<p><em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=25003&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fblack-chicken-remedies-cuprum-tongue-cleaner-copper-tongue-cleaner-1-pack-prod215920227%3Fecid%3DNMCS__GooglePLA%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_shopping%26adpos%3D1o1%26scid%3Dscplpsku182670843%26sc_intid%3Dsku182670843%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIyfLTjaSv4gIVB2SGCh0JHA-ZEAQYASABEgI4V_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ce55742021b4c7b2f1990c3-1200/nmc4v5cbz.jpg" border="0" alt="NMC4V5C_bz" data-mce-source="Neiman Marcus" /></a><p class="source"><span>Neiman Marcus</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I use a <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=25003&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fblack-chicken-remedies-cuprum-tongue-cleaner-copper-tongue-cleaner-1-pack-prod215920227%3Fecid%3DNMCS__GooglePLA%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_shopping%26adpos%3D1o1%26scid%3Dscplpsku182670843%26sc_intid%3Dsku182670843%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIyfLTjaSv4gIVB2SGCh0JHA-ZEAQYASABEgI4V_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$14 copper tongue scraper</a> every morning. </li><li>Tongue scrapers remove bacteria buildup on your tongue for better oral hygiene. Mainly, it means better breath. </li><li>Despite the fact that it sounds completely made-up, it's a pretty common practice. </li></ul><p>It might seem odd, but I spend about 30 seconds every morning standing in front of my bathroom mirror, scraping my tongue with a <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=25003&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fblack-chicken-remedies-cuprum-tongue-cleaner-copper-tongue-cleaner-1-pack-prod215920227%3Fecid%3DNMCS__GooglePLA%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_shopping%26adpos%3D1o1%26scid%3Dscplpsku182670843%26sc_intid%3Dsku182670843%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIyfLTjaSv4gIVB2SGCh0JHA-ZEAQYASABEgI4V_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$14 copper wishbone</a>.</p><p>It's called a tongue scraper, and its primary purpose on Earth is to remove the bacteria on top of tongues that account for <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1601-0825.2006.01350.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as much as 80% of bad breath</a>. It's also supposed to return tongues to their more aesthetically pleasing soft pink, and, in the long term, strengthen overall oral health by keeping the armies of pathogens in the mouth at bay. </p><p>While most of us are probably used to haphazardly pressing our toothbrush into the service of cleaning our tongues, toothbrushes are specifically designed to clean hard surfaces - like teeth - and not the soft muscle of the tongue. For that, you need something more rigid - like a copper tongue scraper - to literally scrape against its flexible top. But, beyond that, I found the idea of brushing bacteria into and around my tongue like a car wash, and undoubtedly onto the bristles of my toothbrush, prohibitively gross on its own. </p><p>After a friend recommended this copper tongue scraper repeatedly, I bought one. (Yes, someone loved this enough to mention a fairly gross ritual to me publicly, multiple times). Ever since, I feel a little queasy when thinking about how many years I went without it. Flossing and brushing are impactful, but once I started using a tongue scraper, it was immediately evident just how much I was missing.</p><p>I use the tongue scraper in the morning before I brush my teeth so I have the lowest odds of ingesting any of the natural buildup. To use, you scrape your tongue from back closest to your throat to the front, and then rinse your tool in warm water. Pretty much instantly, I noticed a difference: better color (who knew?) and more confidence throughout the day. While research is limited on the effectiveness of tongue scrapers, what has been published describes it as <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/expert-answers/tongue-scraper/faq-20057795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily effective</a>, though not a fix for ongoing, chronic halitosis. </p><p>You can pick up much cheaper options from Amazon, like <a href="https://amzn.to/2VJ1Eaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this $7 version</a> that inspired more than 1,000 people to sit down and write it a five-star review, but I went with the <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=25003&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fblack-chicken-remedies-cuprum-tongue-cleaner-copper-tongue-cleaner-1-pack-prod215920227%3Fecid%3DNMCS__GooglePLA%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_shopping%26adpos%3D1o1%26scid%3Dscplpsku182670843%26sc_intid%3Dsku182670843%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIyfLTjaSv4gIVB2SGCh0JHA-ZEAQYASABEgI4V_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$14 copper version</a> from Neiman Marcus for a few reasons. </p><ol><li>Copper is antibacterial. I didn't want to simply relocate the bacteria from my mouth to somewhere else. I wanted to get rid of it.</li><li>It looks nice, and if a tool for a relatively gross job can look nice, I've learned it often leads to me using it more frequently.</li><li>It comes with a small, simple traveling pouch so you can keep up with the practice on the road, and do so without stuffing a tongue scraper into a plastic Ziploc bag - the fastest way to lose your appetite for using it ever again.</li><li>At the end of the day, $7 more for something I don't mind being on-view in my apartment is $7 worth spending on building a habit. </li></ol><p>All in all, a $7 or $14 tongue scraper is not an essential purchase, but it is a relatively cheap and high-impact way to do away with anxiety over oral hygiene or bad breath hours after you've brushed at home. I bought one months ago, and it's quickly become a daily ritual. </p><h3><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=25003&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neimanmarcus.com%2Fp%2Fblack-chicken-remedies-cuprum-tongue-cleaner-copper-tongue-cleaner-1-pack-prod215920227%3Fecid%3DNMCS__GooglePLA%26utm_source%3Dgoogle_shopping%26adpos%3D1o1%26scid%3Dscplpsku182670843%26sc_intid%3Dsku182670843%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMIyfLTjaSv4gIVB2SGCh0JHA-ZEAQYASABEgI4V_D_BwE%26gclsrc%3Daw.ds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Chicken Remedies Cuprum Tongue Cleaner, $14</a></h3>  <p class="tagline"><p><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

I use this $14 tongue scraper every morning to combat bad breath, and it has actually made a difference

<p><em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><p><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cddb475021b4c0c8906e282-2400/am1before.jpg" border="0" alt="dirty Air Max 1 Jason Markk review" data-mce-source="Amir Ismael/Business Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Amir Ismael/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">My favorite Nikes that I nearly ruined.</p></div><p></p></div></div></em></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>I nearly ruined one of my favorite pairs of sneakers by stepping in a deep muddy puddle. To bring them back to life, I used the <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit</a>.</li><li>The <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$16 kit</a> includes a cleaning solution that's biodegradable and 98.3% natural, plus a synthetic bristle brush.</li><li>It's safe to use on all colors and works on suede, leather, mesh, plastic, and just about any other material you'd find on a pair of sneakers.</li><li>Below I'll walk you through the process of cleaning my shoes (with before and after photos) and provide instructions on how to use the solution.</li></ul><p>The <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=43272&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fstockx.com%2Fnike-air-max-1-anniversary-red-2017-restock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">white and university red Nike Air Max 1</a> is one of my favorite sneakers ever, and this very dirty pair is mine. I loved them, I wore them, and as you can see, I completely ruined them.</p><p>It all happened a few months ago on a cold, dark, and rainy morning when my misjudgment of a puddle left me ten toes deep in muddy water. As infuriated as I was, I had no choice but to wear them for the rest of the day - and when I did finally make it home, I immediately put them back in the box to just get them out of my sight.</p><p>After giving myself some time to recover from the punch in the gut that damned puddle delivered me, I decided it was time to bring my beloved sneakers back to life - and I chose to do it with <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cddc74b021b4c0adf136595-1229/untitled-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Jason Markk" data-mce-source="Jason Markk" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jason Markk</span></p><p class="caption">Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Jason Markk was founded in 2007 to provide sneakerheads who regularly resorted to harsh chemical-filled household cleaning products with a cleaning product specifically for footwear. While the brand now has an all-encompassing line of shoe care products including cleaning foam, wipes, and stain-repellent sprays, I stick to the <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premium Shoe Cleaner</a> because it's worked well for me over the last eight or nine years.  </p><p>Free of harsh chemicals or abrasives, the solution is 98.3% natural and completely biodegradable. It's safe to use on suede, leather, mesh, plastic, and just about any other material you'd find on a pair of sneakers. The kit also includes a synthetic bristle brush that's just hard enough to work away dirt without damaging materials.</p><h2>How to use the cleaner</h2><p>Before you begin cleaning, you should remove the laces from your shoes. It'll make cleaning the tongue and upper a lot easier. Plus, you'll want to clean the laces on their own anyway.</p><p>The first step is to wet the brush, put a small amount of the cleaning solution on the brush, and quickly dip the top of the bristles into clean water. Now, you're ready to start scrubbing away the dirt. As you scrub the shoes, the solution will begin to form soap suds. You should also have an old rag or towel that you don't mind getting dirty to wipe away the dirt and suds throughout the process. Repeat these steps as needed until the shoes are clean.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cdedf4d021b4c12be6b1f46-2400/img9119.jpg" border="0" alt="Jason Markk review" data-mce-source="Amir Ismael/Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Amir Ismael/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">The shoe on the left is untouched and still dirty, while the shoe on the right is free of dirt and stains after being treated with Jason Markk shoe cleaner.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Next, you'll want to clean the laces. I didn't get any mud on my laces, but I had never cleaned these shoes before, so they still had minor dirt and denim stains. I like to clean my laces by thoroughly rinsing them off with water and then filling the sink with a small amount of clean water and some <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaner</a>. All you have to do is work the cleaning solution and water into the laces with your hands. Think of it as washing your hands, but while holding the laces. Rinse them off once more and you're all done.</p><p>Give both the shoes and laces ample time to air dry (don't try to speed it up by throwing them in the dryer), and you'll be ready to lace them up.</p><h3>The final results</h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cdf18bb021b4c1f6268a1f3-2400/am1after.jpg" border="0" alt="Jason Markk review" data-mce-source="Amir Ismael/Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Amir Ismael/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">My favorite sneakers came back to life.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>As you can see, the mud stains are completely gone. Granted, they're not perfect as I've worn them a countless number of times, but they're definitely cleaner than before I stepped in the deep puddle. </p><p>Instead of <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=43272&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fstockx.com%2Fnike-air-max-1-anniversary-red-2017-restock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spending nearly $200 on a brand new pair</a>, which I wholeheartedly contemplated, this $16 shoe cleaner did the trick. I definitely recommend using <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Markk</a> to clean up your shoes if they're dirty from normal wear or from an accident - but these results should speak for themselves. </p><h3><a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=EHFxW6yx8Uo&amp;mid=1237&amp;murl=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fjason-markk-essential-shoe-cleaning-kit%2F3727266%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort%26breadcrumb%3DHome%252FAll%2520Results%26color%3Dnone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Markk Essential Shoe Cleaning Kit, $16, available at Nordstrom</a></h3><p class="tagline"><p style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

I nearly ruined my favorite sneakers with mud, but this $16 shoe cleaner brought them back to life - here's how it works

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bottled water can have an expiration date, though it's legal in the US to sell expired water.</li><li>Bottled water's expiration date warns when leached chemicals will begin to affect the water's taste.</li></ul><p>During a road trip, you take a big swig of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-facts-science-healthy-2017-4">water bottle</a> you bought at the last gas station. Despite the label's promise of a natural taste, a chemical flavor bathes your tongue. You examine the bottle and learn its sell-by date was a month ago.</p><p>You read that right: bottled water can have an expiration date. This date warns you when leached chemicals will begin to affect the water's taste. It <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/can-you-drink-expired-bottled-water-a4412553232/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doesn't tell you</a> anything about the level of toxic <a href="https://www.insider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics</a> in your drink.</p><p>The exact shelf life depends on the brand. A Fiji bottle can last <a href="https://www.fijiwater.com/blogs/faqs/what-is-the-shelf-life-for-fiji-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two years</a>, while those bulk packages of Nestle Pure Life bottles have a shelf life of only <a href="https://www.nestle.pk/ask-nestle/what-is-the-shelf-life-of-nestl%C3%89-pure-life#:~:text=Share%20this%20page-,What%20is%20the%20shelf%20life%20of%20NESTL%C3%89%20PURE%20LIFE%3F,18%20months%20for%20PET%20product." target="_blank" rel="noopener">three months</a>.</p><p>Before you turn the car around and confront the gas station clerk, you should know it's perfectly legal in America to sell water bottles past their best-by date. For the last 21 years, the FDA's stance has been that bottled water can <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065627/https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/BottledWaterCarbonatedSoftDrinks/ucm077079.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last indefinitely</a> if you store it properly.</p><p>However, improperly stored water can not only taste funky, but can also grow toxic or contaminated over time. It's important to know the difference between water that tastes "off" and water that could potentially make you sick.</p><h2>Chemicals leach into bottled water over time</h2><div type="image" title="Different sized plastic water bottles." height="1605" width="1868" msid="98949305" hostid="261" sizebytes="167678"></div><p>When bottled water grows stale, it's often because the bottle has begun to deteriorate, shedding microscopic chemicals into it.</p><p>These compounds may make your water taste like medicine, chlorine, or ozone, says <a href="https://www.bryanquocle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Quoc Le</a>, food chemist and author of "150 Food Science Questions Answered."</p><p>Every bottle sheds chemicals a little bit, just by virtue of being in contact with water. Some of these chemicals are more toxic than others, such as <a href="https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=1074" target="_blank" rel="noopener">antimony</a>, a chemical that can damage your stomach and intestines, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phthalate esters</a>, which can disrupt your endocrine system.</p><p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glass bottles</a> release less antimony and phthalate esters than plastic ones.</p><p>But most water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which tends to release the most antimony out of all common bottle materials.</p><p>But even PET bottles shouldn't release enough chemicals to make the water inside toxic. Over time, the water and the bottle <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reach a chemical equilibrium</a>, so only trace amounts of the compounds are present in your drink at any one moment.</p><p>Where you store your water can also impact your water's taste. According to the <a href="https://bottledwater.org/bottled-water-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Bottled Water Association</a>, plastic containers are slightly permeable, meaning air molecules may travel in and out of the bottle.</p><p>If you store bottled water next to, say, a bucket of house paint or drain cleaner, vapors from those household solvents could sneak into the bottle and alter the flavor inside.</p><p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Studies so far</a> say the amount of chemicals in expired water are typically below <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=165.110&amp;SearchTerm=bottled%20water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limits set by the FDA</a>. At least, so long as you've stored the bottle in a cool, dark place.</p><p>Hot water, you may remember from high school chemistry class, can dissolve larger amounts of chemicals than room temperature water.</p><p>Research shows PET bottles heated <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/141" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past 86 degrees Fahrenheit</a> can release an excessive amount of phthalate esters. Bottles heated <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653520319275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past 140 degrees Fahrenheit</a> can release dangerous levels of antimony.</p><p>So while an expired water bottle from the fridge may be safe to drink, the bottle you forgot in your hot car trunk or on a sunny shelf probably isn't.</p><h2>Harmful microbes can contaminate bottled water in rare cases</h2><div type="image" title="A person inspecting large water jugs." height="1414" width="2120" msid="98949307" hostid="261" sizebytes="215210"></div><p>On rare occasions, the stale taste of expired water could come from microorganisms. While bottled water companies go through rigorous processes to keep their products sanitary, accidents can happen.</p><p>For example, in April 2016 some <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/26/norovirus-outbreak-infects-thousands-in-northern-spain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business offices in Spain</a> received bottled spring water contaminated with <a href="https://www.insider.com/norovirus-outbreak-spread-contagious-infectious-disease-doctor-advice-2023-3">norovirus</a>. They put the tainted spring water in their office coolers, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 4,000 people</a> developed gastroenteritis symptoms like vomiting and fever.</p><p>In addition to viruses, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yeasts, molds, and bacteria</a> can also slip into the bottle, often during the packaging process or transport.</p><p>If you drink the bottle right away, the microbes probably won't have time to reproduce to any great extent. But if you leave a bottle <a href="https://bottledwater.org/bottled-water-storage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in sunlight</a> for an extended period, you'll create a warm, stable environment for them to multiply.</p><p>Quoc Le says <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-tap-water-contaminated-unsafe-2019-5">contaminated water</a> can have musty, moldy, marshy, sour, or rancid flavors. You may also see a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">light, slimy film</a> near the bottle's rim, since that's the main entrypoint for microbes.</p><p>If your water tastes like swamp, it could make you sick. How sick depends on your immune system and which microbes are in the water. While some microbes may give you fever or upset stomach, others could give you severe diarrhea that's enough to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128152720000143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">send you to the hospital</a>.</p><h2>What to do with an expired water bottle</h2><div type="image" title="A woman boiling bottled water." height="1414" width="2121" msid="98949308" hostid="261" sizebytes="130770"></div><p>If you're a frugal or environmentally-conscious person, you may wonder how to salvage your expired bottled water.</p><p>While you may be tempted to give expired water to your <a href="https://www.plantcelltechnology.com/pct-blog/plant-diseases-due-to-contaminated-water/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plants</a> or <a href="https://pure.hartpury.ac.uk/en/publications/microbiological-assessment-of-canine-drinking-water-and-the-impac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pets</a>, your idea may backfire, as the same contaminants that put your health at risk could also make them ill. They need clean water, too.</p><p>Quoc Le says you can filter your water through an activated charcoal filter, which should remove many of the contaminants. If you think microbes have infested your water, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/drinking-water-advisories/boil-water-advisory.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boiling it for one minute</a> should kill off almost all pathogens.</p><p>Even if your bottle is fresh out of the factory, experts <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/bottledwater.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don't recommend reusing it</a> unless the packaging explicitly gives the okay. Germs from your fingers and mouths can colonize the container, growing into a health hazard by the time you decide to refill the bottle.</p><p>Instead, you can simply throw the bottle in the recycling bin when you're done — no need to rinse it out or scrape off the label. The IWBA says glass and plastic bottles are both <a href="https://bottledwater.org/recycling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100% recyclable</a>. In fact, your bottle will likely be used to help create new bottles, which you can then purchase all over again — hopefully before the expiration date this time.</p>

