Kids! You're rotting your teeth!

We were warned as kids that candy would rot our teeth. What’s rotting kids’ teeth now?

That sports drink is rotting your teeth! Really. That’s the conclusion of a recent study published in “General Dentistry.” Poonam Jain, lead author of the study, says patients are shocked to learn that sports drinks are bathing their teeth with acid. And those popular brands of energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Rockstar – are causing TWICE as much damage to the teeth. 

If your child or teen is complaining of sensitive teeth – eliminate all of those drinks. After just five days of regular exposure to sports or energy drinks, the high levels of acid begin to erode enamel and can start causing irreversible harm.

If you’re buying a used car – look for a CAPA sticker somewhere on the vehicle...

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Buying a used car can be risky business...

Consumer Reports has a few things to look for that could indicate that car is a clunker:

• Look all over the car for a CAPA sticker. That stands for Certified Automotive Parts Association and could indicate the car has been in a collision. It’s a small yellow sticker with a bar code.

• Check the tread on the tires. If the wear is uneven, the wheels may be misaligned because of frame damage.

• Check the trunk and under the seats for an air freshener. There might be some water damage from a leak or flood.

• If the dashboard air-bag indicator doesn’t light up – that could mean the air bag was replaced improperly, or not at all, after an accident.

The next time you take a profile picture, take it from the left...

If you’ve never taken the time to determine which side of your face is the “good” side – it’s probably the left side....

Researchers from Wake Forest University studied the faces of male and female college students and took note of their personal preferences. The left side almost always won.

The researchers say there’s a reason most of us are drawn to the left side. That side of the face is controlled by the right side of the brain, which governs feelings. As a result, the left side of your face will usually show a greater intensity of emotion.

Not all migraines involve a headache. The symptoms of silent migraines...

When we think migraine – we think headache...  

But not all migraines have that. Silent migraines are a bit unusual and very unpredictable. The physical symptoms of a silent migraine might include nausea, food cravings, thirst, chills and fatigue. Emotional symptoms can range from confusion to irritability to euphoria. Silent migraines might also include memory lapses and distortion in the senses, vision, hearing, smell and taste.

Common triggers of silent migraines include stress, lack of sleep, certain foods, hormone changes and bright or flickering lights. If you suspect you are prone to silent migraines, it’s important to keep a log of your symptoms and possible triggers and talk to your doctor about them.

Social media will be revealing something else about us soon...

So much for privacy! 

Soon, your social media friends and family will be able to see your – WEATHER! The Weather Channel just announced it wants to build a weather alert system based on social media. You’re already able to Tweet or post weather warnings – but the Weather Channel and Facebook are working together to incorporate weather warnings into Facebook’s open graph. 

Eventually, we’ll be able to see weather affecting family members or friends, no matter where they are – and alert them personally if they happen to be in the path of a storm.

There is one part of your body you should massage every day...

Don’t just brush your teeth – massage them! 

According to researchers and dentists from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, a mid-day dental massage can be even more effective than brushing your teeth after lunch. You won’t need a toothbrush – but you will need some toothpaste with fluoride. After lunch, apply that toothpaste to your teeth and gums with your finger, massage it in – and you’re done. 

Getting into the mid-day massage habit can significantly boost your fluoride protection. It’s not meant to replace brushing in the morning and at night – but it’s a great option for people in work or school who are too busy to brush.

Which room in your house are you most likely to be injured in?

The next time you use the bathroom – be careful! 

In the average year, 22 million Americans age 15 and older are injured in the bathroom. 235,000 of those wind up in the emergency room. People 65 years and older had the highest injury rate with falls causing 80 percent of all bathroom accidents. A slip in the shower or bathtub can result in some serious injuries such as head cracks and hip fractures.

Judy A. Stevens, an epidemiologist with the C.D.C., says a lot of these injuries can be prevented by installing grab bars near the toilet and both in and where you get out of the tub and shower – especially in bathrooms used by elderly people.

Hybrid cars will save you money in fuel – but what about insurance?

That hybrid car might save you a lot of money in fuel – but you’ll probably wind up pumping your savings back into the car...  

Hybrids typically cost more to insure than the average automobile. Not because they’re hybrid – but because they’ve got qualities common among smaller and more expensive cars, resulting in higher premiums. 

The characteristics of a hybrid driver also come into play. Typically, they are trying to save money on long daily commutes – which adds wear and tear on the car and increases the odds for accidents. 

Hybrid maintenance can get costly too. Advanced problems usually need to be fixed by a trained hybrid mechanic at the dealer – and a hybrid battery could set you back two to three thousand dollars – plus labor.

Those stainless steel appliances you just invested in are SO 2,000. The new “in” appliance color...

Stainless steel appliances have been all the rage for over ten years now – which means they’ll be out of style again soon... 

