Banishing Life’s Little Annoyances By Ashley Tate
How to get rid of unwanted things like coffee breath, weeds, and a charley horse.
Coffee Breath
The good news? Unlike onion and garlic odors, which enter your lungs and bloodstream, coffee breath can usually be curtailed by simply brushing your teeth and tongue, which are where odor-causing bacteria grow. A breath mint will mask the smell but only briefly. Can’t do either of the above? Fill your mug with water and give your mouth a swish.
Stomach Growls
If you suspect you should eat, you’re correct. “Your stomach is constantly churning, and it churns more when you’re hungry, producing a rumbling sound,” explains Joel Levine, M.D., former chair of the American College of Physicians Board of Regents. “But don’t chew gum. Swallowing air only exacerbates the sound.”
Water in Your Ear
Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, mixes equal parts rubbing alcohol (to dry) and white vinegar (to disinfect) in an eyedropper. Then she puts a few drops in the ear canal, waits 30 seconds, and drains it.
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