Does bottled water go bad? When it's safe to drink expired water and what to do with a contaminated bottle

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The most common causes of <keyword id="25449" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="bad-breath">bad breath</keyword> include poor <keyword id="6385833" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dental">dental</keyword> hygiene, dry mouth, food, and tobacco.</li><li>Brushing, flossing, taking care of your gums, and staying hydrated are a few bad breath remedies.</li><li>Chewing gum, drinking green tea or apple cider vinegar, and eating fruit are some quick fixes.</li></ul><p>The bad news is everyone, at one time or another, gets a case of <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-that-can-cause-bad-breath-2019-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bad breath</a>, or halitosis. </p><p>An understandable source of anxiety and shame, stinky breath makes conversations a little less enjoyable for all parties involved - especially if you don't realize it.</p><p>But here's the good news: It's a problem that's easy to fix.</p><p>Along with improving your oral hygiene routine, it's helpful to gauge why exactly you get bad breath - whether it's a persistent issue or not - and then make the proper adjustments accordingly. </p><h2>What causes bad breath?</h2><p>Many factors contribute to bad breath, most of which begin in your mouth. The most common causes include: </p><ul><li><strong>Poor dental hygiene: </strong>If you don't brush or floss daily, not only do you miss getting rid of food particles in between your teeth, you risk plaque buildup, the sticky film of bacteria that coats your teeth. This bacteria can lead to bad breath, as well as cavities and gum disease.</li><li><strong>Foods:</strong> Any food that collects on and between teeth can be the culprit of bad breath, but <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-benefits-of-garlic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">garlic</a> and onions can especially produce foul odors. </li><li><strong>Dry mouth: </strong>Saliva helps keep odors at bay naturally by killing bacteria and neutralizing the acids produced by plaque. Also, some medications cause dry mouth. In that case, you might ask your physician if there is an alternative medication you can try.</li><li><strong>Tobacco products: </strong>Not only does smoking omit an unpleasant odor, but it also dries out your mouth. Smoking is also one of the most <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/periodontal-gum-disease.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading causes of gum disease in the US</a>.</li><li><strong>Other ear, nose, or throat conditions: </strong>Sometimes bad breath is a result of other conditions like diabetes, postnasal drip, and acid reflux. </li></ul><p>Depending on what's causing your bad breath, there are various ways to treat it. In general, the key is good dental hygiene and optimum personal <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>.</p><p>Eliminating food particles in places where foul-smelling bacteria grow is a must. Here are some of the key ways to keep your breath fresh and your mouth clean.</p><h2>Brush and floss properly </h2><p>Sometimes the most obvious fix is the one that works. Most experts say good oral hygiene, and as a result, pleasant breath, starts with <a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-battling-bad-breath/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proper brushing of your teeth</a>, especially after meals. According to the <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/bad-breath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Dental Association (ADA)</a>, after you eat, bacteria feed on the food left in your mouth, leaving a foul-smelling waste product behind. At a minimum, <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day</a>. </p><p>Like brushing, <a href="https://www.insider.com/gums-bleed-when-flossing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flossing</a> removes food particles and plaque, where bacteria can flourish. It's important to floss to reach and remove debris that causes plaque, the sticky film that forms in between your teeth. Once plaque hardens, it becomes tartar which causes <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gum disease</a>. Only your dentist can remove tartar buildup. The ADA says flossing is an <a href="https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2016-archive/august/statement-from-the-american-dental-association-about-interdental-cleaners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">essential oral hygiene practice</a>, and you should floss or use another <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-flossing-alternatives#best-string-free-floss-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interdental cleaner</a> at least <a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-battling-bad-breath/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">once a day</a>. </p><h2>Take care of your gums</h2> <p>Stubborn bad breath or a lingering bad taste in your mouth can be a symptom of <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">periodontitis</a>, commonly known as <a href="http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gum disease</a>. <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/halitosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the ADA</a>, deeper pockets around teeth caused by gum disease can create places in your mouth where extra bacteria hides and is hard to clean. This can result in halitosis.</p><p>Gum disease is generally caused by poor oral hygiene but is easily preventable by brushing teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling dental appointments regularly. Using mouthwash daily can help clean gums, too.</p><h2>Scrape your tongue</h2><p>If you have a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tongue-scraper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tongue scraper</a> and some privacy, scraping your tongue can help reduce instances of bad breath because it removes <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bad-breath/expert-answers/tongue-scraper/faq-20057795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surface</a> bacteria that contribute to the foul odor, says <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers?service=Internal%20Medicine&amp;location=La%20Crosseosse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jenna Bauer</a>, DNP, an internist at the Mayo Clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin. </p><p>Tongue scrapers can remove the bacteria that account for up to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1601-0825.2006.01350.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of bad breath</a>, and improve overall oral health by reducing the amount of pathogens in your mouth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it may even do a <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-tongue-scraping-actually-work-and-should-i-be-doing-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">better job on bad breath</a> than brushing.</p><h2>Stay hydrated</h2><p>Aside from getting rid of food residue, <a href="https://www.insider.com/benefits-of-drinking-water">drinking water</a> helps fight bad breath in other ways. "<a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-battling-bad-breath/">Drinking water</a> is very helpful because it routinely neutralizes the bacteria and hydrates our bodies, aiding with saliva production," says <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/15061-betty-haberkamp">Betty Haberkamp</a>, DDS, a dentist at the Cleveland Clinic. Since bad breath is frequently caused by having a dry mouth, <a href="https://www.insider.com/easy-ways-to-drink-more-water-2018-10">drinking water</a> is an easy natural antidote.</p><h2>Get regular dental checkups</h2><p>Persistent bad breath can be a warning about other health issues. <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/bad-breath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scheduling regular checkups with your dentist</a> can help to diagnose more serious health issues. Your dentist can then refer you to the appropriate doctor if necessary. <a href="https://www.insider.com/sinus-infection-vs-cold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sinus problems</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/home-remedies-for-acid-reflux" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gastric reflux</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-diabetes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">diabetes</a>, and liver or kidney disease may also contribute to bad breath so it's important to find the root cause of the problem.</p><h2>Lifestyle changes and on-the-go remedies</h2><p>If you're at the office or in a social situation without easy access to a glass of water, a bathroom sink, or your toiletries, here are simple methods that may surprise you - and get the job done. </p><ul><li><strong>Chew gum: </strong>Sugar-free <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/adults-under-40/healthy-habits/valentines-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gum</a> can fight bad breath because chewing stimulates saliva production, says Bauer. It also helps in general with odors after eating and to prevent dry mouth, says <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers?service=Internal%20Medicine&amp;location=Albert%20Lea0Lea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dhauna Karam, MD</a>, an internist at the Mayo Clinic. </li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-rid-of-toothache" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Use a salt water rinse</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Much like drinking regular water, a salt water rinse can remove stray food particles. The salt also kills bacteria that cause bad breath, Bauer says. For people who are sensitive to alcohol-based mouthwash, it's a simple, cost-effective alternative. However, people with elevated blood pressure should avoid salt water rinses, and use a non-alcohol-based rinse instead. If too concentrated, the alcohol in mouthwash can sometimes dry out or burn gums.</li><li><strong>Drink green tea: </strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/drinking-tea-at-least-3-times-week-might-help-you-live-longer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green tea</a> contains antibacterial properties, including polyphenols, which may help combat smelly breath, Bauer says. Polyphenols help to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath, as well as the <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/uoia-tfb051403.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bacteria's ability to produce unpleasant-smelling compounds</a>. </li><li><strong>Drink </strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-milk-bad-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>milk</strong></a> or<strong> eat </strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/is-greek-yogurt-good-for-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>yogurt</strong></a>: Over the long term, if you're not <a href="https://www.insider.com/lactose-intolerance-signs-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lactose intolerant</a>, consuming milk and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-are-probiotics-benefits-bad-for-you-2018-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yogurt</a> may improve your breath because they can help the gastrointestinal<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-yogurt-2012-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> tract</a> stay in order, Bauer says. However, for a quick fix, the natural probiotics that exist in yogurt, while healthy, do not help eliminate the bacteria in the mouth, says Haberkamp. </li><li><strong>Drink apple cider vinegar</strong>: Vinegar kills bacteria in the mouth, which helps combat bad breath, says Bauer. Add approximately one to two spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water to help <a href="https://www.galvezdentalstockton.com/bad-breath-home-remedies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">balance the PH levels in your mouth</a>.</li><li><strong>Chew fennel seed or anise:</strong> The seeds can neutralize odors, help with digestion, and increase saliva, says Bauer.</li><li><strong>Eat fruit</strong>: Oranges, apples, and other fiber-rich fruits and vegetables can cause more saliva to be created, causing bacteria to be washed away in the mouth, says Bauer. In addition, vitamin C helps with maintaining <a href="https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/mucus-our-bodys-silent-defender/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good mucus</a> in the mouth, Karam says.</li><li><strong>Take zinc</strong>: This mineral can help combat bad breath in two ways. First, it helps stop the buildup of sulfur compounds that cause bad breath, says Bauer. Second, it helps prevent tooth decay and prevent cavities, says Karam.</li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2><p>Though frequently normal, chronic unpleasant breath should be taken seriously.</p><p>"It can be a sign that something more sinister is happening in your mouth if it persists for a long period of time. Practicing consistent, good <a href="https://www.insider.com/dentists-top-4-pet-peeves-dr-google-charcoal-toothpaste-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oral hygiene</a>, which includes brushing two times a day - including your tongue - and <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-flossing-alternatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flossing daily</a>, is the most effective method to prevent dental disease and bad breath because it reduces the amount of bacteria present in the mouth," Haberkamp says. </p><p>Rinsing food particles and bacteria out of the mouth with mouthwash, salt water, water, or green tea can offer a quick fix to bad breath as well as hydrate the mouth and increase the stimulation of saliva. Gum can also help, if you have it handy, just make sure it's sugarless so that it doesn't cause cavities or bacteria, both of which can cause bad breath.</p><p>Overall, "limiting soda and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-happens-when-you-eat-too-much-sugar-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sugar consumption</a> is also an important method for keeping bacteria and bad breath at bay," says Haberkamp.</p><h2>Related stories from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/are-electric-toothbrushes-better" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manual vs. electric toothbrushes: Which is better for your teeth, according to dentists</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-stop-grinding-teeth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 tips to help you stop grinding your teeth</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/does-baking-soda-whiten-teeth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does baking soda whiten teeth? It can, but toothpaste is a better option - here's why</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-whiten-teeth-naturally-at-home">How to whiten your teeth naturally, with at-home methods</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/signs-your-teeth-arent-healthy-2019-2">10 signs your teeth aren't as healthy as you think they are</a></strong></li></ul>

The most common causes of bad breath and how to get rid of it fast and easily

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>There's plenty to be said for the classic manual toothbrush: It can't run out of batteries, and it's compact, lightweight, and portable. </strong></li><li><strong>The </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/31YREgh" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Oral-B Pro-Health All-in-One Soft Bristle Toothbrush</a><strong> is our top pick because its myriad bristle types and built-in tongue, cheek, and gum cleaners leave your whole mouth clean and fresh.</strong></li></ul><p>Ubiquitous though they may be, the humble modern toothbrush is nothing to be taken for granted. Up until the middle of the 20th century, many toothbrushes were still being made with hog bristles. Today, many toothbrushes pack more technology into a slender cylinder than was present in a midcentury automobile or aircraft.</p><p>But even in the days of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-electric-toothbrush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high-tech electric toothbrush</a>, there is yet room at the table for the classic manual toothbrush, too. Some people simply prefer the feel and the function of a manual toothbrush, swearing by its oral cleaning abilities. Other people might have teeth or gums too sensitive for a motorized, electric brush. The traveler might choose a manual toothbrush because it can't run out of power. And then there's always the need to have a few spare toothbrushes on hand for those impromptu sleepovers or for the house guest who forgets to pack a toothbrush.</p><p>There's also the fact that manual toothbrushes cost a fraction of the price of electric toothbrushes and are usually cheaper even than just the replacement heads electric options require. </p><p>We chose a variety of manual toothbrushes, from the low-cost disposable brush to keep on hand for guests to the Cadillac-level manual toothbrush that the classic oral hygiene aficionado. Read on in the slides below for our top picks.</p><h2>Here are the best manual toothbrushes you can buy:</h2><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Best toothbrush overall: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZ6V00W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_030918_best-toothbrush-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B01KZ6V00W&amp;linkId=1d63232f81e90907dce4c66e1ca7b7e0" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nofollow nofollow">Oral-B Pro-Health All-in-One Soft Bristle Toothbrush</a></li><li><strong>Best disposable toothbrush: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU4LNBG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_030918_best-toothbrush-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00AU4LNBG&amp;linkId=447160616f5d7e03b93b7bea3b764646" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">SmileMakers Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes</a></li><li><strong>Best low-cost toothbrush: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7HPNHS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_030918_best-toothbrush-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00I7HPNHS&amp;linkId=6e4789f6bbc824ee09fe072f4f41b0ab" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nofollow">Colgate Premier Extra Clean Toothbrushes</a></li><li><strong>Best toothbrush for toddlers: </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WVH55F/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipgf_030918_best-toothbrush-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B073WVH55F&amp;linkId=829304c1e367e34b4e1bb04c16ef298a" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nofollow">Fridababy SmileFrida Toddler Toothbrush</a></li></ul><p><em>Updated by Lisa Sabatini on 10/28/2019: Updated links, prices, and text.</em></p><p class="tagline"><a href="/intelligence/digital-health?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_subscription&amp;itm_content=health&amp;itm_campaign=digital-health-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecc56ad2b472c2b7bbbd5" alt="Digital Health Pro" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a><p>Featured Digital Health Articles:<br />- <a href="/telehealth-industry-explained">Telehealth Industry: Benefits, Services &amp; Examples</a><br />- <a href="/value-based-care-pay-for-performance-healthcare-model">Value-Based Care Model: Pay-for-Performance Healthcare</a><br />- <a href="/senior-care-market-trends">Senior Care &amp; Assisted Living Market Trends</a><br />- <a href="/wearable-technology-healthcare-medical-devices">Smart Medical Devices: Wearable Tech in Healthcare</a><br />- <a href="/artificial-intelligence-healthcare">AI in Healthcare</a><br />- <a href="/remote-patient-monitoring-industry-explained">Remote Patient Monitoring Industry: Devices &amp; Market Trends</a></p></p>

