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Health and Beauty - January 2008

Do you have bad breath?

January 22nd 2008 01:34
Nothing is more of a turn-off for me than bad breath. I would actually prefer being stuck in an elevator full of wet dogs than be in the company of one with a cave of rotten meat for a mouth breathing in my face. One whiff of bad breath and my mind is screaming, “GEEZ! Ever heard of a mint?!?” and risking suffocating from taking only little gulps of air when I could. I once knew a guy whose breath was so bad that no session of mint-popping and chewing gum could eradicate it.

Tongue
courtesy of wikipedia.com


Then I came across Breezecare, via my mum who is reluctant to fork out $10 for dinner but is willing to fork out around $80 a month to keep my dad’s breath ‘stench-free’ so to me, that’s already a positive testimonial.

Breezecare has only been around since 1997 but has now become the premium bad breath product in Australia, featured in What’s Good For You, 60 Minutes, Current Affair and Today Tonight.

But first, what causes bad breath?
Bad breath is caused by odour-producing bacteria that builds up on the tongue surface, teeth, gum pockets, back of throat and in nasal passages. These odour-producing bacteria, in turn, are induced by factors such as a dry mouth, gum disease, eating certain kinds of food (ie garlic, onion), smoking, drinking coffee and/or alcohol and even stress.


Treatment
2% of the world’s population has a good probiotic bacteria in their mouth that defends itself and thus, prevents them from ever suffering from bad breath. For the rest of us unfortunate ones, we need to do more than brushing our teeth and/or using a mouthwash twice daily. We need to change certain lifestyle factors and concentrate on removing the bad breath bacteria that build up on mouth surfaces daily.

Breezecare has come up with KForce Breath Guard 3-Step kit consisting of a mouthwash, a cleansing gel and a tongue cleaner.

KForce Breath Guard Bad Breath Breezecare


The mouthwash contains that good probiotic bacteria that helps fight the bad breath bacteria. It doesn’t induce that sting in your mouth that makes your eyes water and go red like Listerine does. And, unlike Listerine and other alcohol-based mouthwashes, it doesn’t make your mouth dry after 10 minutes.

The cleansing gel is a clear-based gel with a slight sweet taste that you can replace your toothpaste with. It’s supposed to leave your mouth with a clean fresh taste while helping to whiten teeth. It doesn’t create the kind of lather a normal toothpaste would and even though it contains mint and menthol flavours, these don’t stay in your mouth after rinsing. As a result, when I tried it, I didn’t think my mouth was properly cleaned but then again, it could be just a matter of having to get used to it. After all, when I first tried the mouthwash and didn’t feel that sting, I didn’t think the mouthwash worked but it did.

The tongue cleaner is designed like a wide spoon with a scrape that’s gentle enough so it doesn’t damage the tongue surface. After leaving the cleansing gel on your tongue for 1 minute, letting the ingredients that help combat bad smells absorb, you gently scrape it off with the tongue cleaner. Just watch you don’t scrape too far back in your throat or you’d gag.

This 3-step kit costs AU$79.95 plus shipping costs and should last you a month, after which you can purchase re-fill kits that last you up to 3 months for AU$160. It’s a little pricey but worth a try if you have bad breath, want to treat it naturally and are sick of popping mint after gum after mint in your mouth.
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10 Steps to a soothing Foot Massage

January 9th 2008 01:55
I’m not afraid to admit that I have extremely bad feet odour. At one point someone witnessed a couple of mice treating my ankle boots like they were at Luna Park. So, as much as I would have loved to have ducked into a massage salon after a day of pummelling, shoving and kicking my way through post-Christmas sales, I never go into a salon where they don’t wash my feet first. This was after the embarrassing predicament I found myself in when a hot Italian masseur with the body of Michelangelo’s David let out a torrent of sneezes when he took a whiff of my big toe. Since then, I’ve learnt to massage my own feet, recalling the techniques I remember from blessed foot massages of the past.

Foot Massage
Er...I'll stick to thumbs, thanks

1. If you have a foot spa, soak your feet in warm water first for about ten minutes, adding a few drops of chamomile or lavender oil. If there’s a vibrating option, use it and you will feel the tension easing not just from your feet but all the way from your ankles and calves as well. Pat dry.

2. Prop foot up on opposite knee and rub all over with lotion. I like peppermint because you can still feel the tingling effect after the massage. Take care not to put too much that your fingers easily glide along (the pressure won’t be as firm), but enough that your skin isn’t so dry that it drags when you’re stroking.

3. With one thumb, stroke along the length of the sole from the heel to the tip of the toe. Just as the first thumb reaches the toe, let your second thumb follow the path of the first thumb so you have one continous fluid movement. Repeat this step 5 times with each toe.

4. Throughout Step 3, take note of the parts on your soles that feel more sore and/or tender.Using your thumbs or knuckles, make small, stroking circular movements over each sore spot, taking care not to apply too much pressure. Stroke for about 10 seconds.

5. Repeat Step 3 but repeat only 3 times with each toe.

6. Support your foot by placing your fingers underneath your front sole (the area below the base of your toes). With the other hand, use your thumb and forefinger to gently and slowly rotate the toe, in any direction, five times. Press the toe gently but firmly for three seconds and release. Repeat with each toe.

7. Curl your hand over your toes and gently bend them toward the sole of your foot and hold this position for 5 seconds then release. Bend in the other direction, hold for 5 seconds and release. Repeat once.

8. Prop foot up on the chair or on a table in front of you so that your toenails are facing you. Using both hands, with palms down, make sweeping, fluid motions from your ankles toward your toes. Repeat five times.

9. Cradle the back of the ankle between your thumb and forefinger and massage in an upward motion from the sole toward the ankle for 10 seconds.

10. Support the heel of your foot and rotate the ankle, slowly and gently, in each direction 5 times.

Repeat the above steps for the other foot.

Hope this helps. I know this makes me fall asleep


*image courtesty of www.wikipedia.com
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After a week of face-stuffing and playing endless rounds of drinking games (with the result of trying to prove to everyone you are indeed sober by trying to rub your belly and pat your head at the same time), I noticed that people usually spend the first week of the new year hung over - with guilt. Many then resort to trying to put some semblance of control into their new year by creating New Year's resolutions. Myself included. But since my NY resolutions have been consisten in the past 5 years (winning money from lotto), I decided to create NY Beauty Resolutions instead.

Mona Lisa Painting
Possible Beauty Resolution 08 : to look more like the Mona Lisa


Here are my 8 Beauty Resolutions for 2008 :

1. Use make-up remover before going to bed. This not only stops your pores from clogging but will prevent your pillows and sheets from looking like a Picasso painting.

2. Not be too gullible everytime I see a new ad promoting a 'miracle' beauty product - especially if the miracle product has to do with extending eyelashes.

3. Either get rid of the 24 bottles of moisturiser in the cupboard or use them.

4. Stop blaming the hot summer weather or the rain for not exercising for 3 months.

5. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and admit that frozen beer-battered chips are not classified vegetables and choc-dipped strawberries are not fresh fruits.

6. Take pity on my dentist and appreciate the time and effort they take into their monthly 'You are overdue for a visit' notices by actually turning up to appointments.

7. Wear lipgloss at all times. Since I know better to NOT resolve to chew the skin off my lips, creating a bloody mess, I've decided instead to resolve to cover up the blood.

8. Not squint or frown as much when I'm thinking. This not only helps keep those wrinkles at bay, but will hopefully stop people from thinking I'm trying to pick a fight at the bus stop.


Do YOU have any beauty resolutions for 2008?





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