Wellness
There are many approaches and countless factors that make up a persons overall wellness. HowStuffWorks has extensive coverage on the different types of natural medicine such as DIY remedies and traditional Chinese medicine.
What in the World Are Tonsil Stones?
How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?
How Often Do You Really Need to Shower?
Why You May Like Floating in a Sensory Deprivation Tank
Is Cold-Shocking Your Body After a Sauna a Good Idea?
IV Drip Bars Are a Hot Trend, But Are They Safe?
20 Most Obese Countries in the World
How Many Miles Are In 10,000 Steps?
Are Minimalist Running Shoes the Key to Fewer Injuries?
What Are DMT Elves and Who Reports Seeing Them?
Why Anti-anxiety Drug Phenibut Is So Controversial
Juul 'Make the Switch' Ads Drawing Flak From Anti-tobacco Activists
Phthalates Are Everywhere and Scientists Are Worried
People's Bodies Now Run Cooler Than 'Normal' — Even in the Bolivian Amazon
Should You Always Take Off Your Shoes in Your Home?
Magnesium Glycinate vs. Citrate Vitamin Supplements
Ultra-processed Foods May Increase Inflammation, Chronic Disease Risk
What's the Difference Between White Sugar and Brown Sugar?
Kava Is Natural and Legal, But Is It Safe?
6 Handy Uses for Witch Hazel
Can Lettuce Water Really Help You Sleep?
Loud Films and Concerts Don't Have to Permanently Hurt Your Ears
Should Everyone Get a Monkeypox Vaccine?
Should You Get a COVID-19 Booster Shot Now or Wait Until Fall?
10 Organizations That Want to Help You Quit Smoking
When did humans start smoking, anyway?
Is it really possible to be a social smoker?
Deepak Chopra Wants Us to 'Let Go and Flow' in 2022
Box Breathing Could Help Curb Your Freak-out Moments
Isolation and Monotony Stress the Brain. Here's How to Cope
Have Most Plastic Surgeons Had Surgery Themselves?
Getting Used to a New You (How to Emotionally Recover from Cosmetic Surgery)
Smart Liposuction Overview
Who Is the Oldest Living Person? And the Oldest to Ever Live?
One in Six Say They'd Rather Die 'Young.' What Age Is That?
Warding Off the 'Retirement Curse'
What Do Pheromones Do to People and Animals?
Man's War With Unwanted Body Hair
Why Aren't There More Patterns in Male Pattern Baldness?
Menstrual Leave: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Do Too-tight Jog Bras Impair Breathing?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on the Brain
Learn More / Page 16
You know what toothpaste is -- after all, you've been using it your whole life. However, toothpaste didn't always come in tubes, or even in paste form. Yes, once upon a time, people used abrasive powders to get that minty-fresh feeling.
Massaging your gums stimulates them and keeps them healthy, so it's a good practice. But you don't necessarily need to use a gum brush to do so.
Electric toothbrushes are much better at cleaning your teeth than traditional brushes and are highly recommended by dentists. Here are some of their other benefits.
Advertisement
We clean our teeth with a toothbrush, but does your toothbrush itself need cleaning? Here are some common methods for disinfecting your toothbrush, as well as how to keep it clean for daily use.
By Chris Opfer
Periodontal disease, if left unchecked, could lead to gum redness, bleeding and, eventually, even tooth loss. Can a simple toothbrush help you avoid this fate?
You probably think of it as a way to clean cuts, but can you also use hydrogen peroxide on your teeth?
We know they give you pearly whites. But can those popular whitening strips damage your teeth?
Advertisement
Do food and drinks counteract the cavity-fighting and enamel-protecting benefits of toothpaste or simply ruin the fresh taste in your mouth?
Brushing and rinsing play major parts in a good oral health routine, but if you use both toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride, can you have too much of a good thing?
An abscessed tooth is one of those things you probably don't want to think about until it happens to you. And if it does, you're better to get it treated sooner rather than later.
Humans haven't always been avid tooth brushers, so why do we have to do it now? And twice a day, no less?
By Sara Elliott
Advertisement
There are advantages to a Waterpik over regular floss, but the biggest is that it's more fun. Wouldn't you rather do something enjoyable?
By Sara Elliott
A water flosser can do wonders for your teeth, but you may have to use a variety of tips to get the healthiest mouth on the block.
By Sara Elliott
Plaque may be your teeth's enemy, but it can't hide forever. Using plaque-disclosing tablets can help make sure it's removed completely during brushing and flossing.
Tongue scrapers are said to help remove the bacteria that causes bad breath. But is using one any more effective than just brushing your tongue?
By Tom Scheve
Advertisement
Using a dental scaler can be an effective way to help keep your teeth free of plaque and stains. How can you use one correctly?
By Tom Scheve
Some argue that using a dental pick is more effective than flossing when it comes to cleaning between your teeth. But is it safe to use a dental pick without a dentist's supervision?
By Tom Scheve
You're watching your TV when an ad tells you how white your teeth can be. It may not be a "Satisfaction" redux, but it is appealing. Do DIY tooth polishers really work?
By Robynne Boyd
You may have seen DIY dental kits for sale online and wondered if you could save a few visits (and bucks) at the dentist. But these can do costly damage to your teeth.
Advertisement
Dry mouth isn't just an annoyance; it's actually a common -- and dangerous -- health problem. It has a variety of causes, but does Biotène make an adequate cure?
Green is good -- for your gums. Discover how eating vegetables can help you control gingivitis.
These home remedies for diarrhea can help you recover faster and stay healthy. View 10 home remedies for diarrhea to get started.
Staying motivated to lose weight can be difficult, especially if one stops seeing results. Learn more about staying motivated with a workout routine to feel you best and lead a healthier life.
Advertisement
Arm, chest, and shoulder exercises can strengthen the upper body while easing back pain. Learn several ways to tone those regions in men and women alike.
Stretching warms you up in preparation for doing other exercises, but it's also good for you in and of itself. Use our article and illustrations to learn to stretch the muscles throughout your whole body.