The best toothbrushes

<p>Prices are accurate at the time of publication.</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>The best way to light a charcoal grill is with a chimney starter.</li><li>If you don't have a chimney starter, layer charcoal over newspaper and ignite with a long lighter.</li></ul><p>Starting a charcoal grill isn't quite as straightforward as turning on a stove, so Matt Groark of <a href="https://groarkboysbbq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Groark Boys BBQ</a> and Liam and Myles Snider of <a href="https://www.mylessnider.com/building-mother-tongue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mother Tongue</a> break down the steps below, along with the do's and don'ts.</p><p>Below you'll find easy step-by-step instructions to light a grill, whether you're using a chimney starter, lighter fluid, or no lighter fluid at all, plus how you should go about arranging your coals for a perfect cook. </p><h2><strong>What you'll need</strong></h2><ul><li><p>Lump charcoal or briquettes</p></li><li><p>Charcoal lighter cubes or newspaper</p></li><li><p>A long lighter</p></li><li><p>A charcoal chimney starter (optional but recommended)</p></li></ul><h2><strong>How to choose the right charcoal</strong></h2><p>When choosing charcoal you'll want to find the right type for whatever it is you are <keyword id="11910989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking" source="Orion">cooking</keyword>. Lump charcoal burns cleaner, hotter, and faster, while traditional briquettes burn slower and not as hot, according to Groark.</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 177px;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Lump Charcoal</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Briquettes</td></tr><tr style="height: 45px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 45px;">Irregularly shaped charcoal made from natural hardwood</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 45px;">Similarly shaped pieces of compressed coal dust or other combustible material</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Less ash</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">More ash</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Hotter burn</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Cooler burn</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Faster burn</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Slower burn</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Natural and more expensive</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Less expensive</td></tr><tr style="height: 22px;"><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Good for shorter cooks like vegetables, thin-cut meats, etc.</td><td style="width: 50%; height: 22px;">Good for longer cooks like steak, full birds, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>The best charcoal for <keyword id="12068445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="grilling" source="Orion">grilling</keyword></h2><div type="image" title="best charcoal for grilling" height="819" width="1093" msid="91842820" hostid="261"></div><p>Whether you are using lump charcoal or briquettes, our guide to the <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-charcoal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best charcoal for grilling</a> will help get your grill fired up.<br /><br /></p><ul><li><strong>Best briquettes:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FRoyal-Oak-Ridge-Premium-Charcoal-Briquets-15-4-lb%2F52549018" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Royal Oak Ridge Briquettes, $28.78 at Walmart</a></li><li><strong>Best lump charcoal:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FFogo-FHWC35LB-35-Pound-All-Natural-Premium-Hardwood-Lump-Charcoal-Bag%2F631270987" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Fogo All Natural Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal, $55.95 at Walmart</a></li><li><strong>Best budget briquettes:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FKingsford-Original-Charcoal-Briquettes-Bbq-Charcoal-For-Grilling-18-Pounds-Each-Pack-Of-2%2F785673649" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Kingsford's Original Charcoal Briquettes, $19.88 at Walmart</a></li><li><strong>Best for ceramic grills:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.acehardware.com%2Fdepartments%2Foutdoor-living%2Fgrills-and-smokers%2Fcharcoal%2F8368847" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Kamado Joe Natural Lump Charcoal, $31.99 at Ace Hardware</a></li></ul><h2>How much charcoal to use depends on your goals</h2><p>Just as the type of charcoal may vary depending on what you are cooking, the amount of charcoal also changes depending on the temperature and cook time necessary for your dish. For most everyday cooks, Groark recommends half to 3/4 of a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kingsford-Grilling-BB0466-Chimney-Charcoal/dp/B07TM721ZS?th=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">charcoal chimney</a>. </p><p>While half to 3/4 of a chimney is a pretty safe rule of thumb, remember: too little charcoal could mean your grill doesn't get hot enough while too much charcoal could mean it gets too hot. </p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Use less charcoal if you're cooking low and slow. Use more for fast, hot cooks.</p><p>If you don't have a chimney, use as much coal as you need to cover the bottom of whatever space you are cooking atop. If the charcoal starts to burn down on longer cooks, add more to the pile and keep grilling.</p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 25%;">Amount of Charcoal</td><td style="width: 25%;">Temperature</td><td style="width: 25%;">Cook Time</td><td style="width: 25%;">Grill Size</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;">¼ chimney</td><td style="width: 25%;">Low heat</td><td style="width: 25%;">Slow</td><td style="width: 25%;">Small, Medium, or Large</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;">½ to ¾ chimney</td><td style="width: 25%;">Medium heat</td><td style="width: 25%;">Moderate</td><td style="width: 25%;">Medium or Large</td></tr><tr><td style="width: 25%;">¾ to 1 chimney</td><td style="width: 25%;">High heat</td><td style="width: 25%;">Fast</td><td style="width: 25%;">Large</td></tr></tbody></table><h2><strong>How to use a charcoal chimney </strong></h2><h2><strong style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px;"><div type="image" title="Charcoal chimney starter sitting inside a grill" height="1413" width="1884" msid="91842822" hostid="261"></div></strong></h2><p>Charcoal chimney starters are the preferred way to start a charcoal grill for most people. To start a charcoal grill using a chimney starter:</p><p><strong>1. Fill the chimney with charcoal.</strong> Add as much charcoal as necessary for the food you're cooking (see chart above).</p><p><strong>2. Place lighter cubes, newspaper, or paper towels under the chimney.</strong> Add one of these to the chamber underneath the chimney. This will serve as your starter.</p><p><strong>3. Light the starter.</strong> Use a long lighter to spare your fingers. If you're using newspaper or paper towels, consider adding a few drops of cooking oil to help ignite it.</p><p><strong>4. Wait for the charcoal to ignite.</strong> This should take about 12 to 15 minutes. You'll eventually see an amber glow and the top layer of charcoal will turn grayish-white.</p><p><strong>5. Dump the lit charcoal into the grill.</strong> Once ignited, carefully dump the lit charcoal into the grill (under the grate) in your preferred arrangement (see below) and begin cooking.</p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Aside from newspaper and paper towels, Doritos are another household item that can help light your charcoal since they are surprisingly flammable, Groark says.</p><h2><strong>How to light charcoal without lighter fluid or a chimney</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Hand-lighting charcoal inside a grill with a lighter" height="1407" width="1877" msid="91842824" hostid="261"></div><p>If you don't have a chimney starter, another reliable, yet simple option for starting a charcoal grill is the newspaper method. </p><p><strong>1. Place newspaper under the grill grate.</strong> Ball up newspaper and place it wherever you wish to place your charcoal. If you plan to have multiple heat zones, place the newspaper in each location charcoal will be. Sprinkle a bit of cooking oil on the newspaper to help it ignite.</p><p><strong>2. Arrange the charcoal around the newspaper.</strong> Use enough charcoal to cover the newspaper sufficiently while still allowing airflow to encourage ignition.</p><p><strong>3. Light the newspaper.</strong> Find a piece of exposed newspaper and light it with a long lighter. Remember to light your newspaper in every zone you established.</p><p><strong>4. Wait for the charcoal to ignite.</strong> This will take a bit longer than it would with a charcoal chimney but the charcoal should all ignite within about 15 minutes. Keep your grill open to let oxygen feed the fire. You're ready to grill once your charcoal is grayish-white.</p><h2><strong>How to start a charcoal grill with lighter fluid</strong></h2><p>According to the experts, this is the least recommended of the three charcoal grill starting methods. Not only can it be dangerous, but it can also affect the taste of your food if not executed properly.</p><p>According to the Snider brothers, "many brands of lighter fluid are known to contain harmful chemical compounds that don't break down easily," which means they may end up in your food and potentially even make your food taste bad. For the same reason, they also suggest avoiding instant-light charcoal.</p><p>Should this be your only option, though, Groark reassures that, "As long as you allow [the lighter fluid] to burn off to that amber glow, you will taste nothing but that classic charcoal flavor."</p><p><strong>1. Arrange charcoal on the grill. </strong>Place your charcoal in your preferred arrangement.</p><p><strong>2. Douse the middle of the pile(s) in lighter fluid.</strong> Use approximately 1/4 cup of lighter fluid per pound of charcoal.</p><p><strong>3. Light with a long lighter.</strong> Let the lighter fluid soak in for about 30 seconds first, and back up when lighting in case of a flare-up.</p><p><strong>4. Let the charcoal burn until it is grayish-white.</strong> This should take about 15 minutes.</p><p><strong>Warning:</strong> Never pour lighter fluid on hot or burning coals, even if there's no visible flame.</p><h2><strong>How to arrange your charcoal for optimum temperature control</strong></h2><p>Now that you know how to light your charcoal, you'll also want to choose the best charcoal arrangement to properly prepare whatever food you are grilling.</p><div type="image" title="how to arrange your charcoal@150x" height="1875" width="2501" msid="91842826" hostid="261"></div><h3><strong>Simple one-zone arrangement</strong></h3><p>Charcoal is arranged in a bed across the entire bottom of the grill. This is the most basic configuration but provides only direct heat.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For grilling only food(s) that require direct, fast cooking.</p><h3><strong>Classic two-zone arrangement </strong></h3><p>Charcoal is arranged in the center of the grill or off to one side. This creates a two-zone configuration with a "hot zone" for searing and fast cooking over direct heat and a "cool zone" for slower cooking and resting foods over indirect heat. "[The cool zone] also gives you an area to move your food in case of flame flare-ups," the Sniders say.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For grilling a variety of foods that require different temperatures and time cooking or to have the flexibility of being able to control the temperature as you grill.</p><h3><strong>Snake method</strong></h3><p>Unlit charcoal is arranged in a 300-degree circle around the perimeter of the grill with no charcoal in the middle. Lit charcoal briquettes are added to either end of the "snake" to ignite the charcoal over time and maintain steady heat for a long cook.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For slow cooking or smoking foods for a long period of time.</p><h3><strong>Minion method</strong></h3><p>Unlit charcoal is arranged around a center pile of lit charcoal. The unlit charcoal slowly ignites over time for a steadier slow cook.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For slow cooking or smoking foods for a long period of time.</p><h2><strong>When is charcoal ready to grill?</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Lit charcoal" height="1413" width="1885" msid="91842828" hostid="261"></div><p>When the charcoal turns grayish-white, you'll know it's ready to begin cooking. If you start grilling before this, the Sniders point out that the biggest consequence will be less heat.</p><p>"One of the biggest advantages of charcoal grills versus stovetops is that charcoal can get much hotter," the brothers say. "This allows you to achieve an incredible sear on <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-steaks-for-grilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meats</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/grilled-vegetables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vegetables</a> and creates new reactions that develop deep flavor. If you don't wait long enough for your charcoal to light up, you won't get this advantage."</p><p><strong>Charcoal grilling safety tips<br /><br /></strong></p><ul><li>Never leave your grill unattended.</li><li>Avoid excess grease or oil, which can cause flare-ups.</li><li>Never douse your coals in lighter fluid once they are lit.</li><li>Learn how to control the heat by adjusting the vent. A closed vent means less airflow and, therefore, lower temperatures. Alternatively, an open vent means more airflow and higher temperatures.</li><li>Keep a "cool zone" on your grill with no charcoal beneath it so you can move your food if any flare-ups occur.</li><li>Position your grill away from bushes, trees, your house, or anything else that could catch fire if hit by accidental sparks or flames.</li><li>Be sure coals are extinguished before disposing of them.</li></ul><h2><strong>How to put out a charcoal grill</strong></h2><p>Putting out your grill after you're done cooking on it is the safest and most economical action you can take. Not only are you taking steps to prevent accidental fires, but you might end up with some leftover charcoal to use for future grilling escapades. </p><p>Here's the <a href="https://www.hpba.org/Consumer-Information/Barbecue-Outdoor-Living/Grill-Safety/Charcoal-Grill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">safest way</a> to put out a charcoal grill: </p><p><strong>1. Put the lid on the grill. </strong>To extinguish coals once you are done cooking, put the lid on the grill and shut the vents to prevent oxygen from feeding the coals. </p><p><strong>2. Let it cool and safely dispose. </strong>After you have waited for the charcoal to cool completely, which can take up to 48 hours, you can safely dispose of them. Once the ashes are cool, wrap them in aluminum foil and put them in the trash.</p><p><strong>3. Clean your grill. </strong>From here, you can give your grill a good <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/how-to-clean-a-grill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cleaning</a> to get it ready for your next meal.</p><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> Though you might be tempted to douse your hot charcoal in water, it's safer to avoid this method, as it can disperse ash and burning-hot steam.</p><h2><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h2><p>Though it may seem intimidating, lighting a charcoal grill is simple. Choose the charcoal type, lighting method, and amount that works for the food you are cooking and the size of your grill. Then decide how to arrange the charcoal in the grill.</p><p>Experts agree that using the chimney starter lighting method and cooking on a classic two-zone arrangement will give you the most control over safety, temperature, and amount of time grilling.</p><p>Above all else? Don't overthink it and enjoy the process. As Groark says, "nothing brings back the nostalgia of one's childhood cookout more than the smell and flavor of a meal grilled over charcoal."</p>

How to start a charcoal grill and perfectly arrange your coals for cook-out success

<p><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks"><em>Insider Picks</em></a></span><em> writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.</em></p><p><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ca4e93109b6036a2e590e04-800/quip vs goby vs burst vs boka.jpg" border="0" alt="quip vs goby vs burst vs boka" data-mce-source="Boka; Burst; Quip; Goby" /><p class="source"><span>Boka; Burst; Quip; Goby</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></em></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boka-electric-toothbrush-review-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boka</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burst-electric-toothbrush-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Burst</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cheap-electronic-toothbrush-goby-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goby</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quip-toothbrush-subscription-review-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quip</a></strong> are all online oral care startups dedicated to the same mission: making your twice-daily ritual of brushing your teeth cleaner, more affordable, and more convenient. </li><li>Their sleek electric toothbrushes cost about half the price of big-name best sellers. Each of them let you choose to automatically receive new brush head replacements every three months, but there are some differences between them.</li><li>To figure out which one of these startups' brushes and services is best for you, you'll want to consider price, subscription plan design, and brush design. Below, you'll find a breakdown.</li></ul><p>When electric toothbrushes were first introduced in the US in 1959, they were a game changer. They reduced the physical work of scrubbing away at your teeth and gums, and did the job more effectively, too. </p><p>Today, we still love electric toothbrushes for the same reasons, but a big factor preventing more people from owning them is the initial price, then the frequent, inconvenient upkeep. </p><p>Top-of-the-line electric toothbrushes from big oral care companies can cost $100 to $200, and replacement heads are another expense on top that we often forget to order for ourselves. </p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-electric-toothbrush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The best electric toothbrushes you can buy</a></em></p><p>Starting in 2015, online direct-to-consumer companies vowed to change this problem by selling more affordable, and, frankly, more attractive electric toothbrushes, along with recurring subscription plans to make brush upkeep as easy as possible. </p><p><a href="https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothbrushes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the American Dental Association</a> (ADA), you should be replacing your toothbrushes (and brush heads for electric brushes) every three to four months. Chances are you aren't, but like their close friend the online shaving startup, these oral care startups are automating the process for you. Just as you realize you're coming up on three months, you'll open your door to find shiny new replacement brush heads.</p><p>The biggest startups right now - <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boka-electric-toothbrush-review-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boka</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burst-electric-toothbrush-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Burst</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cheap-electronic-toothbrush-goby-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goby</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quip-toothbrush-subscription-review-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quip</a></strong> - provide this convenience and affordability, but through different brush designs, pricing schemes, and other policies. All of them send replacement brush heads every three months, but there are some other differences.</p><p>To help you find the best electric toothbrush for your pearly whites, we did a comparison below. We've personally tried all of the toothbrushes and subscription services, so you can find more in-depth reviews following the big-picture comparison. </p><h3><strong>See how the big four toothbrush startups compare in price, design, and more:</strong></h3><p><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cc20a69fa99af7326150687-1201/toothbrush comparison graphic.png" border="0" alt="Toothbrush Comparison Graphic" data-mce-source="Alyssa Powell/Business Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Alyssa Powell/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></em></p><h3>Core to the missions of each of these four new toothbrush startups is to make oral care more effective and convenient. In the end, the best one depends on your budget and brush design preferences. </h3><p><strong><a href="http://www.pntra.com/t/TUJGRkhLR0JGSEhLR01CRkpFTkZK?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.getquip.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Choose Quip</a></strong>: If you don't want to spend more than $50 on a brush and like a smaller, lighter brush design. Its brush head is the largest, but the bristles are relatively soft. It's also more travel-friendly because it's battery-powered. <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quip-toothbrush-subscription-review-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read our review of Quip here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://burstoralcare.sjv.io/c/196318/528138/9039?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.burstoralcare.com%2Fproduct%2Ftoothbrush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Choose Burst</a>: </strong>For the most simple subscription and pricing design, three different brushing modes, and a long brush battery life. <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burst-electric-toothbrush-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read our review of Burst here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=79059&amp;urllink=www.boka.com%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Choose Boka</a></strong>: If you have sensitive teeth and gums and want a softer brush bristle. It also has the most oral care accessories (floss, tongue cleaner, etc.) in its product line, which can be delivered periodically along with your brush head. <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boka-electric-toothbrush-review-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read our review of Boka here</a>.</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999&amp;u=1088116&amp;m=69359&amp;urllink=www.goby.co%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Choose Goby</a>: </strong>For an oscillating brush pattern and variety of sleek colors and limited-edition styles.<strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cheap-electronic-toothbrush-goby-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read our review of Goby here</a>.</strong></p><p class="tagline"><p style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

