Yes, Oral pH Matters
You use your toothbrush to clean your teeth and your tongue, but while your mouth is cleaner, your toothbrush carries germs and residue from your mouth. Our mouths are home to millions of bacteria, so it’s best to clean your toothbrush every week. Here are four ways to keep any kind of toothbrush germ-free! USE HOT WATER. Before and after using your toothbrush, run hot water over the bristles. This gets rid of bacteria that your toothbrush has collected from brushing your teeth and the hours between brushes. You can also boil water and soak the bristles for 30 seconds. However, be sure not to leave your toothbrush in there for too long because the plastic around the bristles and handle could potentially melt. SOAK THE BRISTLES IN ANTIBACTERIAL MOUTHWASH. For extra protection, fill a small cup with an antibacterial mouthwash or 3% hydrogen peroxide and place your toothbrush in it for two minutes after every use. Keep in mind that doing this may wear out your toothbrush faster, since mouthwash contains ingredients that can break down bristles. STORE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH AWAY FROM THE TOILET. When you flush your toilet, the swirling water that removes waste from the bowl mixes with particles in the air. This is known as “toilet plume” and can get on bathroom surfaces — including your toothbrush! Be sure to store your toothbrush in a medicine cabinet or cover it with a holder. WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER BRUSHING. Your hands carry a lot of germs, so wash your hands before you pick up your toothbrush. This will help kill bacteria that could be transported onto your toothbrush and mouth. Because you're cleaning the germs away in your mouth, be sure to wash your hands after brushing your teeth. These tips can help you keep your bristles clean with every use. It’s also essential to replace your toothbrush every three months or if you get sick. It’s important to keep your oral health in tip-top shape, but let’s not forget about cleaning the tool that helps keep your smile clean and bright! 4 TIPS TO HELP KILL BACTERIA GERMS CAN LIVE ON YOUR TOOTHBRUSH!
Plan the Ultimate Water Balloon Fight (And Score Parent Brownie Points) Summer is here, which means your kids are probably about to disappear for endless play dates, outdoor adventures, or even summer jobs. Fortunately, there’s one way to keep them home and make your house the “cool” spot for their friends to hang out: Plan an epic water balloon fight. Water balloons are the essence of summer, and everyone can get in on the action. If you have a big family, you can plan the ultimate family battle, or your children can invite their friends over for a showdown. (Teenagers will love this as much as elementary schoolers!) Whichever option you choose, use these tips to level up the fun:
1. PROVIDE PLENTY OF AMMUNITION. Fill at least 100 water balloons, or 25–50 balloons per player, to extend the window of your battle.
2. UP THE STAKES WITH WATER GUNS. Water balloons are great, but water balloons and water guns are even better! Spy magazine recommends hiding the guns around your yard or piling them in the center of the war zone where players will have a hard time grabbing them without getting wet. 3. EXTEND THE BATTLE WITH REFILL/DUMP BUCKETS. If you have water guns in the fight, make sure to strategically place buckets of water around the war zone. Big buckets are great for refilling guns, and small ones can fuel splash battles when your balloons run out. 4. CREATE AN EPIC KICKOFF. Increase the drama of your game by having the players stand in a big circle with the ammunition in the center (like “The Hunger Games”) or splitting into groups and having each team start on opposite sides of no man’s land. Don’t forget the countdown! 5. SHAKE UP THE FORMAT. Come up with rules for your fight instead of making it an all-out brawl. Do you want to do a tag-style game, where someone is “it” until they balloon someone else? Or would you rather imitate dodgeball and tag each other “out” with balloons? Poll your players to see which idea is a hit.
Pro Tip: Consider swapping water balloons for sponges to save water. You can simply re-soak them to continue the battle!
2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
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