According to renovation specialist Greg Harth, soon we’ll be looking at stainless steel and saying “Wow, that’s a really 1990s or 2000s kitchen.” 

If you’re wondering what the new “in” trend of appliances will look like, think white. Those were the ones turning heads at a recent kitchen designer’s trade show. Although white appliances are nothing new, the updated versions have a glossier sheen and look a little more like glass. Whirlpool’s new Black Ice finish was another favorite.

Which laundry detergent does the NFL prefer?

If you think your laundry is touch, consider what the NFL has to wash...

At 5,500 pounds, they do more laundry in a week than the average household does in two years. If you want to do your laundry like a pro – consider using Tide. That’s the brand the NFL just drafted as the “Official Laundry Detergent of the NFL.” 

Sundar Raman, Proctor and Gambell’s North American Fabric Care Marketing Director, says the NFL is the ultimate test for a laundry detergent and we’re proud that our brand is the one the equipment managers trust to keep uniforms clean.

So how does Tide perform on our boring, household loads? Winning! In a Consumer Reports’ test of laundry detergents, Tide products took first, second, fourth and sixth place on stains such as ring-around-the-collar, grass, blood, tea and chocolate.

If you’d like people to listen to you – cut to the chase!

You’re talking – but is anybody listening? 

People who love to talk tend to over-explain things a bit – and that could be a big tune-out. Here are a few simple tricks to try the next time you’d like to be heard:

Listen: The best way to get someone’s attention is to pay attention to them. They’re much more likely to want to hear what you have to say if you seem interested.

Cut to the chase: If you think someone’s not getting it, resist the urge to explain more. When we ramble, we lose people’s attention. It’s not that they don’t get it, they’re bored. Stick to the facts.

Read the room: Whether it’s a group or an individual, pay attention. If they are doodling, checking their phone or not making eye contact, you’re losing them. If you’d still like to get your point across - ask a question to get them engaged again - and keep it simple.

Could antibiotics be making you fat?

If you’ve been on antibiotics lately and have noticed some weight gain, it’s probably not your diet...   

Studies have shown that taking antibiotics can actually double your chances of gaining weight. That’s because antibiotics can destroy the healthy bacteria in your belly that helps to produce the hormones for weight control. 

If you do need to take antibiotics, you can replenish the good bacteria – and counteract the weight-gain side-effect by eating a cup of yogurt daily. Just make sure it’s the kind with live bacterial cultures, low-fat and sugar-free.

If you’re picking some flowers to plant for this spring – pick plants with benefits...

It’s time to choose some plants for your garden, patio or deck... 

There are some varieties that do more than look and smell good. Here are a few good options to plant with purpose: 

• Impatiens: Not only do they brighten up a shady spot – they can help protect against poison ivy and oak. If you’ve been exposed, rub some sap from the impatiens stem on the skin to neutralize the itching agents.

• Zinnias: Bees LOVE them – and having them near your garden can increase the yield of fruits and vegetables by encouraging pollination.

• Azaleas: These attract ladybugs who are great at getting rid of destructive aphids that can destroy your plants.

• Honeysuckle: Hummingbirds will feast on that. Once they’re in your yard, the hummingbirds will also eat your ants, gnats and white flies.

• Geraniums: Plant plenty of these around your favorite outdoor hangout. Geraniums naturally repel mosquitos. You can even crush a geranium leaf and rub that on your skin for added protection.

If you’re packing warmer clothes into storage soon, skip the mothballs...

Before you shove those boxes of sweaters and coats into storage for the summer – you’ll need some protection in there...  

Mothballs can be effective – but they’re toxic and leave a wicked scent. Here are a few alternatives to keep the critters out of your clothes:

• Peppercorns work great. Cut up an old pair of pantyhose to make some sachets for your storage bins.

• Cedar is a good alternative to mothballs – providing you like the scent. There are cedar lined chests – but cedar shavings or balls are also available to toss in your storage containers.

• Lavender and rosemary both smell really nice – and are also effective at repelling moths. You can make simple sachets with an old sock or use essential oils of those herbs. These both work best when used WITH cedar. 

If you like to doodle, you might REALLY like to work at Google. Here's what else they get to do...

Working for Google isn’t all fun and games – but a lot of it sounds really good... 

Here’s what a day-in-the-life of a Google employee might include:

• Got an idea? Write it on the wall! Google office walls are lined with white boards, making it easy to jot down ideas on-the-go.

• Google engineers are encouraged to play with Legos. It reduces stress and improves their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.

• Who needs conventional office chairs and fluorescent lighting – when you could have beanbag chairs and lava lamps? These Google office fixtures help promote out-of-the-box thinking.

• Google Doodles aren’t just for their home page. Google engineers are encouraged to doodle while they work, or whenever they’re stuck.

Source: Kursty Groves, author of “I Wish I Worked There!”