Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hygiene

Sorry in advance.

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:01:10 -0800

Inspired by the wiping technique thread from earlier today - what is the proper, best way to wash one's ass in the shower? Washrag? Loofah? Hands? Bar of soap? Something else I'm missing?

My parents never schooled me on this, and it's surprisingly undiscussed elsewhere on the internet. I'm looking for a combination of a) most efficiently cleaning, and b) getting as little fecal matter on yourself or other things as possible.

Ugly dirt marring expensive glasses

castironskillet — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:40:22 -0800

How do I keep the bottom edge of my half-frame glasses clean? This is my second set of half-frame glasses. The lenses are held in by means of a length of monofilament attached to each end of the frame and running along a groove in the bottom edge of the lens.

In my last pair, this groove and line collected dirt and became a visible dark line. I got a new pair on Monday and today noticed that there is already a spot of dirt trapped in the groove under the monofilament.

This must be a common problem? Do any of you have half-frame glasses and a successful method for keeping them clean?

No more facial soap bars, switching to liquid soap.

mtphoto — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:54:22 -0800

What kind of liquid facial soap do you recommend? I'd like to stop using facial soap bars to wash my face. I've used the Neutrogena "transparent facial bar" for several months, but I don't like how to bar melts away so quickly. What liquid facial soaps do you recommend?

I'm a guy, if that changes your suggestions at all.

Skirts and Rushes: a Medieval Mystery

taz — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:59:19 -0800

Drafty castles, stone construction, floors strewn with rushes, noble ladies' trailing gowns... Anyone who's read any historical fiction set in the Middle Ages is familiar with these popular Medieval motifs, but I have been troubled by a number of questions about these items. Perhaps we have some period history mavens who can ease my confusion? (Warning: Long! Strewn! Possibly moldy.) I was completely fascinated to find this page of notes about real life for the upper classes in the Middle Ages, and it addresses one of the things I've always wondered about. In fact, I came upon it while specifically searching for information about rushes as floor covering. In this piece, the author rejects the idea of loosely strewn straw-like rushes (in rich households), because of the impracticality of the ladies of the house, with their sweeping gowns, navigating such domestic terrain. She opines that what was actually used were woven mats made of rushes, which seems to make more sense, especially since woven/braided rush mats have been in existence since at least 4000 BC (scroll to the bottom) - and so why wouldn't these wealthy families have these instead of scattered rushes, at least in all the areas where the family members were likely to frequent?

Could "rushes" just have been shorthand for "rush mats" in some cases where we have recorded references to this practice?

Yet, Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote this about Medieval floors in England:

"The doors are, in general, laid with white clay, and are covered with rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for twenty years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish, and other abominations not fit to be mentioned. Whenever the weather changes a vapour is exhaled, which I consider very detrimental to health. I may add that England is not only everywhere surrounded by sea, but is, in many places, swampy and marshy, intersected by salt rivers, to say nothing of salt provisions, in which the common people take so much delight I am confident the island would be much more salubrious if the use of rushes were abandoned, and if the rooms were built in such a way as to be exposed to the sky on two or three sides, and all the windows so built as to be opened or closed at once, and so completely closed as not to admit the foul air through chinks; for as it is beneficial to health to admit the air, so it is equally beneficial at times to exclude it".

(I'm assuming "doors" is just a typo here, and should have been "floors.") Was he speaking of more common dwellings, instead of rich families who had the manpower to have the rushes at least changed quite regularly, if not replaced by much more practical woven mats that could be removed, shaken out and/or washed, allowing for the floor beneath to be cleaned?... not to mention solving the problem of "strewn rushes" being plowed through by trailing gowns, capes and cloaks?

But perhaps those lavish gowns and outer garments were rarely worn, for significant events and high social occasions only? Did even the most aristocratic ladies wear far more practical, floor-escaping dress in their day-to-day lives?

I've also wondered about dried rushes as flooring in castles where candles and lamps were the nighttime light sources, in combination with tapestries hung over the walls, curtained beds, etc... the stone floors and walls wouldn't have burned, but it seems like the inhabitants of those rooms would certainly have been at great risk.

And... of course, it doesn't take a modern mind to recognize that insects and vermin will quickly infest aging/moldy straw/rush debris. For poor people who spent every waking moment struggling to merely insure their basic survival, this is perhaps simply one of the many things that they didn't have the luxury to address, but what about the luckier few... what were their floors & rushes practices?

