TIPS: Bagaimana membasmi bau mulut

Memiliki masalah bau mulut sungguh menjengkelkan. Selain menimbulkan rasa kurang percaya diri dalam pergaulan, gangguan nafas tak sedap itu juga membuat mulut terasa tak nyaman.

Penyebab utama nafas tak sedap, yang dalam istilah medis disebut halitosis, itu adalah penumpukan bakteri yang tumbuh subur di area minim oksigen seperti belakang lidah, dan celah gigi.

Ketika sikat gigi dan cairan penyegar mulut tak lagi bekerja, cobalah mengonsumsi makanan berikut.

Kopi
Tidak semua jenis kopi mampu membasmi bakteri penyebab bau mulut. Hanya minuman ekstrak kopi atau espresso yang mampu membunuh 90 persen bakteri penyebab bau mulut. Jadi, cobalah mengonsumsi kopi hitam kental tanpa ditambah gula atau susu. Pilih kopi yang diproses langsung ketika masih dalam bentuk biji kopi, dan bukan yang instan.

Kopi yang sudah diolah menjadi minuman ringan, misalnya ditambahkan krim atau susu tidak termasuk dalam kopi penghilang bau mulut. Kopi yang sudah ditambahkan susu justru bisa membuat mulut kering, sehingga menciptakan aroma napas tak sedap.

Teh
Kadar polifenol tinggi dalam teh bisa menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri yang bersembunyi dibelakang lidah. Namun, usai meminum teh, biasakan menyikat gigi atau kumur-kumur untuk menhindari noda teh yang bisa membuat gigi berwarna kekuningan.

Kayu manis
Menurut penelitian medis, kayu manis terbukti dapat mengatasi masalah bau mulut. Selain menyamarkan aroma tak sedap, kandungan rempah ini juga bisa menurunkan konsentrasi bakteri di dalam mulut. Buatlah minuman rempah hangat dengan bubuk kayu manis.

Yogurt
Yoghurt bebas gula yang mengandung bakteri streptococcus thermophilus dan lactobacillus bulgaricus. Menurut para peneliti dari Jepang, dua bakteri 'baik' itu bermanfaat untuk mematikan bakteri penyebab bau mulut.

Selain rajin mengonsumsi makanan-makanan tersebut, biasakan pula memeriksakan kondisi kesehatan gigi dan mulut ke dokter. Rutin membersihkan karang gigi, minimal enam bulan sekali adalah pilihan terbaik. Karang gigi yang bertumpuk merupakan sarang berjuta bakteri.

Jangan pula membiarkan lubang pada gigi menganga terlalu lama. Segera menambal gigi berlubang, karena lubang tersebut berpotensi menjadi tempat berkembang biak bakteri penyebab infeksi di gusi.

Sumber:
Pipiet Tri Noorastuti • VIVAnews

Semoga Bermanfaat
SBT2010

Tips for Your Allergy Action Plan

Mild to moderate allergies can ruin a beautiful day. But allergy symptoms are manageable when you plan ahead and prepare for pollen and other allergens.

Make these six tips part of your allergy action plan.

1. Discover Your Personal Allergy Triggers

Most people blame pollen for their allergies, but dust mites, pet dander, and mold also trigger many allergies. To avoid the allergens that trigger your allergic reactions, you need to know what they are. Get an allergy skin test. Skin tests are the one way to know what's triggering your allergies.

2. Check the Pollen Count

Pollen counts are highest on hot, dry, windy days. Check the forecast before making plans. Pollen is released by plants between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., but travels best on mid-day breezes. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or at sunset. Remember, ragweed releases its pollen in the fall, so pollen counts may be high into September or even mid-October.

3. Allergy Proof Your Home

Keep windows and doors closed on days when pollen levels are high. Use an air conditioner to circulate and cool indoor air. And be sure to change the filter every couple of months. If you have carpets, consider replacing them with hardwood or linoleum floors.

4. Clean House to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Pollen, pet dander, and dust settle throughout your house. Vacuum twice a week -- floors as well as furniture such as couches -- to remove these allergens. Use a microfiber cloth to dust bookshelves, blinds, and other surfaces that collect dust. Don't hang clothes out to dry -- they'll bring in pollen. Use the clothes dryer instead.

