The Art of Pampering Your Mouth

Image credit: youbeauty.com

If you don’t notice it, the mouth is arguably one of the busiest parts of your body.

You eat at least three times a day (time spent munching depends on your appetite); talk to your family, friends, clients and people you encounter every day; kiss your partner or spouses (where? It’s up to you); and even in your sleep you snore (you can’t say no since how would you know you’re not making such noise while your sleeping?)

Now, how do you pamper such a busy “worker” aside from brushing your teeth three times a day (others might even miss a session or two). Well, I am not a dentist to share a list on oral care. Let’s just say I have been on the dentist chair that much that I have somewhat learned some stuff on how to have a healthy mouth.

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are the 1-2-3 of oral health, but they're only the beginning. But there is more to squeezing a toothbrush tube and rubbing a hairy stick on your wisdom tooth. Here are some tips which I combined with some ideas I got from WebMD.com.

Visit your dentist at least twice a year. Here’s an #AstigTip: Look for a nice looking dentist or a dentist’s assistant that will make you comeback to the clinic. Of course, if you are married already, don’t tell your spouse that you got the idea from me.

Lessen your intake of softdrinks or soda. The two sure thing you’ll get from every can of soda aside from a burp: phosphoric acid and citric acid which are not so friendly for the surface of your teeth. Astig Tip: Every time you’ll open a bottle or can of soda, place a piece of Mentos gum inside it before you drink it. Whatever will be left inside your container is the right dose  for you.

Avoid sugar if you can. Sugar causes tooth decay big time. It fuels bacteria and acidity in your mouth, causing plaque to form and eat away at your enamel and gums.  Astig Tip: The next time you’ll make a coffee, don’t put sugar. Ask your crush or loved one to whisper sweet nothings to the cup. You’ll never know, after a while he/ she might even ask you, “Coffee, tea or me?”

Quit smoking. Nicotine and tar in cigarettes not only turn your teeth an unsightly shade of yellow, they eat away at your gums.  Even worse, tobacco chemicals can lead to oral cancer. Astig Tip: Keep the money you’ll save in every stick of cigarette you’ll avoid. After two years, you can now buy that hot and smokin’ motorcycle you’ve been eyeing for.

Rinse after brushing. Sometimes, brushing doesn’t get every germs and bacteria from your mouth. Astig Tip: If you hate that sting-like feeling using mouthwash, you can always try Swish Mangosteen Mint. It’s like minty meets fruity in this sparkling blend of mint and Mangosteen! The unique mint taste will give your mouth a refreshingly cool mint flavor.

Our friends from United Laboratories Inc. were kind enough to let us try Swish Mouthwash and definitely it is the Sure Way to Long Lasting Fresh Breath. it is an alcohol free mouthwash that helps kill bad breath causing bacteria and prevents plaque build-up, gum disease and tooth decay.  Powered by SureFresh Technology, Swish doesn't just cover up bad breath because it kills bad bacteria, prevents plaque and gingivitis for long-lasting fresh breath.

You can gargle 20 mL of Swish Mouthwash twice a day for 30 seconds for best result. Suggested Retail Price for it’s different sizes:  35 mL – P35; 60 mL – P46.75; 120 mL – P75; and 250 mL – P137.50. The product is easy to find because it is available in supermarkets, drugstores and convenience stores nationwide.

Another product of Unilab is Swish Breath Spray – instant fresh breath in 10 seconds.  With Swish, you are assured of long lasting fresh breath anytime, anywhere!

20 Ways You Can Be The Best Friend Ever

There are at least three sure things that a man will experience in his lifetime--- birth, death and friendship.

A friend can come in any form, size, color, gender, shape whether it’s living or not. But seriously, I haven’t met anyone who confessed he or she doesn’t have a friend. Emo individuals might post in the Facebook wall, “Nobody loves me. I have no friend.” I’m pretty sure at least one kind soul will leave a warm message or comment just to assure him he is not alone.

Now, if you’re looking for someone to be a best friend or would like to be a best friend to someone, here’s a quick from-head-to-to list that might help you get that shoulder to cry on.