Also, I do understand we are talking about a period that spans centuries, and significant geographical and cultural differences - in a time when few were literate, so precise Best Practices manuals addressing something so mundane cannot be expected, but if you have more info, well... I'm oddly curious, and welcome any insights and/or links.

Do I really need to brush my teeth again after a little bit of Scotch?

zachawry — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:17:47 -0800

I like to sip a little bit of Scotch before going to bed, spending a few quiet minutes with a single malt, my browser, and some good music. I usually do this after brushing my teeth, and I really, really dislike going back to brush my teeth again before going to bed (it totally kills the pleasant pre-sleep buzz). I'm not sure how much sugar is in Scotch, but is this practice likely to lead to cavities over the long term?

Chip off the ol' molar

Riki tiki — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:00:53 -0800

How worried should I be about my chipped tooth? So I found this previous question, which is almost tailor-made to my situation as of tonight. I'll be following the "don't sweat it, maybe get some over-the-counter temporary filling" advice from that thread, so I'm less panicked about that than I was earlier tonight.

However, I am concerned about why it chipped. There was no impact, no particularly hard food that caused it. I was just flossing back there, felt a little snag and assumed it was a piece of food, and came back instead with two prongs of my top right molar. I have no pain or anything like that and my teeth look more or less fine, but is it possible that the looks are deceiving and my teeth are about to fall out en masse due to some unnoticed systemic decay?

I exaggerate a bit, but I am troubled. I'm currently without dental insurance, haven't been to a dentist in two+ years, and not in an awesome financial position to have to take on a bunch of medical bills.

Do I need to bite the bullet (not literally) and make an appointment even if it means my credit cards will have to wait a while longer to be paid off? Or is this something I can put a band-aid on (not literally) and postpone until I hopefully find a job with dental benefits in the nearish future?

Repair and maintenance of facial furze.

BadMiker — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:44:10 -0800

How should I look after my beard, and, when it's under control, what can I train it to do? I've had a beard for, well, forever but I've never found any 'products' I like using on it. It gets well washed every day with hot water and seems to be in grand condition; it's sleek and glossy and certainly doesnt smell or appear dirty but I don't use any soap or shampoo. Any time I've used shampoo or soap it gets dry, brittle and rough, and it distinctly loses its condition.

However, my partner has started to question me about this. She is of the opinion that I should be washing it a bit more thoroughly. I can't argue with this; surely my beard is one place I really should be washing the day's detritus out of? I wash everywhere else with soap/shampoo without ill effects, why is my beard different?

I'd also like to take control of my beard/tache a little more. Regular combing has helped make it a little tidier, but how would I train my facial ornamentation into something a bit more impressive?

He stinks and he knows it.

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:36:30 -0800

How can I get my husband to shower more than twice a month? My husband won't bathe or brush his teeth more than twice a month. I've tried everything I could think of; politely suggesting before work or bed, nagging, explaining how embarrassing and gross it is, even offering sexual rewards, but nothing has gotten him to improve his hygiene.

This is a habit he has lived with his entire life and obviously has no desire to change now. He knows it's gross and he knows I hate it. How can I get him to stay clean?

How to petition boyfriend about bedding?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:26:39 -0800

I could use some help figuring out how to phrase a request that my boyfriend give his bedding a spin in the laundry. We're pretty newly minted, and I understand the need for tact here, but I am blanking on the best way to say this. I'm not a crazy hygiene freak. While I'm definitely neater than he is (he has expressed concern about the disorganized state of his room as it affects me), I am not bothered by the clutter in his room on the floor, the desk, and other available surfaces. It doesn't even approach as bad as I've seen from older brothers and former roommates.

But, the last time I slept over the bedding was a bit rank, beyond what may have been partly due to activities recently conducted in and around it. I think there's a basic expectation of not being overwhelmed with unwashed blanket/sheet smell while trying to fall asleep, and I don't think I'm out of line in wanting to make that request. I just don't know how to say it exactly, and I'd like some help. I'm concerned here because -- given that we haven't been together long -- this would be the first time I would be asking him to alter any kind of behavior of his, completely under my own motives. And, obviously, this is kind of a touchy subject. I'm not overburdened with social graces to begin with -- my usual communication lists heavily towards forthright, frequently tinged with wry facetiousness.

