Have you ever had a conversation with someone who’s breath made it too hard to concentrate on the topic?

Yogurt. That’s right!  Skip the Trident and go for the yogurt.

A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Apparently, it also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth—plaque and gum disease were reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters as well.

According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the Vitamin D in foods such as yogurt, cheese and milk actually helps create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Be sure to get the kind of yogurt with active cultures—not overly processed or sugar-added varieties.

So, with proper dental care and a daily serving of yogurt, the toughest part of avoiding bad breath is going to be figuring out how to tell this to your co-worker!…  Good luck!

Source: MSN.com – Health

Did you know that silver

You see, silver is best known for its ability to kill bacteria on contact.  It is scientifically proven to block the bacteria’s ability to transfer oxygen through its cell walls by essentially suffocating it within six minutes! Silver can be found in many oral care products, like mouthwash. And, it’s also found in astringents and toners used to expel damaging toxins from the skin.

Silver has been documented to kill over 650 known germs, so that being said, this is definitely an ingredient you should be looking for in your grooming products!

According to a recent University of North Carolina study… “Males with perfectly aligned pearly whites are associated with qualities such as dominance, strength, and social competance”.

So, I guess instead of starting a new workout program for the New Year, maybe a visit to the dentist to brighten and straighten that smile is a better idea!

Click Here for a few teeth whitening tips!

* Source – Men’s Health Magazine –  December, 2009 – Page. 28

When your lips are chapped they hurt.

With cooler weather quickly approaching, putting a layer of protection on your lips is just as important as layering your clothes.  Although some lip balms are more effective than others, all were created to do one thing, and that is to heal and protect your lips. Here is a quick guide to help you choose a good lip balm.

Know your place - Depending on where you live, a dry climate, windy city, or just a cooler place, choose one designed for where you live. For example, drier and sunnier climates suggest sunscreen, while colder climates call for moisture rich, oil-based balms.

Keep it natural - No need to stress yourself over all the fancy names and ingredients. If you stick with balms made with natural ingredients, you shouldn’t have to worry about your already chapped lips feeling irritated.

Keep it oily - Vegetable oils, like sunflower seed and olive, are great ingredients to look for in a lip balm. Vegetable oils promote healing, and restore your natural oil production.

So there you have it. Protect your lips, and that’s one less thing you have to worry about on that first date!

Here are a few honorable mentions!

• Every Man Jack - Lip Balm w/SPF 15
• Mission Skincare - Sergio Garcia’s Mint Lip Balmer w/SPF 15 
• Beeswax Lip Balm - by Burt’s Bees

Who wouldn’t want their teeth looking nice and bright?  But, there should be a limit.  Moderation is key, and if you are not doing camera work (umm…that’s “in-front”of the camera) then we all should stear clear of a potentially “blinding” smile.  So here are a few safe and effective ways to get that picture perfect smile.

Whitening Toothpastes

• will lift superficial stains, scrubs off the daily residue left by coffee or red wine but won’t get rid of deeper discoloration  
• 5 minutes a day
• $3.50 – $20 per tube

Halogen Lamp

• most effective procedure to get noticeably whiter natural looking teeth
• can take up to an hour and a half (Repeat once a year)
• Approx. – $600

Custom-fit Trays

• will get your teeth about as white as the lamp will, but the peroxide will not penetrate as deep
• two visits to the dentist for molds and then two weeks of wearing the trays (Repeat every 6 mos.)
• Approx. – $400

Source: DETAILS Magazine