1.    On a bad hair day, just be there for her to comb her way out of misery.
2.    Be ready with your two listening, not just hearing, ears when she tells stories.
3.    Learn how to talk using your eyes. Isn’t it cute to be able to convey things with just a wink.
4.    Feast your eyes watching your movies and/ or TV shows.
5.    Smell good always. Consider this nosy but common, who doesn’t like fresh air?
6.    Compliment how rosy her cheeks are. Even if it’s really the magic of face powder.
7.    Ask her to be your taste buddies. Go on a food trip.
8.    Avoid getting into a neck-to-neck race on something. Try to achieve things without competing with one another.
9.    Be a shoulder to cry on when she feel like sobbing.
10.    Have time for a heart to heart talk on serious stuff.
11.    Tickle her funny bone during a boring afternoon.
12.    Rub elbows with other people. It’s also healthy for both of you to meet new acquaintances.
13.    You should always have open arms in accepting his flaws and shortcomings.
14.    Raise her arms and clap your arms during times of triumphs.
15.    Hold her hand and assure her that you are with her in times of trouble.
16.    Finger exercise with her for non-stop texting and chatting to kill boredom when you’re away from each other.
17.    Twist and wiggle those hips and dance together to your favorite tunes.
18.    Learn to bend your knees and admit to her when you are at fault.
19.    Travel on foot and discover the beauty of nature.
20.    Be that someone to keep her feet on the ground or bring her back to her senses just in case she’ll forget that one time in her life you were best of friends.

Hayyy… making this list made me realize that I haven’t talked to my friends from high school and college school and former offices.  A real friend calls not only in time of trials. I might give them a ring one by since since eith GoUnli20, it’s now easy to call without a need for a prefix and it’s just P20 for unli calls, 15mb of mobile surfing, and 20 texts to all networks! Kaya if you need a friend, don’t call me, I’ll call you!

Is your body ready for peak performance?

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase Peak Performance?

It could be a grand showcase of talent, winning a race, conquering fear, beating odds or simply being the best that you can be.

Personally, I can say that some of the best days of my life are way behind me. I can never be that adventure anymore since I have a family to consider first before I try any physical challenge that come my way. I can never go toe-to-toe with younger individuals like say in a marathon or game of basketball since they are definitely a step faster than me. If I am 10 years younger and single, I can give anyone a good fight.

I am still active in some of my favorite sports if my schedule allows me to participate in a local fun run, play streetball in our village or make some rounds on a bicycle in a nearby park. Often times, I just have to contend with pain the day after hours of physical activity.

Well, I just have to accept the fact that I am not getting younger and I need to be cautious of what I eat and drink. In my quest to continue to be active and attain peak performance, I was discovered some nutritional drinks that I believe can help me attain my goal.

First, I tried Glucosamine Max which promises pain-free joint mobility for peak performance. . It promotes healthy joint cartilage and prevents the onset of joint pains. I also found out that it retards progression of damage to joints, restores joint cartilage back to health and regains pain-free joint mobility. In one box, there are 16 sachets of powder drink that will be good for more than 2 weeks if taken daily. You’ll just have to mix it with water and the good news is, it taste good with just the right amount of sweetness.

I was also introduced to Wheatgrass Max which can improve one’s power and stamina. The deep-green Wheatgrass powder in this product contains a number of important nutrients available in the natural synergistic form that makes it a complete food that the body requires daily. It also reduces symptoms of chronic fatigue and increases energy level, boosts the immune system against diseases and detoxify the body. It is also available in box of 16 powder sachets and taste good in tap, cold or hot water.

Both Glucosamine Max and Wheatgrass Max are quality products of Herbcare, makers of the trusted health products Charantia and others. Visit your favorite pharmacy and drug stores to know more about the product or check www.herbcare.com.ph.

The Amazing Gwen Stacy 2 movie experience

Image credit: www.totalfilm.com

If there is one Hollywood actress that can turn me into a stone, figuratively and literally, every time I see her, it’s definitely Emma Stone.