I like him a lot, and want to make it clear that I don't think he's a gross and disgusting individual for this. Lighthearted, not-a-big-deal is I think the way to go, but I'm just... drawing a blank, possibly due to overthinking. Help me get the beans off this plate.

How exactly will my dentist fix these cavities?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:49:56 -0800

Cavities: I have one in both of my two front teeth, one of which is fairly significant. Both of them are on the outside edge of the respective teeth, and thus sandwiched between my front teeth and the teeth next to them. How will a dentist fix this? As a touring musician, hygiene sometimes takes a backseat. I know this is not acceptable, and it also has much to do with a significant lack of 'enforcement' about dental hygiene when growing up. Now that I have dental insurance, I've resolved to have my teeth fixed and to take care of them moving forward. As dentists make me nervous however, I would like to know what to expect in having these two cavities addressed.

Of my two front teeth, the one on the right (the #8 tooth) has a pretty significant cavity on the right side, which has also done a small bit of damage to the #7 tooth as well. There is absolutely no pain or sensitivity in this cavity (or the other for that matter), but it is quite embarassing and clearly needs to be addressed. I am quite certain that both of these cavities are due to infrequent flossing.

As I understand it, a dentist will clean this out or something and fill it, but I can't imagine how they will do that thoroughly with the #7 tooth hindering access somewhat, and also how they will repair the small amount of damage to the #7 tooth; once these are both addressed, will the repair look natural? Also, my #9 tooth has the exact same problem, but it hasn't quite created a hole yet. However, the dark discoloration is there and it is clear that a significant cavity is forming. With their not being a hole to fill there, will the dentist have to drill out the damaged portion of the tooth in order to fill it? Also, my #10 tooth was chipped quite severely a few years ago, so they extracted what was left of it and put a post and a crown in place which looks/feels great. As I assume that is somehow bonded, will they remove that crown in order to allow for easier access to the developing cavity on my #9 tooth.

My question is fairly broad in that I'd like to know what to expect as far as exactly how they will address these cavities, and what kind of pain and timeframe will be involved. I'd like to have it taken care of as soon as possible. I'm sure I have a few other cavities in my back teeth and such, and I'm probably long overdue for a cleaning, but if I request that my dentist address the front cavities first, will they oblige? Is there any chance that they could just knock me out and take care of these all at once?

Thanks, MeFites!

Parent Filter: What can I do about this parent/child role reversal that is poisoning my mind and my life and how can I let this parent know that even though I love them dearly I will not continue to let them manipulate me and dump all of their responsibilities on to my plate???

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:36:49 -0800

Parent Filter: What can I do about this parent/child role reversal that is poisoning my mind and my life and how can I let this parent know that even though I love them dearly I will not continue to let them manipulate me and dump all of their responsibilities on to my plate??? Long story short, my widowed mother (who is young by definition - late sixties) let her life go to hell in a hand basket. My DH and I moved her in with us so that we could give her care and keep her from living the horrible existence that she was (dirty house, unable to take care of the pets she had, not eating right - living off of crap - and not managing her severe diabetes). When we moved her in with us, my DH and I were both 27 years old and had only been married for 5 months. That was over 3 years ago.

She doesn't give a damn about her health and always has a convenient excuse to justify what she feels like doing or not doing. She almost put herself in a diabetic coma once because she didn't manage her diabetes even though the doctor had clearly ordered her to do so. Obviously it is perfectly fine to eat a huge tin of peppermint bark that you had hidden in your room and then try to balance it out with insulin injections.... Right! And she has so many health conditions (osteoarthritis, obesity, fibromyalgia, SEVERE diabetes and the many complications that are resulting from the diabetes) not to mention her appalling lack of self-maintenance and personal hygiene... Two months ago, she fell and broke her leg. She wound up in the hospital and had to have surgery to repair the break. This has left her as non-weight bearing for 3 months. She is obese and cannot walk without a walker when she has two legs to walk on. So she has had to go to a nursing home until she can rehabilitate but has been very unhappy about that reality and has tried to get out of the rehab requirement on more than one occasion. She actually told my husband and I that she would be fine if she would just sit at home in her recliner while we went to work and if we made her some PBJ sandwiches and a glass of water so she could make it through the day until we got home. This is crazy... We told her no and I don't think she gets it.....

