When it comes to mouth hygiene, the first thing most of us assume requires consideration is looking after our teeth. However, it is equally important to ensure that our tongue is regularly maintained. For optimum mouth health and hygiene, the two should go hand in hand.

Because your mouth is an orifice that is constantly exposed to the big bad world, it is only natural that this part of your body can succumb to a buildup of bacteria. And once bacteria begin to build up on your tongue this can lead to several issues. As it spreads it can eventually lead to tooth decay. But the shorter-term effects are equally debilitating.

As an organ, the tunnel serves many purposes, the most obvious one of which is being the mainstay of your taste function. But as well as allowing you to savour food and drink, as well as helping you ingest them down into your digestive system, another function of the tongue is to trap unhealthy bacteria. This tongue bacteria is a major cause of bad breath, or halitosis to give it its more scientific term. This condition is obviously a fairly antisocial one, and is best avoided by looking after tongue hygiene with as much gusto as keeping your teeth well-maintained.

So how should you be looking after your tongue? While it can be tempting to just give the tongue a short brush at the same time as you tend to the rest of your teeth with either a toothbrush or an electric version, this is not actually that practical. It is very difficult to apply any pressure to the tongue due to its consistency and sensitivity.after tongue hygiene with as much gusto as keeping your teeth well-maintained.

Unlike your teeth that are hard and unyielding in normal circumstances, your tongue is very soft and flexible, unable to remain in a fixed condition for any period of time. This makes it is especially difficult to apply any meaningful pressure to it. In addition, it is the tongue's very position as the introductory organ leading to the gullet that causes an instinctive reflex reaction to occur whenever any great force is applied. Anyone who has ever tried to brush their tongue vigorously will have experience of making themselves gag.

By far the best method of ensuring that your tongue stays fresh and free of unhealthy bacteria is to employ the use of a tongue scraper. Unlike toothbrushes, tongue scrapers are certainly not in common parlance. Nevertheless, they can be easily tracked down at your local chemist or pharmacy. They actually cost considerably less than the average toothbrush.

Unlike brushing your teeth, scraping your toll does not necessarily have to be done on a rigid twice daily basis. The only rule of thumb you should adopt is that if you happen to come across any debris on your tongue, then you should remove it with the scraper. When using the scraper if you should notice that a lot of material is being removed, then simply repeat the process on a daily basis until this build-up appears to diminish.

Once you notice that the amount of foreign material being removed as tapered off, then by all means scale back your tongue scraping sessions. But while you certainly don't have to follow these actions every day, don't ever allow your tongue maintenance to completely full by the wayside.

When choosing the right outfit for daily wear, we often are befuddled if our pairings may turn out right or end up a disaster. Despite having studied multiple fashion icons, sometimes we may find ourselves stumped and staring at the pile of clothes on the bed, wishing you had a fashion advisor. Before we bring out the big guns, let us take a step back and remember our basics.

Most importantly, recall what compliments your body shape. If you are bottom heavy, you want to create a slimmer illusion to balance out your top. You may want to put on a loud top to draw attention away from your bottom but don't forget to accentuate your curves. If your curvy lacks the curves, it is safest to put on blouses with ruffles or frills and a pair of shorts or skirt to show off your legs.

Remember that every person's body shape is different and as such, you have different assets to flaunt. If you have a small waist, a simple shift with a fun belt wrapped around it will make you the envy of others. For girls with longer torsos, a high-waist mid-thigh length skirt or shorts will make balance it out. With petite or smaller stature girls, a maxi dress will work in your favor.

Lastly, don't forget that shoes and the right accessories go a long way in ensuring your outfit is completed. Keep your outfits simple if you are planning to display that gorgeous accessories but do not use too many; we want to look amazing and not like a walking Christmas tree. We can never go wrong with heels but think of your poor feet. If it will be a long day, ensure it is comfortable and appropriate for the places you are heading to. If you find yourself undecided, remember that ballet flats are the most versatile pieces you have to suit any formal or social events. 

As you check yourself in the mirror before exiting home, it really does put a spring in your step to witness a mouthful of white and well-maintained teeth flashing back from your reflection! So what are the key attributes of keeping those teeth in tip-top condition? Possessing a mouth containing clean and white-looking teeth is something most of us would aspire to. The reasons for this are twofold. Pleasant teeth make us look attractive – there is nothing more off-putting than a smile containing yellowing or non-existent teeth. Also, being fortunate enough to have white teeth is usually an indication that we are in good health, and is therefore a source of self-gratification.

