Regular use of mouthwash is a great habit to get into for continued dental health, but my dentist said something that struck me strange last time I visited. He instructed me to use mouthwash before I brushed, not after. "Before?" I asked. "Are you sure?" Yes, my dentist was sure. He explained that rinsing before you brush loosens food particles and buildup, making brushing even more effective. Read more

Portion control is a key player when it comes to balanced nutrition, but it can be hard to listen to your body's hunger signals when your mind is telling you to reach for seconds. When you realize that you're full, take advantage of these tricks to tell your mind that the meal is over: Pick peppermint. A piece of hard candy, a mint, a mug of tea, or even mouthwash — go for anything Read more

You know you're getting into the holiday spirit when the movie Elf is on repeat in your DVD player. If this is the case, let's just hope you aren't influenced by Will Ferrell's bad dietary habits, which include copious amounts of candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup! We may not be guzzling down bottles of syrup, but when confronted with tables full of cookies, candies, chocolates, and Read more

Last week, Rembrandt sent over a box of its Deeply White toothpaste and mouthwash duo (about $7 each). It just might be the fastest whitening product I've ever tried. After using it for the first time, my chompers were gleaming. "Wook!" I cried out to my boyfriend as I swished the mouthwash. "Ome wook at my eef!" "Your eef?" he responded. "My teef," I said, spitting out the mouthwash and Read more

Can an $8, one-hour tooth whitener really work? I had my doubts, and while Walgreens Intense 1 Hour Whitening System ($8) won't get your teeth Ross Gellar-white (not that you'd actually want glow-in-the-dark choppers), it will lighten them a few shades, all under an impressive 60 minutes. But with the good comes a bit of bad. See the full review when you read more. Read more

Whether it's a one-night stand, you've crashed on your friend's sofa, or you're involved in a friends-with-benefits-type situation, sometimes we're all caught unprepared. And this isn't in the birth control or condoms sense (as could be the case in each of these scenarios); this is about not having beauty basics on your person the morning after. So what's a girl to do when all she has in her Read more

I know dental care isn't the most exciting topic, but healthy teeth are important and make for a lovely smile. Speaking of lovely smiles, remember the scene in Pretty Woman when Julia Roberts announces that "you shouldn't neglect your gums"? With that said, let's review some common bad dental habits that can lead to health issues like gingivitis. And since nobody likes getting that disappointing Read more