A visual comparison of how the 4 biggest toothbrush subscriptions stack up - Quip, Goby, Burst, and Boka

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two dentists debunk 14 of the most common myths about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/teeth">teeth</a>.</li><li>They explain the <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> behind <a href="https://www.insider.com/safe-teeth-whitening-products-recommended-by-dentists">white teeth</a> and what really causes <keyword id="139032" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cavities">cavities</keyword>.</li><li>They also debunk the idea that electric <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/toothbrush">toothbrushes</a> are better than regular <keyword id="4736638" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="toothbrushes">toothbrushes</keyword>. In fact, it's more about how you brush your <keyword id="23660" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="teeth">teeth</keyword>.</li><li>And they mention how aligners, without X-rays and thorough analysis from an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/braces-hurt-straighten-teeth-breaking-down-jawbone-2019-7">orthodontist</a>, could be harmful to your teeth.</li></ul><p><strong>Aaleeyah Pringle Alim:</strong> "You have to get your wisdom teeth removed."</p><p><strong>Amin Elsaeed:</strong> OK, big myth here. Big, big, big myth. [Pringle Alim laughs]</p><p>"Charcoal toothpaste is better than regular toothpaste."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> No. No, no, no. "There's no such thing as brushing too much."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Try to brush for at least two minutes, right? Sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> What? I feel like that's so short.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> No, like, sing the whole verse.</p><p>Hey, everyone, my name is Dr. Amin Elsaeed. I'm a <keyword id="23661" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="dentist">dentist</keyword> working out of the Chicagoland area.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> And my name is Dr. Aaleeyah Pringle Alim, also a dentist. And we are here to debunk some dental myths.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth No. 1: "Sugar causes cavities."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Oh, my gosh. Sugar actually is not the cause of cavities. In your mouth, you have active normal bacteria, and when sugar is fed to that bacteria, the bacteria produces acid, and it creates cavities on teeth.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> So it's the fuel for the bacteria to cause the cavities.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Myth two: "Electric toothbrushes are better than regular toothbrushes."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> The most important thing is that you are actually brushing, right? So having that mechanical movement against your teeth, whether it be an electric <keyword id="411999" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="toothbrush">toothbrush</keyword>, a regular toothbrush, that's the most important thing to prevent plaque from sitting on the surfaces of our teeth. So if you have a regular toothbrush, you can still do a good job of brushing at home.</p><p>Myth No. 3: "<keyword id="896908" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="White-teeth">White teeth</keyword> are always healthy."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> White teeth really just have to do with how your enamel appears on the surface. So, your tooth actually has three layers. It has the inside core, which is the pulp. It has that middle layer, which is yellow in color. And then it has enamel, which shows up whiter. It's like the armor of your tooth. So, genetically speaking, if you don't have the type of teeth that will appear whiter after whitening, you'll have to go maybe veneers or crowns to get a whiter, whiter, whiter smile.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> It's very possible to have, you know, cavities, bone loss, periodontal disease, even with pearly white teeth.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> All right, myth No. 4: "There's no such thing as brushing too much."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Anytime you want to take plaque off your teeth, we're all for it. But then it comes to how hard are you brushing, right? Some people go in there, and it's like a chain saw. They're just [makes chain-saw noise]. And what ends up happening is when you break down that enamel by so much, so much hard and vigorous brushing, you end up getting sensitivity. So people are like, "Oh, I drink something, and my teeth hurt."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Go and you look at your toothbrush, and if the bristles are flared out like this, you're doing it too hard.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth No. 5: "Drinking with a straw is better for your teeth."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> This is kind of true, but also kind of false. So, drinking through a straw is theoretically better for your teeth if done the right way. So, if you drink through the straw and the liquid literally just passes from the straw maybe to your tongue to your throat and you swallow, then that's OK. But the problem comes with when people drink through the straw and they still kind of swish it around in their mouths, that kind of defeats the purpose of drinking through the straw. It's damaging your teeth the longer that that liquid sits on your teeth. So, drink it fast if you can, drink it through a straw the right way if you can, and always, always, always follow it up with water. If you can follow up your acidic drinks with water, you can help your body get your pH back down to neutral or back up to neutral quicker.</p><p>Myth six: "Brushing harder makes your teeth cleaner."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> OK, brushing harder does not make your teeth cleaner. What makes your teeth cleaner is effective brushing. If you're brushing the right way, right? If I take my toothbrush and I'm jamming it in there with 600 pounds of force against my teeth, I'm causing a lot of damage. So it's not about the strength; it's more about the motion.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Angle your toothbrush a little bit so that the bristles are actually angled into the gums, and you move back and forth. Think about brushing two to three teeth at a time, instead of large, big strokes.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth No. 7. This is a good one. "Charcoal toothpaste is better than regular toothpaste."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> There is no research that suggests that charcoal toothpaste is better than your normal fluoride toothpaste. Zero. What people are kind of attracted to about charcoal toothpaste is that it promotes the idea that it will whiten your teeth. People went as far as to taking raw charcoal, like, just kind of charcoal powder, and brushing their teeth with that in hopes that they were going to, like, I don't know, unlock a secret whitened-tooth door. No. No, no, no. So, what can end up happening is, if you use charcoal too much, you can end up wearing away your enamel, which will then make your teeth appear more yellow, the opposite of what you want.</p><p>Myth 8: "You have to get your wisdom teeth removed."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> OK, big myth here. Big, big, big myth, I know. [Pringle Alim laughs] Listen, man, let me tell you, let me tell you, you do not have to get your wisdom teeth removed. If there is a specific reason, like it's causing you pain, the tooth now has a giant cavity, the tooth is impacted or now pushing up against the tooth in front of it and now it's just causing a whole drama inside your mouth, right? For a lot of people, that can be a very valid reason to have those teeth removed. And another reason that these teeth should be removed sometimes is getting to those third molars by ourselves at home and cleaning them, or these wisdom teeth, can be very, very difficult.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> If they're in line with the others and if they're completely fine, yeah, you treat it like any other tooth.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth No. 9: "You should brush right after every meal."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> After you eat, your mouth becomes more acidic. So, it just naturally does. It doesn't matter what you eat. And if you take something mechanical, like bristles, and rub it up against your enamel in an acidic environment, you can more easily wear down your enamel, and you're doing more harm than good. So what you wanna do, you wanna wait a little bit. You wanna wait at least 30 minutes until your mouth gets more basic, more neutral, and then go in and brush.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> I always tell my patients, you know, if you eat and then you have food stuck in your teeth, you're literally throwing a free buffet to bacteria that didn't pay to get in there.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Myth 10: "Teeth grinding is not a serious problem."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> A lot of people don't know that they grind their teeth. A lot of it is you grind at night subconsciously when you're asleep. You don't even recognize that you're doing it. So, what teeth grinding does, No. 1, it can start wearing away at the surfaces of your teeth. So, if you wear away the protective layer, now you are at a much higher risk of having way more sensitive teeth. When you used to drink a cold glass of water before and didn't feel anything, now there's a chance, if you drink that cold glass of water without enamel, that you may have experiences with some sensitivity. Another reason that grinding is a serious problem is that it can have effects on our jaw.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> If you're like me and you're a grinder, you definitely need to get a mouth guard. Teeth grinding is definitely on the rise.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth No. 11: "Gum bleeding means you should stop flossing."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Do not stop flossing because your gums bleed. You gotta just push through it. Gum bleeding basically means that there has been so much inflammation around your tooth and so much potential foodstuff that's kind of stuck there, when you disturb it with the floss, your gums get angry, and then they start to bleed.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Flossing is never going to have a negative effect on your oral cavity.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Coming in hot with myth No. 12: "Aligners will straighten your teeth."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> OK, this is a very loaded question. What is the stability of their teeth? How long are they going to keep these teeth? Are their gums healthy? Is the bone healthy? By jumping into aligners without having that very crucial knowledge, there's a chance that when you're trying to straighten these teeth, you could lose these teeth.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> A good rule of thumb for me is, if they don't take X-rays and they wanna move your teeth, you probably should not let them do that.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Myth lucky No. 13: "Toothaches always mean cavities."</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> When you think about a cavity, you think of a small hole in your tooth that's gonna get filled with something. You don't know what, the dentist does it, and then it's fixed. But a toothache can be kind of an indicator for something way more serious. So, it could possibly be an indication for bone loss. When you bite down and you're having a lot of pain, it could be because the bone around your tooth has started to resorb, started to disappear. It can be an indication of a fracture in your tooth.</p><p>Myth 14: "Chewing gum is just as good as brushing."</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> Chewing gum is nowhere near as good as brushing, right? So, chewing gum definitely has some positive properties, OK? No. 1, if you're gonna chew gum, you wanna try to chew sugar-free gum. Or, if you wanna look for gum that has xylitol in it, which is a great sugar option in your gum, what that's gonna do is it's going to promote saliva production. But, for as great as chewing sugar-free gum is, it will never take away or be a substitute for brushing, right? You have to go in there with the mechanical work, toothbrush, whether electric, manual, and get those surfaces of those teeth clean and free of plaque.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> Your oral health is a part of your overall health. So, it's not something separate. Like, you can't just take your mouth out and put it someplace. You have to treat it like it's a part of your body. And so daily maintenance is crucial.</p><p><strong>Elsaeed:</strong> A lot of people have, you know, dental anxiety. Like, it's normal. It's a lot to think about. There are so many factors that people think about before deciding to go to a dentist. Sometimes going to the dentist to just talk can really make a difference.</p><p><strong>Pringle Alim:</strong> If you want more information about oral health and just best practices, you can always check out Ada.org, and they have tons of resources. Just type it into the search bar, and something will pop up that can help you.</p>

Dentists debunk 14 teeth myths

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The easiest and safest ways to start a charcoal grill do not require lighter fluid.</li><li>For a hotter, faster cook, use more charcoal; for a slower, steadier cook, use less.</li><li>Preheat charcoal until they're grayish-white to achieve the proper temperature before <keyword id="117806" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="grilling">grilling</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Starting a charcoal grill isn't quite as straightforward as turning on a stove, so Matt Groark of <a href="https://groarkboysbbq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Groark Boys BBQ</a> and Liam and Myles Snider of <a href="https://cookmothertongue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mother Tongue</a> break down the steps below, along with the do's and don'ts.</p><p>Below you'll find easy step-by-step instructions to light a grill, whether you're using a chimney starter, lighter fluid, or no lighter fluid at all, plus how you should go about arranging your coals for a perfect cook. </p><h2><strong>What you'll need</strong></h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-charcoal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lump charcoal or briquettes</a></li><li>Charcoal lighter cubes or newspaper</li><li>A long lighter</li><li>A charcoal chimney starter (optional but recommended)</li></ul><h2><strong>How to choose the right charcoal</strong></h2><p>When choosing charcoal you'll want to find the right type for whatever it is you are <keyword id="27178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking">cooking</keyword>. Lump charcoal burns cleaner, hotter, and faster, while traditional briquettes burn slower and not as hot, according to Groark.</p><table style="width: 656px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p><strong>Lump Charcoal</strong></p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p><strong>Briquettes</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Irregularly shaped charcoal made from natural hardwood</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>Similarly shaped pieces of compressed coal dust or other combustible material</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Less ash</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>More ash</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Hotter burn</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>Cooler burn</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Faster burn</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>Slower burn</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Natural and more expensive</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>Less expensive</p></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 317px;"><p>Good for shorter cooks like vegetables, thin-cut meats, etc.</p></td><td style="width: 321px;"><p>Good for longer cooks like steak, full birds, etc.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Quick tip:</strong> If you can't decide which charcoal to use, check out the Insider Reviews guide to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-charcoal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best charcoal for grilling</a>.</p><h2><strong>How much charcoal should you use?</strong></h2><p>Just as the type of charcoal may vary depending on what you are cooking, the amount of charcoal also changes depending on the temperature and cook time necessary for your dish. For most everyday cooks, Groark recommends half to 3/4 of a charcoal chimney. </p><p>While half to 3/4 of a chimney is a pretty safe rule of thumb, remember: too little charcoal could mean your grill doesn't get hot enough while too much charcoal could mean it gets too hot. Use less charcoal if you're cooking low and slow. Use more for fast, hot cooks.</p><p>If you don't have a chimney, use as much coal as you need to cover the bottom of whatever space you are cooking atop. If the charcoal starts to burn down on longer cooks, add more to the pile and keep grilling.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Amount of Charcoal</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Temperature</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Cook Time</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Grill Size</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>¼ chimney</strong></p></td><td><p>Low heat</p></td><td><p>Slow</p></td><td><p>Small, Medium, or Large</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>½ to ¾ chimney</strong></p></td><td><p>Medium heat</p></td><td><p>Moderate</p></td><td><p>Medium or Large</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>¾ to 1 chimney</strong></p></td><td><p>High heat</p></td><td><p>Fast</p></td><td><p>Large</p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2><strong>How to use a charcoal chimney </strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Charcoal chimney starter sitting inside a grill" height="1413" width="1884" msid="82722584" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>Charcoal chimney starters are the preferred way to start a charcoal grill for most people. To start a charcoal grill using a chimney starter:<br /><br /></p><ol><li><strong>Fill the chimney with charcoal.</strong> Add as much charcoal as necessary for the food you're cooking (see chart above).</li><li><strong>Place lighter cubes, newspaper, or paper towels under the chimney.</strong> Add one of these to the chamber underneath the chimney. This will serve as your starter.</li><li><strong>Light the starter.</strong> Use a long lighter to spare your fingers. If you're using newspaper or paper towels, consider adding a few drops of cooking oil to help ignite it.</li><li><strong>Wait for the charcoal to ignite.</strong> This should take about 12 to 15 minutes. You'll eventually see an amber glow and the top layer of charcoal will turn grayish-white.</li><li><strong>Dump the lit charcoal into the grill.</strong> Once ignited, carefully dump the lit charcoal into the grill (under the grate) in your preferred arrangement (see below) and begin cooking.</li></ol><p><strong>Quick Tip:</strong> Aside from newspaper and paper towels, Doritos are another household item that can help light your charcoal since they are surprisingly flammable, Groark says.</p><h2><strong>How to light charcoal without lighter fluid</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Hand-lighting charcoal inside a grill with a lighter" height="1408" width="1878" msid="82722585" hostid="261"></div><p>If you don't have a chimney starter, another reliable, yet simple option for starting a charcoal grill is the newspaper method. <br /><br /></p><ol><li><strong>Place newspaper under the grill grate.</strong> Ball up newspaper and place it wherever you wish to place your charcoal. If you plan to have multiple heat zones, place the newspaper in each location charcoal will be. Sprinkle a bit of cooking oil on the newspaper to help it ignite.</li><li><strong>Arrange the charcoal around the newspaper.</strong> Use enough charcoal to cover the newspaper sufficiently while still allowing airflow to encourage ignition.</li><li><strong>Light the newspaper.</strong> Find a piece of exposed newspaper and light it with a long lighter. Remember to light your newspaper in every zone you established</li><li><strong>Wait for the charcoal to ignite.</strong> This will take a bit longer than it would with a charcoal chimney but the charcoal should all ignite within about 15 minutes. You're ready to grill once your charcoal is grayish-white.</li></ol><h2><strong>What about using lighter fluid?</strong></h2><p>According to the experts, this is the least recommended of the three charcoal grill starting methods. Not only can it be dangerous, but it can also affect the taste of your food if not executed properly.</p><p>According to the Snider brothers, "many brands of lighter fluid are known to contain harmful chemical compounds that don't break down easily," which means they may end up in your food and potentially even making your food taste bad. For the same reason, they also suggest avoiding instant-light charcoal.</p><p>Should this be your only option, though, Groark reassures that, "As long as you allow [the lighter fluid] to burn off to that amber glow, you will taste nothing but that classic charcoal flavor."</p><p><strong>1. Arrange charcoal on the grill. </strong>Place your charcoal in your preferred arrangement.</p><p><strong>2. Douse the middle of the pile(s) in lighter fluid.</strong> Use approximately 1/4 cup of lighter fluid per pound of charcoal.</p><p><strong>3. Light with a long lighter.</strong> Let the lighter fluid soak in for about 30 seconds first and back up when lighting in case of a flare-up.</p><p><strong>4. Let the charcoal burn until it is grayish-white.</strong> This should take about 15 minutes.</p><p><strong style="color: #222222;">Warning:</strong> Never pour lighter fluid on hot or burning coals, even if there's no visible flame.</p><h2><strong>How to arrange your charcoal</strong></h2><p>Now that you know how to light your charcoal, you'll also want to choose the best charcoal arrangement to properly prepare whatever food you are grilling.</p><div type="image" title="how to arrange your charcoal@150x" height="2084" width="2501" msid="82722587" hostid="261"></div><h3>Simple one-zone arrangement</h3><p>Charcoal is arranged in a bed across the entire bottom of the grill. This is the most basic configuration but provides only direct heat.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For grilling only food(s) that require direct, fast cooking.</p><h3>Classic two-zone arrangement </h3><p>Charcoal is arranged in the center of the grill or off to one side. This creates a two-zone configuration with a "hot zone" for searing and fast cooking over direct heat and a "cool zone" for slower cooking and resting foods over indirect heat. "[The cool zone] also gives you an area to move your food in case of flame flare-ups," the Sniders share.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For grilling a variety of foods that require different temperatures and time cooking or to have the flexibility of being able to control the temperature as you grill.</p><h3>Snake method</h3><p>Unlit charcoal is arranged in a 300-degree circle around the perimeter of the grill with no charcoal in the middle. Lit charcoal briquettes are added to either end of the "snake" to ignite the charcoal over time and maintain steady heat for a long cook.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For slow cooking or smoking foods for a long period of time.</p><h3>Minion method</h3><p>Unlit charcoal is arranged around a center pile of lit charcoal. The unlit charcoal slowly ignites over time for a steadier slow cook.</p><p><strong>When to use it: </strong>For slow cooking or smoking foods for a long period of time.</p><h2><strong>When is charcoal ready to grill?</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="Lit charcoal" height="1414" width="1885" msid="82722593" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>When the charcoal turns grayish-white, you'll know it's ready to begin cooking. If you start grilling before this, the Sniders point out that the biggest consequence will be less heat.</p><p>"One of the biggest advantages of charcoal grills versus stovetops is that charcoal can get much hotter," the brothers said. "This allows you to achieve an incredible sear on meats and vegetables and creates new reactions that develop deep flavor. If you don't wait long enough for your charcoal to light up, you won't get this advantage."</p><h2><strong>Charcoal grilling safety tips</strong></h2><p>With any method of cooking, particularly when open flames are involved, ensuring you are following the proper safety protocols is essential.</p><p>No matter the method of starting your charcoal grill, to do so safely, be sure to:</p><ul><li>Never leave your grill unattended</li><li>Avoid excess grease or oil which can cause flare-ups.</li><li>Never douse your coals in lighter fluid once they are lit.</li><li>Learn how to control the heat by adjusting the vent. A closed vent means less airflow and, therefore, lower temperatures. Alternatively, an open vent means more airflow and higher temperatures.</li><li>Keep a "cool zone" on your grill with no charcoal beneath it so you can move your food if any flare-ups occur.</li><li>Position your grill away from bushes, trees, your house, or anything else that could catch fire if hit by accidental sparks or flames.</li><li>Be sure coals are extinguished before disposing of them.</li></ul><p><strong>Important:</strong> To extinguish coals once you are done cooking, put the lid on the grill and shut the vents to prevent oxygen from feeding the coals. After you have waited for the charcoal to cool completely, you can safely dispose of them.</p><h2><strong>Insider's takeaway</strong></h2><p>Though it may seem intimidating, lighting a charcoal grill is simple. Choose the charcoal type, lighting method, and amount that works for the food you are cooking and the size of your grill. Then decide how to arrange the charcoal in the grill.</p><p>Experts agree that using the chimney starter lighting method and cooking on a classic two-zone arrangement will give you the most control over safety, temperature, and amount of time grilling.</p><p>Above all else? Don't overthink it and enjoy the process. As Groark says, "nothing brings back the nostalgia of one's childhood cookout more than the smell and flavor of a meal grilled over charcoal."</p><a data-type="609abeb1adf09e0a7e762559">How to clean a grill and remove stuck-on gunk</a><a data-type="591604fce559f11c008b4f00">The 4 best charcoal grills in 2021</a><a data-type="609983f6bac7614ebd4b5d9b">How to grill salmon to flaky, tender perfection - plus tips to prevent sticking</a><a data-type="609c49fb9831314dec37bb4c">The 10 best grilled vegetables for your next backyard barbecue</a>