She has alienated my other siblings through her master manipulator bullshit and as a result I have lost one of my siblings (no longer speaks to my mother or myself) and the other is only helping out/sticking around because they love me and want to support me/not leave me hanging. My mother has nothing to do all day long but sit around and read trashy novels, but somehow she can't seem to manage making her own doctor appointments (even though I set up a HIGHLY convenient calender which has everyone's schedule on it - hence eliminating the excuse of 'I can't make appointments since I don't know what your schedules are and someone has to take me to the doctor). Did I forget to mention that she quit driving for no particular reason?

My husband and I have REPEATEDLY sat down with her and told her that her current situation and methodology in handling it has been unacceptable. Take a shower, change your clothes, wash your hair, eat right, exercise wherever and however you can, and for the love of god, start acting like a member of the living human race!!! Now last time I checked, she was not declared mentally incompetent and I was not appointed as her guardian. In my mind, this means that my family and I do what we need to do in order to make her life at home comfortable within reason. This does not mean that I am supposed to be her personal assistant/secretary and that she can just sit back and be the Queen of Sheba with no responsibilities what so ever. It also does not mean that she can just sit there and let herself be filthy and stink just because it takes so much effort to take a shower. And god forbid she does take that shower and clean herself up! Then she can't do anything for the rest of the day because it "took so much out of" her...

Yes, I am at fault for allowing this behavior to go on for as long as I have. But I have had my awakening and I also have a infant son who needs his mother since he is in fact a baby and cannot take care of himself. Therefore here are the questions that I have at hand:

# 1 - How can I convey that I am done catering to her, that she is an adult and needs to be responsible for herself and that I am invoking the protective shield of self-preservation immediately?

#2 - Once I have established the bare minimum requirements for her, how do enforce them? I know that one thing I can use is "if you don't/can't meet these expectations then we aren't equipped to take care of you anymore". The only problem with that is that it will become an empty threat if used too much. What other repercussions can I use?

# 3 - How can I break free of her manipulation of me through guilt? I need to rid myself of those shackles in order to be strong and not allow further mind games by the master manipulator.

Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions that you might have or any suggestions you can offer. I've set up a throw-away email address at: preserving.my.sanity@gmail.com

Not buying this "cats are clean" nonsense...

Alabaster — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:42:15 -0800

Are cats really as clean as everyone says? ... because if I had a friend who crawled around on all fours in a sandbox full of his own urine and feces which he buried with his bare hands, I would not feel comfortable having that friend cuddle up against my face or walk across my kitchen table.

... and if a friend licked herself from head to toe I wouldn't exactly want to pet her. And if she licked her butt I wouldn't exactly want her licking my face afterwards.

... and if a friend sat bare-anussed directly on my pillow, I'd probably throw that pillow away.

But people always talk about how clean cats are. What gives?

Are they as nasty as they seem -- should I be following them around with a can of lysol and covering the surfaces of my house with plastic? Or is there some magic property I'm not aware of which makes them super clean??

Footcare for a non-bendy person.

ninazer0 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:07:16 -0800

A dear friend of mine is morbidly obese. He has a variety of medical issues which are mostly being addressed. He has several related issues that are not - mostly hygiene related. Help me help him. (possible squick inside). He has acute lymphoedema (swelling due to pooling fluid) in his lower legs and is constantly suffering from cellucitis (infection of the sub-dermis). However, because he cannot bend over (he can touch his knees...just) he cannot apply creams to the affected areas or handle dressings and wound coverings.

Worse still, his feet are totally uncared for and I believe it's affecting his health. His nails are long and cracking (one had cracked off and was bleeding when I was there last), the skin is flaky and dark - either from dirt or just the build-up of dead skin. Because his feet are also swollen, he wears sandals and the soles of his feet are calloused and his heels are cracking. What he needs is a podiatrist, but he can't afford one. I'd volunteer to give him a pedicure (I deal with my mother's crusty feet, so no biggie) but he is touchy about needing help and I don't want to make him more depressed than he already is.

Ideally, I would like to purchase products that will let him take care of himself, but I cannot seem to find anything suitable. Long-handled nail clippers exist but they just aren't long enough. And is there even a device that allows you to rub creams and so forth on hard-to-reach places??

I've got a loofah on an extra-long handle for scrubbing but need help with the other stuff.

I'm in Australia but would be willing to import products if necessary.

