Quick—which do you think is the most common cause of tooth sensitivity, making over 40 million Americans wince in pain when their teeth come in contact with hot, cold, sweet, sour and open air:

A) Acidic beverages, like lemonade, sports drinks and soda
B) At-home and professional tooth whitening
C) Brushing your teeth too hard

It’s C! In a recent survey of nearly 700 dentists by the Academy of General Dentistry, applying too much pressure while brushing easily beat out acidic beverages and tooth whiteners as the top tooth pain trigger. The reason? Brushing too hard wears down the tooth’s protective enamel, which leaves its inner nerve center exposed, making it more sensitive to pain, explains Van B. Haywood, D.M.D. Ease up on your teeth by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and holding the toothbrush handle with your fingertips—not in the palm of your hand.

[photo: ingridtaylar]

Tired of nutrition claims on the front of food packages or store shelf signs that are hard to decipher because of non-specific statements or symbols (for instance, indicating the food is “natural”, “low-fat” or “a good source of fiber”) or misleading information (for instance, foods that are labeled “zero trans fat”, but still contain up to .5 grams of trans fat per serving)? The Food and Drug Administration is asking you to help them improve this kind of confusing and deceptive nutrition information by telling them what you’d change or keep about front-of-package and store shelf labels, plus how you notice and use them.

To submit your suggestions: Log onto regulations.gov, click “submit a comment”, enter FDA-2010-N-0210 in the “enter keyword or ID” search box, press “search”, then scroll down and select “submit a comment”. Or mail your comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305) Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD, 20852. Suggestions must be emailed or postmarked no later than July 28, 2010.

Tip: See what other folks have already suggested! Log onto regulations.gov, enter FDA-2010-N-0210 in the “enter keyword or ID” search box and press “search”.

[photo: colros]

The easiest one! It doesn’t matter which weight-loss plan you choose—Zone, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.—so long as it’s one that you find easy to stick to. You’ll lose twice as much weight on it as someone who’s trying to shed pounds on a diet they don’t like, reveals a study out of Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. So, ignore what works for your friends and family and pick the diet plan you prefer the most.

[photo: Foxtongue]

Next time you’re shopping for cereal, crackers, cookies and other foods for your child, take a closer look at the nutrition label if the package is adorned with a cartoon character, celebrity or offer of a free toy or other giveaway. In a recent Yale University study, a whopping 82% of foods with promotions like these failed to meet accepted nutrition standards for children by limiting sugar, salt and/or saturated fat.

Tip: Nutrition guidelines to aim for…
* 1 g. or less of saturated fat per serving and not more than 15% of calories.
* 0 g. of trans fat per serving.
* No more than 13 g. of added sugars per serving.
* No more than 200 mg. of sodium per serving.

Next time you twist your ankle, have menstrual cramps or are suffering another type of discomfort, try breathing slowly. Study volunteers who took in 50% fewer breaths per minute experienced significantly less pain when heat was applied to their palms than when they breathed normally, reports the journal PAIN. Research shows that breathing slow relaxes tense muscles and relieves anxiety—two factors that make pain sensations more intense.

[photo: slip]

Love flowers, shrubs and trees, but steer clear of them because they trigger itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose? Good news: It’s easy to plant a colorful garden that doesn’t emit annoying allergens, says Thomas Leo Ogren, author of Allergy-Free Gardening. Start with…
* “Formal double” flowers: These are hybrids whose stamens—the part that produces pollen—turn into petals, making them pollen-free. Plus, the extra petals make these flowers fuller so they’re even more eye-popping! Look for formal double impatiens (pictured), chrysanthemums, camellias, daisies, mums, dahlias, asters and bougainvillea. Tip: For more pollen-free flowers, look for old-fashioned Hydrangea macrophylla, Cecile Brunner and Banksia roses and Reigers begonias.
* Female trees and shrubs: Believe it or not, you’re probably not allergic to a specific type of tree or shrub, but rather to the male version of it. Turns out, males churn out pollen, but females don’t. So, how can you tell which is which? Most male trees and shrubs will be labeled “seedless” or “fruitless” since only females produce seeds or fruit. You can even find all-female grass; look for Prairie or 609 buffalo grass sod and plugs or Princess 77 hybrid Bermuda grass seed.
* Gravel or rock mulch: Wood chips and tree bark mulches may carry mold spores, which can trigger allergic reactions.
* A bird feeder and bird bath: Attracting birds to your yard is like inviting an allergy-blocking army. That’s because they gobble up insects that cover plants in a sticky residue that attracts mold spores in the air.

[photo: knitgirl63]

Now that your feet are on display in sandals and open-toe pumps, you’re probably getting more pedicures so they look their very best. Whether you do your pedicures yourself or get them done professionally at a salon, the American Podiatric Medical Association points out important ways to keep your feet safe from harmful infections they can cause:
* Wait to shave your legs till after a pedicure. Small nicks can provide a place for bacteria to enter when you soak your feet.
* Skip foot razors for nixing calluses. Even if your nail technician says she’s skilled at using one, forget it! Razors can result in permanent damage and easily cause infection if too much skin is removed. Opt instead for a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub. To use: Soak feet in warm water for five minutes, then gently rub.
* Avoid cutting cuticles. They’re your body’s natural protective barrier, stopping infection-causing bacteria from getting into the nail bed.
* Wipe off moisturizer between your toes. Excess moisture here can up your risk of developing athlete’s foot or a fungal infection.

[photo: D. Sharon Pruitt]

Stick with a proper measuring tool—such as a measuring cap, dropper, dosing spoon or syringe—not a kitchen spoon. When former cold and flu sufferers were asked to pour one teaspoon of an over-the-counter syrup into a medium-sized kitchen spoon, most poured about 8% too little—and when using a larger kitchen spoon, they poured about 12% too much, reports the Annals of Internal Medicine. These miscalculations may not sound like a lot, but they can make a big difference. Even just a bit too little can make many medications ineffective, and, over several days, a tad too much might cause a dangerous overdose.

[photo: Muffet]

Whether they’re riding bikes together, trying on makeup or just talking, a new University at Buffalo study shows that any time spent with pals distracts tweens and teens from eating out of boredom, a chief cause of childhood obesity.

Tip: To help your child make more friends, sign him or her up for after-school programs, free children’s events at your local library or youth groups at your house of worship.

[photo: hecotorir]

Want your partner to adopt a healthier lifestyle—such as doing more exercise or getting his or her blood pressure checked—without having to nag? Simply adopt these healthy habits first—your sweetie will likely follow, according to a recent study in the journal Health Services Research. In fact, this follow-me technique is so effective, the researchers found it works for even on hard-to-reach health goals, like quitting smoking and drinking.

[photo: thelastminute]