How to start a charcoal grill and arrange your coals to get the right level of heat

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58826b3ff10a9a29768b636e-1400/undefined" alt="Professor Einstein   05" data-mce-source="Hanson Robotics"><p class="source"><span>Hanson Robotics</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Professor Einstein packs a lot of personality for someone who stands just 14 inches.</p><p>The walking, talking, expressive bot from <a href="http://www.hansonrobotics.com/">Hanson Robotics</a> debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. He <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/01/07/coolest-thing-ces-2017-robots-steal-show/96241420/">became a breakout star</a> of the convention. <span>Crowds mobbed the company's booth during demos to catch a glimpse of the little guy.</span></p><p>But the team behind Professor Einstein sees beyond a photo opp. Jeanne Lim, chief of marketing for Hanson Robotics, hopes the robot signals the future of personal assistants.</p><p><a href="http://www.professoreinstein.com/">Professor Einstein</a>, the first commercial product from Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, aims to enrich learning for children age 13 and up by combining interactive apps and games with a recognizable robot that follows along. He's outfitted with eight motors and sensors that allow him to make over 50 facial expressions, and he connects via WiFi to a company database that feeds him information during an interaction with a human.</p><p>During a recent demo at Business Insider's office in San Francisco (prior to President Trump's inauguration), Lim asked the professor who Donald Trump is. His eyes darted and his nose wrinkled as Einstein scanned the cloud.</p><p>He described Trump as a&#xa0;real estate mogul&#xa0;who will become president on January 20.</p><p>Lim explains that, in addition to playing puzzles and games on a tablet, Professor Einstein can answer "Who is?" and "What is?" questions, much like a virtual assistant such as Alexa or Siri.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/588280deee14b62a008b9306-1400/undefined" alt="Professor Einstein   01" data-mce-source="Hanson Robotics"><p class="source"><span>Hanson Robotics</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>During my brief interaction with Einstein, I giggled at the sight of his tongue sticking out and found myself absentmindedly petting his soft, white hair. Lim, who has run marketing campaigns for Apple, Cisco, and Dell in the Asia Pacific region, pointed out that most people don't pet their vacuum cleaner or Amazon Echo.</p><p>She believes that personal assistants are most effective when they take on a human form.</p><p>The team at Hanson Robotics likes to imagine a world where, someday, an artificial intelligent system packaged in a human-like shell offers a rich experience between robots and people. The company hopes to target its technology at industries that stand to benefit from having affordable, highly intelligent robots, such as veteran services, healthcare, eldery care, and education. They might teach, serve, entertain, and develop deep relationships with people.</p><p>Japan, at least, is a few years ahead in a race to that reality. The country has social robots working in <a href="https://www.wired.com/2016/03/robot-henn-na-hotel-japan/">hotels</a>, <a href="http://www.popsci.com/article/technology/will-your-next-best-friend-be-robot">senior homes</a>, and <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/05/14/403498509/shes-almost-real-the-new-humanoid-on-customer-service-duty-in-tokyo">department stores</a>.</p><p>Hanson Robotics has made some progress. The company's humanoid robot Sophia <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/watch-sophia-sexy-robot-claim-7606152">made a splash with her good looks and amenable spirit</a> at South by Southwest and the Burning Man-like festival, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/eye-popping-photos-of-further-future-1-2016-5">Further Future</a>, in 2016. She later wore Gucci on the cover of "Elle Brazil."</p><p>But a future along the lines of "Westworld" is a long ways away. Consumers need to look no further than Professor Einstein to know that's the truth.</p><p>For starters, he is creepy.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58828013ee14b61c008b91fc-1400/undefined" alt="Professor Einstein   08" data-mce-source="Hanson Robotics"><p class="source"><span>Hanson Robotics</span></p><p class="caption">Professor Einstein is always watching.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>You might not really want Professor Einstein, who is cartoonish and reminiscent of the old-timey animatronics at Walt Disney World, perched on your desk during a homework session.</p><p>Professor Einstein also can't yet learn new things, as virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri do. His knowledge come from a database of information compiled by Hanson Robotics. His answer to "Who is Donald Trump?" for example, became immediately outdated the moment the president took the inaugural oath. Lim says the company is working on opening up the platform to outside developers, so the professor can cull information elsewhere.</p><p>Lim says by launching Professor Einstein on Kickstarter, the company hopes to crowdsource funding, as well as feedback.</p><p>Professor Einstein <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1240047277/1763312980?token=7abc5cdf">launches on Kickstarter</a> on January 31. The robot will retail for about $299.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RoboticsTrends: RT BHWatters: A mob scene at RoboticsTrends' CES Robotics Conference  as hansonrobotics'  Einstein… <a href="https://t.co/Aiq3J9r73J">pic.twitter.com/Aiq3J9r73J</a></p>- Ethan  (@NewGenRobotics) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/817462555559993345">January 6, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div>    <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/BNfksDNgnrZ/embed/" width="658" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true">    </iframe></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/korean-company-built-giant-walking-robot-video-2016-12">This real, walking robot looks like it just stepped out of Transformers</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="F3aW5uODE6GDBCQ_y-ircvC0O9hv4kYR" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'F3aW5uODE6GDBCQ_y-ircvC0O9hv4kYR',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

