Did you brush your teeth today? Well, hopefully you did – but, more importantly, did you brush correctly?

Many of us brush our teeth wrong – and there are big mistakes dentists say they see all the time.

First – brushing too hard. It’s bad for your gums, and the bristles can’t do their job – and that goes for both manual and electric toothbrushes.

Also, don’t rinse right after you brush as it flushes the fluoride away – you should wait at least two minutes.

You also should swap out your toothbrush more often – every three months, instead of every time you go to the dentist.

When you brush is important – you want to wait at least 30 minutes after having something too sugary or acidic.

Finally, you may have heard baking soda is good for your teeth, but it’s too abrasive and can damage your enamel.

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With the summer heat and humidity upon us, it’s a reminder that we’re in the middle of mosquito season. And that best way to avoid getting sick is to prevent mosquito bites.

The CDC has some tips on how to do just that:

First, if you’ve got stagnant water anywhere near your home, make sure you dump it out, as it can be a breeding ground for mosquitos, and can potentially make pets sick if they drink it.

Use insect repellent every time you go out – in addition to sunscreen, it should be a part of your daily routine.

If you’re going to be spending time in a wooded area, try to wear either long sleeve shirts or long pants, or both.

If you do keep your doors and windows open, make sure they have screens – it’ll prevent insects from getting in.

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We’re gonna have a stretch of particularly hot, sunny weather is ahead of us – and when you head outside during the summer, it’s so important to keep your skin healthy.

Here are some skin tips for the season:

First and foremost – use sunscreen! Sunburns are never fun, and years of too much sun leads to premature wrinkling and skin aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

And don’t forget your lips – as you would with sunscreen, there are lip-specific products as well with SPF protection.

If you wear makeup, try to find oil-free products that are breathable on the skin during the high humidity.

Summer’s a good time to exfoliate to help improve hydration from moisturizers. And hydration also comes by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to help prevent headaches or dizzy spells.

Keep your skin protected for a safe summer!

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Yes, the heat wave is brutal. And hopefully you’ve got a working air conditioner. But is it working as well as it could be? There are a few things to be aware of.

First, don’t constantly adjust the thermostat. Set it to the temp you want and forget it – if you drop it to cool things faster, it won’t work as efficiently.

Make sure you clean the filters and coils – the filters allow the air to flow and dirty coils make it harder to cool your house.

If you’re home during the hottest parts of the day, make sure anything that creates heat like stoves, dishwashers, even overhead lights are off.

And if you absolutely need to cool down more quickly, use a fan – the breeze will help spread the conditioned air around the room.

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