5. Rinse Allergens Out of Your Hair and Clothes

Pollen collects on your clothes and hair. After an outing on high-pollen days, wash your clothes and rinse your hair. If you like to jog or ride bikes, choose allergy-friendly workout clothes. Polyester fabrics attract and hold less pollen than clothes made of cotton or wool.

6. Proactively Treat Allergy Symptoms With Medicine

The sooner you take allergy medicine, the better it will work to reduce symptoms.
Antihistamines work by occupying histamine receptors sites in your body, thus preventing histamine from causing allergic symptoms. Histamine is the substance your body releases that leads to stuffy noses and itchy, watery eyes from allergies. Antihistamines are most effective when taken continuously during allergy season.
Decongestants decrease nasal congestion by causing blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to nasal passages. They are best for short-term use. Using decongestant nasal sprays for more than three to five days can aggravate allergy symptoms.
Steroid nasal sprays decrease inflammation (swelling) and mucus production. This action helps reduce the reaction of the nasal tissues to inhaled allergens. Nasal steroids can also treat nasal polyps that often cause obstruction and lead to nasal congestion and sinus infections.
Allergy eye drops usually contain anti-inflammatory agents, decongestants, or antihistamines. Depending on the active drug in the eye drops, they work by decreasing inflammation or inhibiting histamine release. The result: a decrease in itchy, tearing, or swelling.

Cara Mudah Hilangkan Selulit

Selulit yang timbul di area paha dan bokong paling tidak disukai wanita.

Bebas Selulit (doc Corbis)

Selulit bisa terjadi pada siapa saja. Bukan hanya wanita yang bertubuh gemuk, tetapi juga yang memiliki tubuh kurus. Menghilangkannya memang tidak mudah. Tetapi ada cara cepat untuk menghilangkannya, yaitu dengan laser.
Teknologi laser ini memang cukup populer dalam dunia kecantikan. Prosesnya yang cepat dengan hasil maksimal membuat laser semakin banyak diminati. Salah satu klinik yang menyediakan teknologi ini adalah 'Ultimo Aesthetic & Dental Care'.

Perawatan yang disebut Accent ini tidak hanya bisa menghilangkan selulit tetapi juga membantu meratakan dan membentuk kulit pada wajah dan leher menjadi kencang. "Selulit yang banyak timbul di paha dan bokong, adalah hal yang paling tidak disukai wanita," kata dr. Eafael Nunes, Director Slim Clinique Laser Centre Brazil, saat ditemui di Ultimo klinik, 9 April 2010.

Accent ini menggunakan teknologi yang disebut radio frequency untuk memanaskan lapisan kulit. Energi yang terfokus ini, membantu mengatur kembali lingkungan selular dan merangsang sel untuk melepas racun, mengeringkan cairan yang tersimpan dan memproduksi kolagen baru.

Bagian kulit yang terdapat selulit akan dilaser selama 15-45 menit, tergantung dari kondisinya. Laser akan meningkatkan sirkulasi darah dan mengencangkan jaringan ikat. Efeknya adalah memperbaiki kontur dan tekstur kulit. Kolagen yang baru juga akan membuat selulit berangsur menghilang dan membuat kulit menjadi lebih halus dan elastis.

Perawatan ini cukup aman, tetapi sebelum melakukannya, berkonsultasilah dulu dengan dokter. Untuk mendapatkan hasil maksimal dibutuhkan 3 hingga 5 kali perawatan dengan jarak dua minggu. Harga untuk satu kali perawatan antara Rp 2-7 juta, tergantung bagian tubuh ang diberikan perawatan laser.

• VIVAnews

Agar Aroma Parfum 'Menempel' Lebih Lama

Inilah tips agar aroma parfum favorit Anda bisa menemani sepanjang hari.

Parfum (dok. Corbis)

Aroma parfum wangi yang menempel sepanjang hari tentu bisa memberi kepercayaan diri pada pemakainya. Bagaimana caranya agar aroma parfum kesukaan bisa bertahan lama di tubuh tanpa berlebihan?
Kevin Verspoor, pakar parfum di Drom Fragrances, perusahaan parfum berusia 100 tahun memberi beberapa tips untuk menjaga aroma parfum tetap sempurna sejak dipakai sampai akhir, seperti dikutip dari Allure Daily.