This startup says its kooky, creepy Einstein robot could be the future of personal assistants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Modern <keyword id="839588" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="funk">funk</keyword> creator <keyword id="11777039" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dm-funk">DāM-FunK</keyword> found stillness and inspiration amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>Slowing down inspired new projects, creative renewal, and a reconnection with his Pasadena roots.</li><li>Insider spoke to DāM-FunK about his new album "Above the Fray."</li></ul><p>In many ways, DāM-FunK (pronounced Dame Funk) has always been above the fray.</p><p>Hailing from Pasadena, California, DāM-FunK's environment generously influenced his musical mind. He rose as a producer and session musician at the nadir of synth-funk and the rise of G-funk, absorbing the punchy funk of the late 1980s and early 1990s rap built over funk samples or compositions. He toured the world and started Funkmosphere in 2006, his former weekly DJ set in <keyword id="6354803" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Los-Angeles">Los Angeles</keyword>. Under the Stones Throw record label, he released six projects, and now prolifically releases <keyword id="6354530" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="music">music</keyword> through his independent music label and company Glydezone Recordings.</p><p>His music is an exercise in the art of honoring the past and interrogating the future, producing a sound that is layered by synth lines that meander and guide, growled basslines, meditative chords, and powered by the trademark knock and syncopation of his programmed drums.</p><p>It's the committed authenticity of Southern California funk and G-funk infused with celestial ambiance. His versatility has spurred collaborations with stars like Snoop Dogg, Tyler, the Creator, Q-Tip, and the late Mac Miller; sessions with legends Steve Arrington and Todd Rundgren; and releases under alter ego "Garrett." </p><p>Insider spoke with DāM-FunK about his new album "Above the Fray" as well as his creative process and outlook on life and music throughout the pandemic. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.</p><p><strong>How have things been for you in general, and creatively through the pandemic?</strong></p><p>Well, it's a good day in LA. I was on the road for so long, over 10 years, that when it came time to sit down, I was really looking forward to it. So when it all began around March of 2020, I was like, yes, let's sit down for a little bit and kind of recalibrate. And that's what I did, pretty much. And also, I do understand though that a lot of people were worried and hit with anxiety, as far as where things were going on financially for people. So I definitely understand the situation getting back out there.</p><p>But I used the sit down for getting my head clear. Re-evaluating some things, maturing on a few different levels, and I even stopped drinking, which I just thought I'd be better for my health. I just personally took the leap, as I did with quitting smoking in 2019, March 25th of 2019, but I just adapted to different, positive things in my life. And so that's what I can tell you that the pandemic helped me on, and rather the sit-down portion of it, it helped me to see more clearly and make some more decisions that I probably wouldn't be able to do when I was being out there in the world so much and so busy all the time.</p><p><strong>Can you talk to me about this process of rediscovery on the musical and creative side? Did it feel like being a teenager in Pasadena again, in the early aughts of your music career?</strong></p><p>Yeah, no, you hit it on the nail. For some reason, sometimes when I would be on the road or on the airplane or in a hotel or something like that, or just doing things in my life, I started to have flashbacks of making music in Pasadena, California, in my bedroom, with cassette tapes, and bouncing the tracks back and forth to two tape decks and then CDs. And that's how I recorded my first album, was like bouncing CD to CD and stuff like that. It was more like these light flashes in my head, like wow, I think I want to go back home, in a creative, figurative sense, because it felt like I was returning home, especially the new place that I moved into out of LA. And the direction that I have my studio facing is the same direction that I grew up in, as far as like looking west out of the window and looking west and seeing the hills. With the rediscovery part, I was just able to rediscover more confidence in my sound. </p><p>I do embrace the future as well, and I embrace new sounds as well. Like, I never want to be the old man on the front lawn screaming at the kids, you know? That's never what I've been like because I would consider myself timeless. </p><p>You know, Prince, when he had his era in like the early Eighties, like late-Seventies to mid-Eighties, I would have loved for him to make a few more Ballad of Dorothy Parkers, but he didn't. And I always wish, like why do cats always move on so fast? I mean, you don't have to go make a rock and roll record just because you made a funk record the last album, you know what I'm saying? It's like, just keep rolling the way you feel. </p><p><strong>Where did you draw inspiration for the album's title "Above the Fray"? </strong></p><p>"Above the Fray" represents being above the noise, like in your own space. It's that drive that you take by yourself, across whatever freeway. You know, you have that time to yourself, and you kind of are able to figure things out, or that walk or that subway ride or whatever, that bike ride on your own. That's what "Above the Fray" is, the time period that you have to not participate in all of the drama that's out there right now. I want to influence people to get it together as we all try to move into this brand new decade together. But right now, we're just going to leave it instrumental so people can just ride and glide, and we're just going to be above the fray. "Above the Fray" is also referring to how everybody's always arguing all the time and getting themselves in trouble online, and being removed from that.</p><p>I just wanted to make a record that was instrumental right now, but a full record, and not just like an EP that I've been doing lately, since 2015, which my last full album was "Invite The Light."</p><p>"Above the Fray" is the soundtrack to trying to be the best that you can after living some life. We all are human. But, when you start realizing that, okay, I can maneuver in this obstacle course or dodge those crocodiles while I swing across the pond without getting snapped. That's kind of like what life is about. You still try to figure things out and then hopefully you can remain, where? "Above the Fray."</p><div type="image" title="Above the Fray" height="2249" width="3000" msid="84987962" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>In having this kind of stillness, did you find yourself kind of getting into new creative routines, or letting go of old creative routines?</strong></p><p>You didn't know what was going to be happening. Are we going to be wrapped in our homes forever? Is this the new norm? So I think from all of that, and it's related to the process of recording this new music and things like that, or just putting this project together, I was able to experiment with connecting with the people through the portal of your social media lives and just sharing things, but then also fine-tuning what you're letting people into. So after a while, I was like, I don't know if I really have to feel comfortable about beaming my place of solace out to people.</p><p>I was just getting more in touch with my private life. And I think I enjoy my private life more. And then I realized in order, and through the process of this record to maintain a private life is just to not put out stuff too much out there for the public and just speak through the music. And so that's some of the things that I was able to do as far as this particular project, again, to harness being in a private space.</p><p><strong>You were putting out <a href="https://glydezone.com/projects/">a lot of music</a> throughout this time. Was that kind of part of this renewal that you were going through too, in order to get to "Above the Fray"?</strong></p><p>Yes, it was. And also it was a plan to put out more music on a more periodic basis. There have been a lot of little things I was experimenting with between 2015 and 2021. And I really feel good about the Glydezone recordings platform where I could put out stuff where I want to, where it doesn't have to go through red tape, or any things, anybody approving anything.</p><p>That's where I'm looking at right now because I definitely want to dive deeper into funk, as far as like chords and different moods, because a lot of people associate funk with a party all the time. And to me, funk isn't always a party. I'm building what I would like to visualize as like a progressive, modern funk corner of the game. That's what I'm trying to convey to people, even though funk is a party and it can be, we love that. I'm proud to say what a genre is. That's probably the difference with me, man, is because I'm not afraid to say I do funk music.</p><p>I wasn't a hip-hop kid, I was a funk kid. A Funk kid who liked hip hop, liked new wave, liked heavy metal, liked drum and bass, liked house, all of that stuff. In funk's tradition is always mixing a lot of styles, as you can see with P-funk, with lead guitar solos, by Eddie Hazel. So it was always about experimentation and where a funkster can go to a Frank Zappa concert and not feel weird, you know what I'm saying? So that's where I'm at in just trying to take it further. That's why I would do things like go on tour with cats like Todd Rundgren, for three months. It might not be understood by some cats, but that's what funk is to me too, to be into different styles, but I'm not afraid to call it funk.</p><p><strong>You've described funk music as "a smile with a tear" - tell me about that mantra.</strong></p><p>The music that I make comes out like that and that applies to other types of funk too. A lot of people know about the song "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume. But it's a cute title and a cute lyric format, but the music is very melancholy. If you listen to that song and the lyrics off of it, you'll hear a different style of funk and not be a party vibe all the time, which we love, don't get me wrong. "Atomic Dog" is a classic, gets everybody up off the seat. But there's room for "Juicy Fruit" or "Primetime" from Mtume, you know what I'm saying? Or there's room for "Hanging on a String" from Loose Ends. And there's room for a lot of different styles of funks. So that's just where I'm at. And I think "Above the Fray" has a lot of moody type of funk in there. </p><p>It's all mixed and I'm just trying to take it further because to me, as I've said before, the funk continues, I'm still living funk, my shades are through a funk prism. So I don't want to keep going backwards. I want to do stuff how it sounds in 2022. </p><p><strong>You've always brought multi-generational audiences into the fold, whether it's modern progressive funk, or older styles of funk, or Black classical, and electronic music as well. So what do you think it is about the styles of music that you grew up with, and your creation and curation of them, that has this draw to wide audiences?</strong></p><p>I think it's just the respect. I think that's the key word. Everybody wants to be respected. Cats like Sly Stone or Isaac Hayes at Curtis Mayfield, or Barry White, or Ohio Players, and those cats, they came before me. So, I try to keep them in the mix when I do things or, drops of P funk at a show and "Knee Deep" by Funkadelic, the whole 15-minute version. And then followed up with the latest track by Specter, or something by Omar S, or Moodymann.</p><p>I mean, you play "A Family Affair" by Sly and Family Stone, and you can put that right next to something that came out a couple of years ago. I try to respect the people who came before me, because I grew up with a mom and dad in the house, and my dad was always open-minded. Like on the weekends, when he wasn't working, he'll build a whole wall in the backyard by itself, cut the grass, the lawnmower. Have a briefcase during the week and this fresh suit and the cleaners, and drove into Burbank and went to work every day. That's the kind of stuff I grew up on.</p><p>There's room for people like myself that came from my experience, living in the corner of Sunset and Hammond in Pasadena that you can share music from this prism. A lot of art that's celebrated is always coming from a dark place, especially with Black music. Black trauma is very profitable. So it's like when you're not talking about Black trauma all the time, it's kind of like you get lost in the sauce it seems. But I'm not here to complain. I'm just saying that I'm glad that I'm at least interjecting and showing that you don't have to really do Black trauma all the time in the music and art. I feel that I'm an alternative for people of all shades, and all backgrounds, and worldwide.</p><p>And I think that's probably what has taken me throughout the world, like Dubai, and Russia, China, Eastern Europe. And I think when you do things from the heart, the universal law of energy picks up on that and you get that universal love, and it's not so regionally based. And that's why I'm able to maybe go out to so far different places, but then walk around in my own backyard and people might not know who I am.</p><p>What it is, is that I just want to make music that, like how I felt growing up. I will look out the window and put the record in a record player, and I'd just stare at the mountains and the window and rocking my chair to it. I want to provide that type of experience for people.</p><p><strong>And how about your new weekly show with Apple Music hits, <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/curator/glydezone-radio-with-dām-funk/1550670086">Glydezone Radio.</a> How you're feeling about having that new platform?</strong></p><p>They tapped me to do it, and I just was surprised because there were a lot of different radio opportunities that would come here and there from different, very reputable platforms that we all enjoy online. But this particular one really caught my attention because it was the freedom that I enjoy to be able to do whatever I want, creative freedom. And then also being that I was able to be taken care of from a level where you're respected and not expected to do anything. And I would've never expected companies like Apple to have you a part of something that you're not compromising yourself. And that's what I'm really appreciative of. And I'm just able to share music with people and on a weekly basis.</p><p>I just like to try to mix it up in this Glydezone Radio show, to show people that I don't only enjoy boogie and disco and funk. I'm a funkster, but I enjoy all styles of music, young and old. And that's just what I'm trying to do. There's nothing wrong with being a funkster and enjoying other people's styles of music. I just love any kind of music that's out there that makes me feel interested in something different. </p><p>And I came from the generation that was kind of like the bridge, if you will, I call it the bridge generation, from regular Saturday morning cartoon TV and a TV in the living room that everybody had fun in front of, with only one day of cartoons on Saturday, maybe a few on Sundays, and then the weekdays was after school. I'm just happy to remember those times, and then now I'm not, like I said, will never be that guy on the front lines screaming at the next generation. I'm embracing what's going on, but also maintaining my own stance within it all through the radio show.</p><p><strong>How do you feel about the last decade or so being this more mainstream embrace of Disco and Funk sensibilities?</strong></p><p>I feel pretty cool about it. It's like, people will try to pit me against different people sometimes on social media, things like that. But I never fell for it, and I just feel, I've always dreamed of funk being back in the game to a level where people respect it and not just joking about it all the time, making it kind of a tongue-in-cheek thing. So you can hear it definitely in a lot of the music. You're right, you can definitely hear the influence. They're not necessarily calling it funk, but you can definitely hear the influence. It's like a mesh between disco and funk. You're right, with the four on the floor thing, you can hear the guitar, kick and scratch guitar, and some of the bass lines, and things like that. Then putting a different front cover on it.</p><p>So I definitely see it. I'm not bothered by it. It's like, everybody has their time and every music has their moment. I wonder what people were thinking when metal was popular and the hair bands. Did the rock groups like Rolling Stones and all of those guys trip off of it? I don't know. But probably not. They probably had some jokes here and there. There's some good production out there, man. I've been listening.</p><p>There will always be a McDonald's and there will always be the local burger stand. You got a choice.</p><p><strong>But I just wanted to ask you, how, coming out of, in the period of the pandemic that we're in, how are you feeling about live performances? What do you have lined up? What are you excited about?</strong></p><p>I'm just excited to share some different things, like new music, and then also share things, like curating mixtures of, maybe like a solo live set where I still play other people's stuff I would like people to hear, and also some of my original stuff. But also I'm gradually bringing back some live elements with one of the members of my earlier configuration. His name is Keith "E-Day" Eaddy, and he plays bass and keys. And I'm thinking about adding more elements but right now just sticking with E-day to join me on some of the shows. So he knows my music and we have a rapport. We laugh with each other and that kind of thing. So he gets it.</p><p>I'll be definitely bringing my own microphone to shows and that kind of thing, and if I don't have one, sanitizing, that kind of thing. We're just in a new era right now. We have to really protect ourselves, protect people around us. And just be mindful, whatever you believe, be mindful of other people's space. </p><p>I think 2022 is more of a realistic period that I think people will be more ready to really go out like that again. Some of the shows, they're coming up at the end of the summer, we'll see how things go, I'm still going to be dotting my I's and crossing my T's out here as we progress out here and return. But I'm looking forward to trying to be a part of the comeback. </p>

Modern funk progenitor DāM-FunK on his new album, quitting drinking during the pandemic, and the timeless allure of funk music

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591b7a30e559f11b008b5e9e-1800/bragi-dash-pro-1.png" alt="bragi dash pro 1" /><p class="source"><span>Jeff Dunn/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">The Bragi Dash Pro.</p>Headphones want to evolve and become more than just mini speakers. <p>No, your everyday earbuds aren't going anywhere. But for the past couple of years, a small subset of companies have quietly tried to transform wireless headphones from simple audio products to full-fledged in-ear computers.</p><p>German startup Bragi has been a key part of this; its Dash earbuds <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hellobragi/the-dash-wireless-smart-in-ear-headphones" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blew up on Kickstarter</a> in 2014, and helped shape what a so-called "hearable" could be. The gadgets had touch controls, fitness tracking tools, the ability to let in outside noise, and heaps of sensors. They also played music!</p><p>The problem is they weren't very good. Bragi improved the Dash with software updates over time, but their battery life was eternally short, and they just couldn't stay connected over Bluetooth. The fact that they cost $300 didn't help.</p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591b7a0ee559f122008b5e65-1838/bragidashpro03.jpg" alt="bragi dash pro" /><p class="source"><span>Bragi</span></p>Months have passed, though, and the ideas Bragi was getting at make a <em>little</em> more sense today. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-airpods-review-2016-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple's AirPods</a> have made the concept of truly wireless earbuds somewhat normal, while startups like Doppler Labs have helped popularize the notion of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/doppler-labs-here-one-earbuds-review-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">earbuds that augment real-world sound</a>.<p>Now, Bragi is launching its follow-up: the Dash Pro. It goes for $329, and it's available online today. Bragi says a retail launch at Best Buy and other stores will happen "over the coming weeks."</p><p>The Dash Pro largely follows in the original Dash's footsteps: It looks almost identical; it's totally wireless; it still fits snugly (after a little maneuvering); it does fitness tracking; it has a host of touch, swipe, and motion controls to learn; and there's 4 GB of built-in storage, so you can play audio files straight from the device.</p><p>The existing Dash will be discontinued to make way for the Dash Pro, but many of the upgrades here are coming from a big software update that will also apply to the older model. Bragi is promising better battery life, improved sound, a cleaner "audio transparency" mode (i.e., the mode that allows you to let in more real-world sound without taking the earbuds off), and a "one-touch" Bluetooth pairing process. All of that sounds great, but I won't be able to say how true it actually is before testing the Dash Pro further.</p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591b7a78e559f122078b5da5-2000/bragistarkeydashprotailored06.jpg" alt="bragi dash pro" /><p class="source"><span>Bragi</span></p><p class="caption">You can have your name engraved on the custom version of the Dash Pro.</p>The thing Bragi is pushing the hardest is a partnership with <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-language-translator-dictionary/id288113403?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iTranslate</a>, a foreign language translation app. Some background: Doppler Labs and other "hearable" companies <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/doppler-labs-here-one-preview-in-ear-computers-report-2016-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have long been teasing</a> the possibility of having your smart earbuds translate foreign languages in real time. The dream is that you can hear someone talk to you in English (or whatever) in real-time even as they're speaking in Mandarin in reality.<p>Bragi's OS update will <em>technically</em> make that happen, but it's a bit of a hacky workaround. You need a $5 monthly subscription to iTranslate Pro and to have that app loaded on your phone.  When your foreign-tongued friend begins speaking, the phone app translates his words in real time and pipes an English version straight into your earbuds.</p><p>On the off chance that you come across another Bragi Dash Pro user, you can just talk to each other with the app connected, nodding each time you speak. It's nice that Bragi has something for this scenario - and Bragi says the app supports about 40 languages - but you could use iTranslate on your phone and be nearly as efficient, without the head nods.</p><p>Along those lines is something Bragi calls the "Virtual 4D Menu." This taps into the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bragi-dash-update-hearable-mytap-touch-body-ui-2016-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">motion controls Business Insider reported on</a> last year; as you move your head to the sides, the Dash or Dash Pro will tell you menu commands, as if you were looking at a virtual screen. Move it slightly to the right, and you can select, say, Google Assistant (or Siri on iOS); move it far to the left, and you can choose to pause a song that's playing. If this works, great, but simply using your voice to activate certain commands would render all of this moot.</p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591b7aa2e559f1e5788b4e2e-2000/bragidashpro01.jpg" alt="Bragi_DashPro_01" /><p class="source"><span>Bragi</span></p>Slightly more useful is the update's purported ability to automatically recognize whether you're running, swimming, or biking, then log your exercise data in Bragi's companion app accordingly. Likewise, Bragi says it's rolling out a "superhearing" mode that lets you raise or lower the volume of the outside world.<p>The most significant updates are still likely to be the simplest. Bragi says the Dash Pro gets five hours of battery life on a charge, or 30 hours through its battery case; that's not amazing in a vacuum, but it would be pretty impressive for a truly wireless earphone - if it delivers that performance in real life. The whole thing is waterproof, too, and Bragi claims its bumped up the voice tech so you won't have to repeat your commands too often.</p><p>Bragi is also promising that the Dash Pro's Bluetooth connection will be as reliable as its lower-end Headphone earbuds. I <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bragi-the-headphone-review-best-truly-wireless-earbuds-2016-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">found those to work very well</a>, but they also have far less tech to deal with. Again, time will tell. Given that my brief demo was in a noisy restaurant, the same sentiment applies to the Dash Pro's sound quality.</p><p>If you're super into all of this, Bragi is also partnering with hearing aid maker Starkey on a model that can be customized to the shape of your ears. It'll cost $500, and you'll have to visit an audiologist to get yourself fitted, but if you're willing to splurge on a fit that only you can wear, there you go.</p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/591b7ac3e559f120008b5ef2-1500/bragistarkeydashprotailored04.jpg" alt="BragiStarkey_DashProTailored_04" /><p class="source"><span>Bragi</span></p>Earphones like the Dash Pro live and die by their smarter features. If you just want truly wireless earbuds, the Headphone is very competent (potentially awkward fit aside), and the AirPods work like a dream with other Apple devices. They're both much less expensive, too. <p>Bragi certainly has big ideas for devices like this - CEO Nikolaj Hviid said that the company has toyed with the idea of using earbuds like this to power AR-style glasses. And the Dash Pro may have its charms; having your headphones double as your fitness tracker makes sense, and being able to do phone things without having to stare at a screen is a compelling pitch.</p><p>The underlying tech has to work first, though. Here's hoping that Bragi's promises hold true this time around. If that happens, <em>then</em> we can talk about how healthy the notion of keeping computers in your ears all day is for society.</p><p>We'll have a more definitive verdict on the Dash Pro in the coming weeks, after we give it a full hands-on review.</p>            <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tests-apple-wireless-airpod-headphones-iphone-2016-9">A regular guy tests out Apple's wireless AirPod headphones - here's what he thought</a></h3>                                    Please enable Javascript to watch this video                    

These truly wireless earbuds claim to be 'ear computers' - here's what they can do