Just look at her photo. If you’re a male reading this post and looking at Emma’s image right now, tell me what part of your body is beginning to feel a bit stiff and hard at this very moment. Your hands and fingers, right? You can’t move them because your brain is telling you not to scroll down the mouse just yet.

Last week, I was able to see the second installment of The Amazing Spider-man series which I prefer to label as The Amazing Gwen Stacy 2. Of course, I watched it because it’s a Peter Parker movie but it was Emma Stone who really made me crawl to the theatre in spite of  forewarnings from friends that there are long lines just to purchase tickets to the film and would need a pocket-full of patience to survive the Rhino-like and Electro dynamo of an event.

Good thing my spider senses led me to SM Megamall IMAX theatres where I was introduced to the stored value-based contactless smart card payment application with e-PLUS Tap to Pay. I am not really a fan of keeping different cards in my wallet since it confuses me sometimes. I remember one time, I tried to pay my groceries using a motel discount card (which was suppose to be not there since it’s not mine. Please believe me it’s not mine.).

However, going through the brochure of the all-new e-PLUS Tap To Pay card can convert any non-believers. Imagine this, the card offers you all-in-one cashless transactions in UV Express Shuttles in SM Passenger Terminals, SM Mall Parking Buildings, SM Tickets, Mall of Asia Arena, Science Discovery Center, SM Bowling, SM Ice Skating, Storyland, SM Cinemas, Directors Club Cinemas, IMAX Theatres, Snacktime. Soon, it also be accepted in all SM Retail Stores and merchants nationwide to provide Filipinos cashless convenience coupled with a variety of exciting, exclusive perks and more savings.

I need this! I am virtually in a SM establishment more often than in my in-laws house.

So to make the story short, I availed a e-PLUS card and avoided long lines and now have more reasons to come back in SM and try it with other establishments.

Now if you have not seen The Amazing Spided-Man 2 aka The Gwen Stacy 2 movie, I suggest you stop reading this post that contains spoiler about the film. Or better, get an e-PLUS card so you know what I have been talking about for minutes.

I am sharing below some Gwen Stacy Trivia that might interest even non-Emma Stone fans:

1. Despite Gwen Stacy dying in the film. Emma Stone is signed on to do at least two more Amazing Spider-man films.

2. With the exit of Gwen’s character, here comes Mary-Jane Watson to be played by Shailene Woodley (another demigoddess of beauty) who played Amy Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager in 2008.

3. The  dog that Gwen walks while Peter spies on her from a rooftop, actually belongs to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. They adopted him in 2013.

4. Gwen fellow Oscorp employee Felicia Hardy is known in the marvel comics as Black Cat, a cat burgle and occasionally a love interest of Spider-man.

5. During the scene where Peter and Gwen see each other for the first time in a year, Andrew Garfield's heel was run over by a taxi.

6. During the scene where Gwen Stacy died, the clock tower's hand spin rapidly, landing on 01:21, Gwen Stacy is killed in Amazing Spider-Man #121.

7. Towards the end of the film, Gwen Stacy wears a mint colored coat and a purple skirt, this is a reference to the controversial "Night That Gwen Stacy Died" story arc in the comics where she wore a very similar outfit.

8. There were several different endings filmed, including one where the Goblin (Dane DeHaan) snaps Gwen's neck with his bare hands. But this was deemed too violent for a PG-13 rating. A version where the Goblin fatally stabs Gwen was also filmed.

Now as a bonus trivia, have you ever thought why there is a hypen or dash in Spider-man’s name?

Stan Lee, the man behind our friendly neighbourhood hero, had a pretty good reason for that one, and it dates all the way back to when he created Peter Parker’s alter ego in 1962. At the time, DC’s Superman was one of the biggest comic book hero out there, and Lee was worried his new hero (who wears those similar blue and red colors, and has a name that starts with an “S”) would be glossed over as too similar.

Do you have an interesting Spider-man or Gwen Stacy trivia to share? Go to the comment section and I’ll be glad to hear from you.