1. Kenakan pada titik-titik tertentu
Semprotkan parfum pada titik-titik denyut nadi yang berada di bawah kulit, yang merupakan bagian tubuh terhangat. Bagian hangat tubuh diketahui bisa mengoptimalkan aroma. Leher, dan pergelangan tangan adalah daerah yang baik untuk menempelkan aroma parfum. Untuk hasil lebih maksimal coba titik nadi lainnya, yaitu:

-Bagian belakang kaki, khususnya di belakang lutut
-Daerah tepat di atas tulang pinggul
-Tengkuk leher Anda
-Belahan dada
-Punggung belakang
-Siku bagian dalam

2. Gunakan aroma pendukung sejenis
Banyak perusahaan parfum kini mengeluarkan pelembab tubuh dan krim yang sama dengan aroma parfum. Menggunakannya sebelum menyemprotkan parfum akan membuat aroma favorit Anda lebih awet dan tahan lama.

3. Gunakan seperlunya
Jangan terus menyemprotkan parfum sepanjang hari, karena hanya membuat orang disekitar Anda tersengat aromanya. Selain itu, hidung akan semakin tidak peka menyesuaikan dan menetralisir aroma karena berlebihan mencium wangi parfum.

Agar tidak memakai parfum berlebihan, hidung harus mampu mencium aroma yang ringan. Jika Anda dapat merasakan aromanya terus-menerus, berarti Anda berlebihan menggunakan parfum.

• VIVAnews

Stress...???

STRESS is already a part of daily living. You may never know it but you are already affected by this issue. You shout at your kids or nag your partner about something. You seem to raise an issue out of a particular event even if it is not true. You also tend to be suspicious at some points. All these are due to stress.

Scientifically, stress is a state of high tension or pressure, resulting from an accident or injury or a psychological reaction of heightened emotional response. Certain occupations are particularly stressful, such as acting, advertising, controlling air traffic, politics, investing and gambling. As an effect of stressful emotions such as panic attacks, fear and anger, the blood pressure rises, the pulse beats faster, breathing is accelerated, digestion stops, and the adrenal glands become overactive.







MAJOR FACTS FOR STRESS:

1. It can be caused by many factors. Fear and anxiety are the greatest causes of psychological stress. In modern times people are constantly beset by the threat of calamities. They fear depression and inflation, unemployment, cancer and heart failure, missiles and bombs and famine. At home they may be confronted with marital incompatibility, quarrels, family illness, or financial troubles.

2. It can also cause something. Many illnesses are caused by mental stress, including ulcers, spastic constipation, diarrhea, high blood pressure and migraine headaches. Sometimes latent mental disorders are precipitated by stressful circumstances, as in the case of manic-depressive psychosis, schizophrenia, hysteria and neurasthenia.

3. It can worsen through time. When a person is subjected to repeated stresses, she is likely to develop what people call nervous breakdown, an unscientific but expressive term. The stress produced by the problems of everyday living has led to the widespread use of tranquilizers, a last resort when there seems to be no escape from a difficult situation.

4. It happens in daily living. Stress exists in almost every human activity and is not the same as nerve tension. Some stress is beneficial since it may stimulate action.

5. It can be lessened through healthy intimate relationships. Psychiatrists also found out that for the avoidance of excessive stress being married is better than being divorced or single.

6. There are major stressful events connected to it. Studies also showed that the death of a child is the most stressful of any life’s events. Other items include a jail sentence, major financial problems, divorce and the beginning of an extra-marital affair. Some of the environmental factors that may be related to stress are the status of health, the social class, and the size of the household.

7. There are also some stresses that cannot be controlled. Too much stress can show itself in various emotional, behavioral and physical signs, and the signs of stress differ extremely according to each individual.

Usual Physical, Emotional and Behavioral Signs of Stress:

The physical indications of stress include sleep interruptions, tense muscles, annoyance, gastrointestinal problem, and exhaustion. Its emotional and behavioral indications consist of apprehension, fear, alterations in eating practices, depleted energy, and mood swings. All of the symptoms given cannot tell whether a person has an elevated stress level because these indications may be due to other medical or mental problems.

It is also a fact that persons in stress are most likely to maintain harmful activities like drug and alcohol addiction, excessive cigarette smoking, and poor eating habits. These harmful activities can extremely add to the severity of the indications connected to stress.

Remember that all people may be prone to stress no matter what age you are in and no matter what status of life you have. The extent may vary also depending on how you take up the challenge that goes with it. If you have a support system with you, it is easy to do away with the situation. But at the worse, it may only lead you to panic attacks.

Semoga Bermanfaat...

SBT2010

Sumber : Milist