Help!

I sweat too much around my neck collar

Zeker — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:59:09 -0800

My neck sweats like crazy when I wear button up shirts with neckties. Is there a way to help with this? I have to wear button up shirts with neckties pretty often, and I live in a decent climate area (bay area, California) so it's not that hot.

I'm like 10 pounds overweight and not a sweaty person, but the neck area sweats like crazy and it feels very gross, and only when I wear formal clothing.

The days I wear formal attire come at about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. The neck area is NOT too tight (I can usually slip my index finger through the side of my neck without much effort.)

I constantly have to throw away shirts because even after being washed the neck area feels glossy and looks dirty. I'll be sitting down and feel disgusted about turning my neck because it feels like it's pressing up against a moist ice pack.

I've also tried about 3 different kinds of shirts (I don't recall the names, but they're easily found in JC Penny).

Anyone else had this issue? Is there anything that can help?

HygieneFilter: should I always use soap when washing my hands?

XiBe — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:56:19 -0800

HygieneFilter: must I always use soap when washing my hands? My view is, I take a shower every day, hence my hands are cleaned everyday, because I use them to soap-up the rest of my body. Soap on hand = clean hands.

So, no need to wash my hands with soap before/after usual daily tasks, only if I get my hands dirty (before&after eating a burger, after fixing a pipe, before cuddling a baby, after cuddling a dog). For other daily tasks, I tend to rely on a rule of thumb of a good wash up with water and an inversion of the 42 seconds rule (ahem).

Case in point: the g/f saw me just washing my hand (w/o soap) after a quick pee, and insisted on my using soap (not just water) everytime from now on.

While I know it's more hygienic to soap-up rather than just water-up my post-loo hands, I always felt I was able to tell when my hands needed more than just watering, and thus was able to go about my duties faster

I know she's right about it, obviously, but am I that much wrong about my asumption?

Riverfront Scrub-a-Dub

yellowcandy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:04:27 -0800

Complicated microbology/ecology conundrum: Just bought a little house on a river. The house has two big rocks that jut out into the water that are perfect to sit on...if it weren't for the poop on them (most in a thin, dried layer). Help me figure out a solution that maximizes sanitation and minimizes environmental impact... We think either deer, beavers or raccoons have been leaving their deposits on the rocks. Ideally, I would like to scrub the rocks clean with something that will kill any microorganisms left behind in the poop. BUT, because the rocks stick out into the water, I want to avoid using anything excessively toxic (i.e. bleach). What can I use to clean the rocks? One biologist friend recommended Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap (which has the added bonus of being repellent to future poopers), but I am sure there are other, possibly better solutions. What are they?

How to not pick at my face?

cachondeo45 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:23 -0800

Hygiene Filter: Picking my face, fingernails, and more. Well, this is slightly embarrassing, but I need to address this issue already, and no one else has been able to help me so far. I pick my zits, I peel my fingernail layers, and I pick scabs, especially when I am studying or reading or at the computer. I have had this dirty, unhygienic, and relatively gross habit since I can remember. I have a friend who will slap my hand any time I go to pick a zit, but when she's not around...well, I'm not even 30 yet and I am sure I will have a crater face in no time. I'm also sure this is partially related to my AD/HD (which I have been able to manage without meds). Suggestions for breaking this icky, grody, nasty, and rude habit?

Neil Simon's - The Odd Trio

SansPoint — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:05:32 -0800

My housemate's are terrible slobs, to the point where I'm about to snap. What can I do? Okay, I'm no Felix Unger, but my housemates would make Oscar Madison retch.

Neither of them seem to be capable of throwing things out, they leave dishes (99.8% of which belong to me) piled in the sink with food drying on them. One leaves bits of food all over the surface and floor when he eats. The floor of the ground floor is covered in bags of stuff from when one moved in in June. It's March now. The other's room exudes a smell of rot, body odor, and unknown things.

I've tried polite asks, angry rages, promises of rewards, threats of punishment... I'm about to take all the fucking dishes out of the cabinets and lock them in my room if they don't start cleaning them. The behavior does not change.

We move out in May. I'm worried we're not going to get our security deposit back. I'm thinking that the persistant cough that one has is a result of his appallaing living conditions in his room. What the hell can I do?

No, moving out is not an option. Don't even suggest it.

