Brushing your teeth only once a day
When you skip twice-daily brushings, you increase your risk of developing tooth decay by 33 percent. Skipping a session also allows bacteria that cause gum disease to flourish, says Pamela L. Hunte, D.D.S., a dentist in NYC. If you’re in a pinch and have to choose once a day, brush before bed, Hunte says. “That way, the debris from the day won’t linger for eight hours.”
Scratching an itch
Attacking your itching spot with your nails will give brief relief, but the itch will come back fiercely.
Scratching triggers a small amount of pain that numbs the itch but causes the release of serotonin, which also carries the “I’m itchy” signal to the brain. So as the pain fades, the itch returns even stronger.
Not only will the itching sensation become even more intense, you risk opening up the skin and exposing yourself to infection. Try rubbing the area with your palm instead.