<p><em>The</em><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks"><em><span> </span>Insider Picks</em></a><em><span> </span>team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.</em></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c770bb026289853d07df484-1200/brush.jpg" border="0" alt="brush" data-mce-source="Amazon" /><p class="source"><span>Amazon</span></p><p class="caption">The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean uses smart features to give you the best clean.</p></div><p></p></div></div></em></a></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Great oral hygiene starts with brushing your teeth effectively - and it's just as important for your smile as it is for the health of your whole body.</li><li>The <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart electric toothbrush ($230)</a> uses high-quality pieces and smart technology to clean teeth more effectively.</li><li>After using the brush for a few weeks, my teeth not only felt significantly cleaner, but the connected app helped guide me to better brushing habits and techniques.</li></ul><p>A smile is one of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/6-ways-successful-people-make-a-great-first-impression-2016-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first things people notice about you</a>,  so I've always tried my best to take good care of my teeth.</p><p>My brother had braces twice, so after my first go, I knew I had to develop good habits. That meant wearing a retainer most nights, brushing my teeth twice a day, dabbling in <a href="https://amzn.to/2XpY46Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crest Whitestrips</a>, and keeping floss with me at (almost) all times. I'm happy to say that for the most part my teeth have stayed pretty straight and stain-free over the years. </p><p>But taking good care of your smile is important for more than just first impressions - neglecting your teeth can lead to loads of problems like bad breath and cavities. Even more seriously, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-if-you-dont-brush-and-floss-your-teeth-2014-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor dental hygiene can contribute a wide array of illnesses</a> counting dementia, gum disease, and diabetes among others. </p><p>Visiting your dentist twice a year is important, but on those 363 other days of the year, taking care of those pearly whites is all on you.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Dental Association recommends</a> you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and floss at least once in between. You probably already knew that, but the key to clean chompers isn't <em>how much</em> you brush - it's <em>how</em> you brush. Most dentists agree that a manual toothbrush can clean your teeth just as well as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-electric-toothbrush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an electric toothbrush</a> - that is, when you focus on brushing properly, which means getting every inch of tooth and gum, moving the bristles fast, but not too fast, and making sure you stick it out for the full two minutes. Even as someone who prides themselves on solid oral hygiene habits, I've been guilty of cutting my sessions too short when I'm rushing in the morning and being a lazy brusher when I'm tired at night. </p><p><span style="color: #000000;">When my manual toothbrush had had its run, an electric toothbrush seemed like an easy fix for a better clean. With all the bells and whistles that work together to keep your teeth plaque-free, really all you have to do is hold the brush. So, when the opportunity arose to test out one of the top electric toothbrushes on the market, the <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Sonic</a>, I was excited, albeit skeptical. Could a $230 toothbrush really be that much more effective than a more affordable option? Is an electric toothbrush even that much better than a manual toothbrush in the first place? The jury is <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/08/electric-toothbrush-vs-manual/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still out on what kind of toothbrush is best</a>, which just made me more curious. That, and the high price tag, led me to test out the brush and do a quasi-case study of my own.</span></p><h2>What comes with the DiamondClean Smart toothbrush?</h2><p>The Smart Sonic arrives in what looks more like a box fit for a high-tech speaker than a toothbrush - that's to say it's pretty big. When you open the box, you'll find everything you could ever need from a toothbrush - one brush, four different heads, a USB travel case, a rinsing glass/charger, access to a tracking app, and instructions on how to use everything, including the app that helps you optimize your technique. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c76eef2262898210164dc09-1200/philipss.jpg" border="0" alt="philipss" data-mce-source="Amazon" /></a><p class="source"><span>Amazon</span></p><p class="caption">Everything you'll find when you unbox your Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush (smartphone not included).</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Using the toothbrush</h2><p>When I got the package, I was so excited to use <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the toothbrush</a>, I barely even looked at the instructions. It was already fully charged and ready for use, so I just slipped on one of the smart heads and turned the brush on. There are two buttons on the brush handle - the power button and the mode button. By pressing the mode button, you can select the optimal mode for your teeth-cleaning needs. Since this is a smart brush after all, the handle can actually tell what mode you desire based on which brush head you're using. So, when I clicked in the whitening brush head, my toothbrush knew to use the whitening setting. </p><p>The brush felt great on my teeth - I could feel the oscillating bristles reaching the oft-forgotten nooks and crannies. Suddenly, a bright pink light started flashing on the rim of the handle. I didn't know what it meant, so I stopped brushing. After experimenting with my technique, I came to realize this light was telling me to brush more gently. After some more time gently brushing my teeth, the brush automatically stopped - I guess that was two minutes. </p><p>I was so impressed with how my teeth felt after just one use - I felt like I'd just been given a deep-clean by my dentist from a quick two-minute brushing session. I was actually excited to wake up the next morning and brush my teeth - something I usually wouldn't really look forward to. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c770a0a26289825f15ef00b-1200/teeth2.jpg" border="0" alt="teeth2" data-mce-source="Remi Rosmarin / Sonicare" /></a><p class="source"><span>Remi Rosmarin / Sonicare</span></p><p class="caption">Left: the mouth map during cleaning. Right: the 3D mouth map shows whitening progress - that's a long way to go!</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>The DiamondClean smart features</h2><p>After using the <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DiamondClean smart brush</a> for about two weeks, it needed to be recharged - when the battery is low, you'll see a blinking battery signal on the brush. I went to get the charger, which was still in the original box. That's when I realized I hadn't been taking advantage of one of the brush's coolest features - the app that helps you monitor, improve, and maximize your four minutes spent brushing each day. </p><p>Getting started on the app was a pretty intuitive process. Once downloaded, you create a profile filling out some basic data as well as your tooth-related concerns (e.g., is your main goal to whiten or focus on gum care?). Once that's done, you connect your brush via bluetooth and brush your teeth. This is where things got interesting.</p><p>I was a skeptic - I know how to brush my own teeth, I thought, as I waited for the app to download on my phone. I questioned what this app could possibly do other than be a gimmick. Well, I ended up impressed - this app gave me some helpful information that motivated me to become a better brusher. Here's how:</p><p>When you start brushing, you'll see a mouth map and a timer on your screen. The map outlines which areas to focus on, and for how long  -  it split my mouth into six sections, and told me to spend about 20 seconds on each section. The brush has a smart location sensor and tracks movement in real time, so it can tell when you're not following the given directions and will redirect you. When I moved <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my brush</a> out of the designated brushing range, the app alerted me to use less motion. Similarly, when I brushed any specific area too hard, the app (and the light ring on the end of the handle) alerted me to use less pressure. </p><p>When the two minutes is done, the app will use its TouchUp feature to show you any spots you missed. This part was kind of shocking - the mouth map shows the areas you missed in yellow, and I had a lot of yellow. The intention here is to help you see which areas have not been brushed enough, so you can give them a second go. As you clean, you'll see the yellow turn to white on the app, signaling that your teeth have been sufficiently scrubbed. This made me question the effectiveness of my usual brushing methods.</p><p>After the final round of cleaning, the app asks if you've brushed your tongue, flossed, and rinsed. Answer yes or no based on what you've actually done - the app keeps this info logged on a calendar, so you can keep track of how often you actually do these extra teeth-cleaning tactics.</p><p>The in-depth mouth map not only helped me clean my teeth more effectively in the moment, but made me think about how I can brush more efficiently every time. Seeing the areas you missed kind of functions as a fun little challenge - motivating you to do better next time. And, the compliments I've received on my teeth tell me they really are looking whiter. </p><h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c770d8e2628983b023db684-1200/closeup.jpg" border="0" alt="closeup" data-mce-source="Amazon" /></a><p class="source"><span>Amazon</span></p><p class="caption">The design is sleek, simple, and easy to use.</p></div><p></p></div></div></h2><h2>The final verdict</h2><p>Overall, I've loved my experience with the <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DiamondClean Smart toothbrush</a> thus far. The brush itself gives you a gentle but powerful clean every time. The app leaves nothing to the imagination, and tells you everything you need to know about improving your brushing regimen - it's also very simple to use, with lots of easy-to-follow directions, a particular benefit for those who don't count technology as one of their strong suits. The app will even sense when your brush head needs to be changed, and can automatically order a new one for you.</p><p>The charging glass not only looks sleek on a bathroom counter, but ensures that the brush won't topple over - something that always frustrated me about electric toothbrushes in the past. I haven't had the use for the travel case yet, but knowing that I can bring this toothbrush on a trip with me while keeping it clean and charged is a weight off my shoulders - after all, if you're paying for a great toothbrush, you shouldn't have to buy another for a trip.</p><p>If you're someone who has trouble getting yourself to brush your teeth regularly, the intuitive, engaging features of this smart brush could help to motivate you. Though, I do think this a great product for anyone looking to up the ante on their brushing routine. </p><p>Still, <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a toothbrush for $230</a> is undeniably expensive, especially when you compare it to a $5 brush you could get at the drugstore. If you think of this as solely a toothbrush, it is a lot, but if you think of this as a smart wellness device as well, the price may not seem as exorbitant.</p><p>Of course, there are plenty of great electric toothbrushes out there at much more affordable prices - many of my <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cheap-electronic-toothbrush-goby-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coworkers swear by one you could snag for $50</a>, which is definitely an easier amount to part with. </p><p>If you choose to buy it, you can be sure the DiamondClean Smart toothbrush will leave you with a sparkling smile - and more mindful brushing habits for years to come. </p><h3>Get the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart electric toothbrush, $230, available at <a href="https://amzn.to/2T1xS3X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/6415797/type/dlg/https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/philips-sonicare-reg-diamondclean-smart-9300-electric-toothbrush-in-grey/1063024579?keyword=sonicare-smart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bed Bath &amp; Beyond</a></h3><h3>Check out our guide to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-electric-toothbrush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the best electric toothbrushes you can buy</a>.</h3><p class="tagline"><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p>

This $230 Philips Sonicare toothbrush maps your mouth using an app that shows you how to brush better - here's what it's like to use

<p>Some of the most useful items are inexpensive. </p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0jlk8">recent Reddit thread</a> asked for the most useful items you can buy for under $20. </p>
<p>We picked some of our favorites. </p>
<h3><strong>1. Small set of screwdrivers </strong></h3>
<p>"With them and the Internet, you'll be surprised how much you can fix stuff, which saves you a lot of money in the long run," writes <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0fukg">Reddit user candydaze</a>. </p>
<p>We recommend the Craftsman <a href="http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-pc-screwdriver-set/p-00947136000P?prdNo=4&amp;blockNo=4&amp;blockType=G4">8-piece screwdriver set</a> at Sears for $11.69. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/51fc0a4beab8ea033100001d-1024-546/8559735387_02bf1439cb_b.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="Screwdriver" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/86639298@N02/8559735387/sizes/l/in/photolist-e3oT7B-7JgQEc-7JgRtk-bGJgsD-awEXPR-8trnD9-8mfVxA-8piQhc-8pn1X3-8pn1Z5-8pn21Y-8piQvT-8piQtv-8piQAc-8piQy4-8m8paW-9UD1PX-8rX8yr-f8JQcH-f8ZabY-f8ZbjQ-f8ZbLL-f8JZ22-f8JRKx-f8ZcFS-f8JZsK-f8JRfz-f8JSf4-f8Z97W-f8JPD8-f8JVLV-f8JQKr-f8ZaKs-f8Z9D3-dq5Wny-9cu9Dq-9cu9zA-8cVpRa/">Via Flickr</a></p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>2. Fire extinguisher</strong></h3>
<p>"If you do need it someday, it will be well worth the 20 bucks," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0cqwf">writes DaNinjaKitten</a>. </p>
<p>Try the Kidde FA110 Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher available for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kidde-FA110-Purpose-Extinguisher-1A10BC/dp/B00002ND64/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1383329406&amp;sr=1-1">$18.98 on Amazon</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/527413ffecad043a4eb86b40-1200-600/fire-extinguisher-2.jpg" border="0" alt="fire extinguisher" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>3. Carbon monoxide detector </strong></h3>
<p>"When my sister and I were younger, the carbon monoxide detector went off in our house. She heard it, I did not. My parents were not home, so she ran up to my room and grabbed me and told me to come outside. We went across the street to our neighbors and they called the fire department for us. My sister saved our lives," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0lh8d">writes DoctorCrouchJrWho</a>. </p>
<p>Try this First Alert battery-powered detector for <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/First-Alert-Battery-Powered-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarm-CO400/202433876?N=bmgkZ12ky%3FNCNI-5#.UnPv85TBLkk">$19.97 at Home Depot</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5274149469bedd0d76afe9a7-1200-600/carbon-monoxide-detector.jpg" border="0" alt="carbon monoxide detector" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock.com</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>4. Jumper cables</strong></h3>
<p><span>"</span><span>When I first moved for college, my car broke down the first week of school in the Wal-Mart parking lot," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0f3ap">writes halfwaythere88.</a> "I had to stop a ridiculous amount of people before I found one with jumper cables." </span></p>
<p>Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Motor-Trend-MT1012-CCA-12-Foot-Aluminum/dp/B0030D0T2S/ref=lp_15719941_1_3?s=automotive&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1383329819&amp;sr=1-3">has them</a> for $11.10. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/527414f0eab8ea7f675941a3-1200-600/jumper-cables.jpg" border="0" alt="jumper cables" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock.com</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>5. Spray bottle</strong> </h3>
<p>"You can buy them at the dollar store but in my family (and now in my dorm) mine is getting constantly borrowed. It's used for cleaning, ironing, doing hair, and more. The lack of people who have them astounds me!" <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0d1uu">writes bgaigalas</a>. </p>
<p>The Container Store <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/?productId=10006426">has a nice bottle</a> for $4.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5274157eeab8eab5695941a1-1200-600/spray-bottle.jpg" border="0" alt="spray bottle" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock.com</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>6. Car cell phone charger</strong></h3>
<p>This suggestion <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0ja8v">by sauce480</a> is self-explanatory. </p>
<p>Best Buy has a <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dynex-153-vehicle-charger/7046436.p?id=1218826436642&amp;skuId=7046436">Dynex charger</a> for $19.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5274160fecad04a650b86b4c-1200-600/car-phone-charger.jpg" border="0" alt="car phone charger" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>7. Rechargeable batteries </strong></h3>
<p>"I love my Eneloop batteries," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0dn3v">writes CaptPikel</a>.</p>
<p>B&amp;H Photo Video has <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&amp;sku=758663&amp;is=REG&amp;Q=&amp;A=details">them for $7.99</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5274167b6bb3f7a449c39d55-1200-600/batteries-1.jpg" border="0" alt="batteries" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>8. Lodge cast-iron skillet</strong></h3>
<p><span>"All the fancy, expensive, 'high end' cookware can not touch the magic that this $15 gem can bring to your cooking," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0ipb9">writes hvonn</a>. </span></p>
<p>Buy one at Macy's <a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/lodge-logic-cast-iron-8-skillet?ID=798621&amp;cm_mmc=Google_DMA_Home_Cookware_PLA-_-PLA+Home+Generic+-+Cookware_PLA+-+Cookware-_-31118134700_-_-_mkwid_gsSdSIF5|d{device}_31118134700%7C-%7CgsSdSIF5">for $19.99</a>. </p>
<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/527416afecad04a350b86b46-640-320/frying-pan-skillet-metal.jpg" border="0" alt="frying pan skillet metal" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65428595@N00/5010093415/">Flickr/ I Believe I Can Fry</a></p></div><p></p></div><br /></span></p>
<h3><span> </span><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">9. Dry shampoo</strong></h3>
<p>"Do you like to sleep in? Dry Shampoo lets you do that," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0d2kx">writes Hello_nerds</a>. </p>
<p>Ulta has some <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2040049">for $7.99</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5272ba28eab8eafc137d3d0a-877-582/screen%20shot%202013-10-31%20at%204.14.02%20pm.png" border="0" alt="batiste dry shampoo " width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://emilysfrugaltips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/653fea6c3eba0dfc3f465546fb9be621e068bd6e.jpg">Batiste </a></p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>10. Salad spinner</strong></h3>
<p>"Instead of using a paper towel for drying lettuce, herbs, berries or heck just about anything food related you can dry, just throw it in the salad spinner basket rinse and spin," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0l5cb">writes imjoshua</a>. </p>
<p>Get one <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/salad-spinner.do?camp=ppc%3AGooglePLA%3Anone%3A40004162219adwords_groupingColanders&amp;device=c&amp;network=g&amp;matchtype=&amp;gclid=COWDoIKbxLoCFU6Y4AodKUwA4Q">at World Market</a> for the low price of $19.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/52741700eab8ea846c59419f-1200-600/salad-spinner.jpg" border="0" alt="salad spinner" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>11. Tongue scraper</strong></h3>
<p>"I know, I know. I thought the idea was nasty at first too. And, yes, I <em>also</em> thought that my toothbrush did a perfectly fine job. Then I actually used one," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0crj0">writes MyReligionIsPhysics</a>. "Uncannily clean-feeling mouth, no more dental problems, fresher breath." </p>
<p>Soap.com has a highly-reviewed GUM brand <a href="http://www.soap.com/p/gum-tongue-cleaner-34952?site=CA&amp;utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=cpc_S&amp;utm_term=ASS-062&amp;utm_campaign=GoogleAW&amp;CAWELAID=1323114047&amp;utm_content=pla&amp;adtype=pla&amp;cagpspn=pla">cleaner for $4.85</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/527417a3eab8eac0695941a3-1000-500/brushing-teeth-tongue.jpg" border="0" alt="brushing teeth tongue" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>12. Sink plunger</strong></h3>
<p>"It's got a flat bottom to match the drain on your sink," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0gkdv">notes kidl33t</a>. </p>
<p>Get one at QCI direct for $10.99, or <a href="http://www.qcidirect.com/mini-sink-plunger.html?utm_source=GoogleShopping&amp;utm_medium=cse&amp;utm_campaign=mini-sink-plunger&amp;gclid=CLWktbibxLoCFUGd4AodqDUAiQ">buy two for $20</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/527417c0eab8eac0695941a6-812-406/flat-bottom-plunger-1.png" border="0" alt="flat bottom plunger " width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.qcidirect.com/mini-sink-plunger.html?utm_source=GoogleShopping&amp;utm_medium=cse&amp;utm_campaign=mini-sink-plunger&amp;gclid=CNbJ2eD0wboCFU6Y4AodKUwA4Q">QCIdirect.com</a></p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>13. The right pillow</strong></h3>
<p>"Pillows for under $20 can be of good utility and quality if you buy the right firmness pillow for your sleep style and follow the care instructions carefully," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0dwbc">writes MmeLaRue</a>. </p>
<p>This radial memory foam <a href="http://www.target.com/p/radial-memory-foam-pillow/-/A-10136462#prodSlot=medium_1_16">pillow at Target</a> works for most people and is $19.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/527417e3eab8ea186a59419f-1024-512/many-pillows-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Many Pillows" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/revstan/4447545030/sizes/o/in/photolist-7M1QbS-8PuKLT-a6f4wW-91Zmub-9bPwdn-8H1JLq-83HhTw-7TGZhk-b1Z2He-dUr4vC-8j5NZa-9WLWZi-89FQt1-8EGA5n-egs4zi-8tm1SW-bexxBi-8qhks9-aRSa9e-dgiGNU-ct8xFw-8fkHc9-9BgRze-7HhZHq-drxVcN-bw1BHu-aw7ioH-8tfDiw-9fcqFd-7VAqsy-7Vxbxt/">Via Flickr</a></p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>14. Fresh pepper grinder</strong></h3>
<p>"Freshly cracked black pepper corns will blow your mind," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0doc1">writes edeneleven11</a>.</p>
<p>The WEBstaurant Store <a href="http://www.webstaurantstore.com/18-tall-dark-finish-pepper-mill/583PM18.html?utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&amp;gclid=CMGy5pqcxLoCFYSd4Aod-XIAgg">has a fancy-looking on</a>e for $14.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5274184769bedd2c7cafe9b3-1000-500/black-pepper-grinder.jpg" border="0" alt="black pepper grinder" width="800" /><p class="source">Shutterstock</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>15. Micro-chip for your pet</strong></h3>
<p>"The police and local shelters have the equipment to scan you pet. If they find the chip number, they call the company and you are notified," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0h03l">writes jpsrv</a>. "You go pick up your pet. Without a microchip, in most animal shelters throughout the US, your pet is euthanized."</p>
<p>ValleyVet.com has a <a href="http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2e87c336-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5&amp;ccd=IFP003&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;mr:trackingCode=1955C464-3C81-E211-BA78-001B21631C34&amp;mr:referralID=NA&amp;mr:adType=pla&amp;mr:ad=14698119403&amp;mr:keyword=&amp;mr:match=&amp;mr:filter=34417072123&amp;gclid=CKWv67icxLoCFcuZ4AodrkgATw">microchip for $16.99</a> that comes with a 15-digit code and syringe.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/527418966bb3f71d4ec39d5f-1200-600/dog-on-bed-5.jpg" border="0" alt="dog on bed" width="800" /><p class="source">Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>16. Zip ties</strong></h3>
<p>"Life saver at my job and at home!" <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0kz4e">writes autumnjoy</a>. </p>
<p>Get 100 of them <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Zip-Tie-100-Bag/dp/B0001IMMJI">on Amazon for $12.95</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/527418c6eab8ea896c5941a8-1152-576/zip-ties.jpg" border="0" alt="zip ties" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Cable_ties.jpg">Wikimedia commons</a></p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>17. Deck of cards</strong></h3>
<p>"Learn some easy tricks to blow minds," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0cf3l">says M99Syringe</a>. </p>
<p>Bicycle <a href="http://www.shopbicyclecards.com/Street-Art-P205.aspx">has an awesome</a> street artist-designed deck for just $3.99. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/527418e16bb3f7654ec39d68-1200-600/bridge-cards-trump-card-4.jpg" border="0" alt="bridge cards trump card" width="800" /><p class="source">Bruno Vincent/Getty</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>18. Swiss Army Knife keychain</strong></h3>
<p>"I find a use for it almost every day," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0jc3q">writes Meath77</a>. </p>
<p>Swiss Knife Store <a href="http://www.swissknifeshop.com/swiss-army-classic-sd?zmam=18093142&amp;zmac=25&amp;zmas=1&amp;zmap=SA53005&amp;gclid=CJGTjMCdxLoCFcid4AodV04AvQ">has one for $15.95</a>, and you can choose from a variety of colors and designs. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/527419066bb3f7d14bc39d66-1200-600/swiss-army-knives-2.jpg" border="0" alt="swiss army knives" width="800" /><p class="source">AP</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>19. French press </strong></h3>
<p>"It makes your coffee much stronger and tastier," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0i9bh">writes Deetz_Z. </a></p>
<p>Get a top-of-the-line Bodum french press <a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/bodum-brazil-8-cup-french-press?ID=432167&amp;cm_mmc=Google_DMA_Home_Cookware_PLA-_-PLA+Home+Generic+-+Cookware_PLA+-+Cookware-_-31118134700_-_-_mkwid_AQSkg2zp|d{device}_31118134700%7C-%7CAQSkg2zp">at Macy's for $19.99</a>. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5274192569beddf67aafe9aa-1183-591/coffee-french-press-7.png" border="0" alt="Coffee, French Press" width="800" /><p class="source">Robert Libetti/ Business Insider</p></div><p></p></div></p>
<h3><strong>20. Spotify</strong></h3>
<p>"The most convenient way to listen to music," <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1pa9dg/reddit_what_is_one_product_under_20_that_you/cd0dw1g">writes Mikey193</a>. </p>
<p>For about $10 a month you get a <a href="https://www.spotify.com/us/">premium membership</a> that includes offline syncing and streaming songs with no ads. </p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52741947eab8ea0f6f59419f-1200-600/spotify-for-ipad-4.png" border="0" alt="spotify for ipad" width="800" /><p class="source">Spotify</p></div><p></p></div></p>