Obviously one of the key factors that is going to influence the appearance of your teeth is what you actually put into your mouth. If you enjoy drinking red wine and black coffee, or smoking a number of cigarettes on a daily basis, then don't expect to be surprised when your teeth succumb to staining.

There are many other items that you can ingest that will also affect the colour of your teeth. A particularly nasty culprit is cola. Fizzy drinks such as cola contain, amongst numerous chemical additives, a lot of sugar. All these ingredients will have an adverse affect on the enamel coating of your teeth, making them more susceptible to discolouring. The same can be said for dark juices, as well as gravies and sauces.

A good rule of thumb is to consider the colour of whatever it is on your plate or in your glass. The chances are if it is dark prior to entering your mouth, there is every likelihood that it will cause a degree of staining.

So what can you do to counter the effects of ingesting dark material? If you must in babe on any of the aforementioned forbidden fruits, the obvious thing you can do is take steps immediately. The longer you leave your teeth untreated after a meal containing staining substances, the greater the timescale where your teeth will experience negative effects. Immediately after your meal, where possible, it would be ideal to rinse your mouth thoroughly with cold, fresh water.

For a more thorough treatment, there are bleaching agents that can be purchased over the counter from your local chemist, or from your dentist. Another recommended solution, although something not to everyone's taste, is to chew on sugar-free chewing gum. As well as removing the offending staining material from the interior of your mouth, this is excellent for producing a feeling of your mouth having been refreshed. Although gum can come in a variety of tastes, the best ones to go for are the traditional mint-flavoured versions.

Apples have been employed as a teeth-cleaning agent for a long period. They taste wonderful, but it is their crispy, juicy flesh that is great for giving your molars and incisors a good rinse. They are also conveniently popped into a pocket and can be eaten anywhere after you've had that enjoyable but dark coffee.

Like any other part of the human body, looking after your voice is something that must be considered with appropriate emphasis

especially heading into Christmas and the 2020 New Year. Here are our top tips for maintaining excellent voice care. Your voice is one of your most important attributes. From people who use it professionally in choirs, to lecturers, to telephonists, the range of people who actively rely on their voices for their livelihoods is incredibly diverse.

Warming up

Prior to any situation when you will be required to employ your voice, be that a speech or a musical solo, make sure that you keep your body warmed up with a series of stretches. This will help to ‘wake up the breath' before you actually get round to vocalizing. It is important that you keep your spine aligned, and release your knees and pelvis as you do your exercises, following this by releasing the tongue and jaw tension.

Looking after your body

It might not seem obvious but it crucial part of looking after of voice is to ensure that the rest of your body is adequately maintained. Sleep is nature's way of ensuring that we are always at our peak condition following day. If you are going to be in any situation at all where you are going to be required to use your voice, then make sure that you do get a good eight hours the previous night.

Avoid having to speak in loud environments, such as having to shout conversations against excessive background noise. Drinking plenty fluids will also help to lubricate your vocal chords. Avoid drinks that are extremely cold, fizzy or sugary. Cans coming straight from a vending machine are often extremely cold, but their heavy gas content is not ideal for thirst-quenching, let alone keeping your voice in peak condition.

You should always have one eye on the content of certain foods. Wheat products and baby are obvious examples of foodstuffs that can cause excessive mucus production. Avoid smoking, or at least cut down if you have this habit. This is one of the singularly most destructive influences on our voices. Leading on from this, it is best to try and avoid coughing excessively, or even having to clear your throat too much. This puts a lot of strain on your vocal chords. It is far better to try and gently lengthen the back of your neck, Keep your chin level and swallow slowly.

Vocal strain

The indications that your voice is under strain include the following:-

Do you feel pain in your throat when you swallow or when you speak?

First thing in the morning, do you have a sore throat that gradually disappears?

In the evening does your voice sound tired or is there an increase in the mucus at the back of your throat?

Are you aware of any rapid alterations in your voice pitch, or even loss of control of your voice?

Does your voice get easily tired?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you will have to consider what you can do to recover your voice. Rest is certainly the best procedure. Prior to any further public speaking or musical engagements hello your vocal chords at least a day to recover. Never be attempted to self-medicate by using sweets or medications apparently aimed at reducing your throat pain as a temporary precaution. Your voice needs a proper sensory recovery.