated bleach solution) has the greatest impact, lasts
the longest, and is the most expensive.
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5 Ways to Be a Better Guy |
- Dead plants aren’t sexy. If you’re going to keep a plant or two, water them.
- Chances are your pants are too big. Either take them to a tailor or buy pants that really fit.
- Once a week, use a pumice stone on the soles of your feet. Keeps ‘em from feeling like pavement.
- Can you make it until everyone else sits down before you start eating? Great.
- Pour her wine first, then yours. Always.
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Your Body 