20 Items Under $20 Everyone Should Buy 

<h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53ed0d2ceab8eaec17985f91-1024-685/3202994732_2db55675de_b.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="Tooth brushing" width="800"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mbsurf/3202994732/in/photolist-5T3bK7-5qghma-5XW45n-7aQxJA-4YZ5r-9bEmah-Uga-a6goXb-7z5Q7Z-49XmvP-dRA8r1-diTYY8-4MWS65-9dUcim-v6QK3-cMhuK-9AB5xh-4H93ub-5yupbT-349W3e-34euSq-349VLc-34evg5-349VsR-349VcH-nEumV-7hic3R-8ceVjE-2zspUq-HND9y-5vnjT6-kaSmk-FV7as-m1nUW4-5XCQz3-Vtwe7-o54HfM-63tz9c-8KbtnJ-6v1J1m-MJpTs-eaECY-4q5dNN-57PcQy-7ZfRas-vH4rq-4TV9X7-fqbTf-fqbRp-6PNyh">Adam Drewes/flickr</a></span></p><p class="caption">A recent study found that there's no agreement on the best way to brush your teeth, but it doesn't need to be so confusing.</p></img></div><p></p></div>BI Answers: What's the best way to brush your teeth?</h3>
<p>Taking care of your teeth is important - the consequences of not having good oral health are horrifying.</p>
<p>Seriously, Google <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=periodontitis&amp;espv=2&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=oOXsU77cEu3LsAS00IGQDg&amp;ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=1615&amp;bih=867" target="_blank">image search "periodontitis"</a> for proof. Health conditions other than gum disease and tooth loss that are linked to bad dental hygiene range from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-if-you-dont-brush-and-floss-your-teeth-2014-2" target="_blank">diabetes to dementia to erectile dysfunction</a>.</p>
<p>But there's some confusion about the best way to brush your teeth.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v217/n3/full/sj.bdj.2014.651.html" target="_blank">recent study</a> in the British Dental Journal found that there's no consensus on the most effective way to use a toothbrush. In the study's <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-08/ucl-wtb080714.php" target="_blank">press release</a>, the authors described this as "unacceptably inconsistent" and "undermining faith and trust in the profession as a whole."</p>
<p>The study analyzed the recommendations of different dental organizations, toothpaste and toothbrush companies, and dental texts, and found that many different methods of tooth cleaning were recommended without any consensus on what was best - meaning that a person might be given different advice on the best way to hold their brush by two different dentists, which the authors said confuses patients.</p>
<p>But is it really so complicated?</p>
<p>No, according to the dentists we talked to.</p>
<p>Brushing and flossing remove particulate buildup from food as well as bacteria that cause cavities. These things always continue to build up, but regular maintenance can protect the average person's teeth and gums from their damaging effects.</p>
<p>They say the most important thing is remembering to regularly brush and floss and to do it thoroughly - and to see a dentist at least once a year.</p>
<p>Getting an annual professional cleaning helps to remove hard-to-reach plaque - otherwise it can build up and harden, causing serious problems.</p>
<p>Here's what you need to know:</p>
<p><strong>The toothbrush:</strong> Unless your dentist advises otherwise, <strong>it doesn't matter whether you use a regular toothbrush or an electric one</strong> - that you use it is what counts. Electric brushes may be helpful for people with reduced mobility who have a harder time reaching the inside surfaces of teeth.</p>
<p><strong>Soft-bristled brushes <a href="http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth" target="_blank">are recommended</a> </strong>for the vast majority of people, however, as they are less likely to damage enamel and gums. The brush itself should be a comfortable size, one that can reach the teeth from all sides.</p>
<p>Many toothbrushes fit these requirements, but the American Dental Association has a list of <a href="http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/ada-seal-products/Find-ADA-Seal-Products-by-Category/" target="_blank">approved toothbrushes</a>.</p>
<p><strong>The toothpaste:</strong> The key ingredient in all toothpastes, including traditional and "natural" products, is cavity-fighting fluoride. While some toothpastes may be specially formulated to fight gingivitis or to whiten teeth, they <strong><a href="http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/Files/guide_fluoride_dentifrice.ashx" target="_blank">must contain fluoride</a> in order to receive the ADA-approval seal.</strong></p>
<p>Toothpastes <a href="http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-category-information/toothpaste" target="_blank">may also contain</a> mild abrasives like calcium carbonate or baking soda to remove surface stains, as well as detergents that make it foam up. It's up to you to choose between "Arctic Blast" and "Icy Mint" flavors.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/triclosan-cancer-causing-ingredient-in-colgate-toothpaste-2014-8" target="_blank">Colgate Total</a> and <strong>some other toothpastes contain triclosan, an antibacterial</strong> that fights gum disease. Some lab studies in animals suggest it could be harmful - though there's no proof that it's definitely harmful and studies have shown that it can help fight gingivitis.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53ed28b86da811a329c340f0-527-769/screen%20shot%202014-08-14%20at%205.22.14%20pm.png" border="0" alt="Flossing Tips" width="400"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.mouthhealthy.org/">American Dental Association</a></span></p><p class="caption">ADA also provides flossing tips.</p></img></div><p></p></div><strong>Dental Floss: </strong> Brushing your teeth can't remove all the plaque from your mouth - it builds up in between teeth, and needs to be removed. Otherwise, that buildup can become problematic and can lead to gum disease, bad breath, and tooth loss.</p>
<p><strong>Flossing at least once a day is absolutely essential,</strong> though it's good to do it right after every meal, too.</p>
<p>Flossing shouldn't be painful - pain is a sign of potential gum disease. But if one type of floss is uncomfortable or difficult people should choose another type. Waxed or unwaxed is perfectly fine, and using a pre-threaded floss pick can be easy for some people.</p>
<p>Use the directions to the right for detailed instructions.</p>
<p><strong>Mouthwash:</strong> Mouthwash is a supplement to good oral health, according to Cram, but <strong> it's not essential like flossing and brushing.</strong></p>
<p>Mouthwash doesn't protect against gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. It feels like it cleans because it's astringent, but doesn't do anything to remove plaque. They do kill of the bacteria that make the plaque, though they quickly grow back.</p>
<p>That being said,<strong> mouthwashes containing flouride can help fight cavities</strong>. They may also contain menthol products, which can be helpful for people with bad breath. They can be particularly effective used as a <strong>rinse after brushing or flossing</strong>, to remove the bits of plaque that have been loosened up.</p>
<p><strong>How long, how often, and in what order:</strong> People should floss at least once a day, making sure to remove all food debris, and brush at least twice.</p>
<p>As long someone does that much, <strong>it doesn't matter whether they brush or floss first</strong>. But dentists say to make sure to get in between and behind all teeth when flossing, and to reach all possible tooth surfaces when brushing.</p>
<p><strong>It should take about two minutes to thoroughly clean your entire mouth.</strong></p>
<p>Afterwards, go ahead and rinse - with mouthwash if you'd like.</p>
<p>Dr. Stuart Froum, the president of the American Academy of Periodontists and a practicing periodontist in Manhattan, recommends brushing after every meal. And although some dentists <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2154482/Brushing-teeth-meals-actually-damage-them.html" target="_blank">recommend waiting about a half hour</a> before brushing so that tooth enamel isn't damaged by the combination of food acid and brushing, Cram says that this is only a problem after eating something particularly acidic.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53ecff6feab8ea7a5f985f8b-526-722/screen%20shot%202014-08-14%20at%202.25.44%20pm.png" border="0" alt="American Dental Association tooth brushing guide" width="400"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.mouthhealthy.org">American Dental Association</a></span></p><p class="caption">The American Dental Association provides guides for those who want more guidance on brushing and flossing.</p></img></div><p></p></div></p>
<p><strong>Don't forget to brush the tongue too</strong>, since bacteria builds up there and can contribute to bad breath.</p>
<p><strong>Brushing methods:</strong> Brushing techniques are what stirred up the controversy from the new study, since different methods are recommended by different organizations. This could confuse patients.</p>
<p>Some popular ones include the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqCpZm6s_dE" target="_blank">modified Bass</a> (pronounced like the fish), Bass, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB6CeOYzGKc" target="_blank">Fones</a>.</p>
<p>The modified Bass, which the study found most frequently recommended for adults, involves holding the brush at a 45 degree angle to teeth, moving it back and forth, and then brushing down to remove plaque.</p>
<p>"Think of your gum as a little turtleneck collar around your tooth," says Cram. "Get in there and brush the tooth surface and get around under the tissue and remove the plaque."</p>
<p>Brushing down is what makes this the modified Bass, as opposed to regular Bass. Check it out:</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53ed3120ecad043e12a65d7d/modified bass brushing.gif" border="0" alt="modified bass brushing"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqCpZm6s_dE">Columbia College Calgary/YouTube</a></span></p><p class="caption">Modified Bass</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>The Fones technique, most frequently recommended for kids and people with less dexterity, involves moving the brush in a circular motion.</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53ed32366da8119a58c340e9/fones technique.gif" border="0" alt="Fones technique"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB6CeOYzGKc">Columbia College Calgary/YouTube</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>This probably doesn't matter much, since <strong>there's little evidence that any that any one technique keeps teeth cleaner,</strong> Dr. Nigel Carter of the British Dental Health Foundation <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28689887" target="_blank">explained to the BBC</a>.</p>
<p>"Dentists generally feel it is better to take a person's existing habits and modify them if necessary," said Carter, instead of trying to institute a whole new technique.</p>
<p><em style="line-height: 1.5em;">This post is part of a continuing series that answers all of your "why" questions related to <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword>. Have your own question? Email <a href="mailto:dspector@businessinsider.com">science@businessinsider.com</a> with the subject line "Q&amp;A"; tweet your question to <a href="https://twitter.com/BI_Science" target="_blank">@BI_Science</a>; or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BusinessInsiderScience" target="_blank">post to our Facebook page</a>.</em></p>

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