Alcohol free hygiene care?

fiasco — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:41:48 -0800

What are some hair conditioners and body lotions that do not contain any alcohol? I am looking for hair conditioners, hair shine serums (and/or anti-frizz hair lotions), body lotions, facial moisturizers, liquid hand soaps, and other hygiene products that do not contain any alcohol. It is necessary that the products are completely alcohol free. I'd prefer not to spend an arm and a leg on a bottle of lotion but due to lack of options, am willing to pay more than average. Also, non-online options are a definite plus as there is some urgency to this request.

What are your suggestions? Thanks.

How did primitive man cope with things like body oil, pimples, and cold weather?

gttommy — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:41:43 -0800

How did primitive man cope with things like body oil, pimples, and cold weather? Most people take showers regularly and wear warm clothes when its cold but if we don't we get ill. How did primitive man cope?

Before they were able to make warm clothing, did excess body oil keep them warm? Did they just get used to the cold like feral children? Did they sweat a lot, unclogging their facial pores, or did they suffer teenage acne problems too?

Explanations of areas I haven't covered is welcome.

Happiness is a warm puppy who's breath doesn't smell like ass.

miss lynnster — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:43:27 -0800

Bad dog breath... what helps? My dog has allergies and a sensitive stomach so I make a point to feed her dog food that's natural. Up until recently her breath has been absolutely lovely... although believe it or not, she also has always had a bit of a burping problem. It has always made me laugh more than anything, though. (She's a dainty little girl dog and always looks almost embarrassed when she burps. Hee!)

Anyhow, all of the sudden when she tries to lick my face I notice her breath is getting pretty stinky. And that's not quite so funny. She is 2 1/2 and has nice white teeth, so I don't think it's tooth decay. Because of her allergies it makes more sense to me that it might be diet... but I'm not sure what to do about it because I'm just glad I have found dog food she isn't allergic to. (When I first got her, she threw up the first three brands I tried.)

In the store, I see all sorts of green bones "for breath" and other stuff... Doggie mints, whatever. I don't know if any of them work. Is there anything natural that I could just add to her diet that would make her breath become better?

Ideas? Have you found anything simple and natural that might help my puppy's breath become fresh? 'Cuz otherwise she's not getting anywhere near my face, which is a bummer because she's freaking awesome.

As always, the obligatory photo of said stinky, dainty dog.

How to smell good without cologne?

Malad — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:14:45 -0800

As a guy, how do you smell really good without the use of cologne? Some people, I've noticed, have a great fresh smell to them, but I'm not sure how they get it. I try using scented soaps, but it doesn't give nearly as strong an effect. Is it lotion? Does skin type matter?

Cologne picking tips

joshuaconner — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:33:18 -0800

Cologne picking advice: it can't be as simple as "just pick what your like" or "bring a girl with you and buy what she likes"... can it?

I have black hairy tongue! Yikes! Advice?

cortex — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:10:24 -0800

Following some dental adventures, I seem to have some lingua villosa nigra, aka "black [hairy] tongue". Reportedly harmless, but is there anything (a) I should know or worry about, and (b) I can do to quash it on the double? I've found some documentation online [e.g. 1, 2, 3] which seems to match up with what I'm experiencing well: it's painless and otherwise asymptomatic, and I've been using a crazy powerful mouthwash for the last week as prescribed by my oral surgeon after an extraction last Tuesday.

My oral hygiene the last week is impeccable, and I haven't been flirting with any of the other commonly mentioned personal-habit causes other than a cup of coffee every other day. The bio-wasteland my mouthwash has brought on seems like the culprit.

I've set up an appointment with the mouth man for tomorrow evening, which will hopefully confirm that this is what's going on, but I'm curious what specific experiences folks have had with this, and if there's anything particularly helpful to do to de-funk my mouth besides the apparently standard advice of gentle tongue-brushing and mild peroxide rinses.

Ambient bad apartment smell?

everichon — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:28:22 -0800

We just bought a house with a separate, finished apartment. The apartment turns out to have a smell, and we can't figure out where it's coming from. The smell is bad: part must, part mildew, and part warmed catfood. So my questions are: 1. Does this smell sound familiar to anyone? (As in, "Oho, that's plainly mildew he's talking about; he should check the blah blah!") 2. Ways to pinpoint an ambient smell? I am going under the apartment this afternoon :( but if I i don't find any carcasses under there, I am out of moves.