Blog Posts by Redbook

Cavity-free doesn't necessarily mean worry-free when it comes to oral health: Seemingly minor problems such as bad breath and canker sores not only cause embarrassment and discomfort, they may also signal more serious health concerns. In fact, studies suggest that the bacteria that contribute to bad breath and gum disease also raise the risk of heart disease and stroke. Learn what's behind oral-health problems along with simple, health-enhancing solutions.

1. Bad breath

The cause: Poor oral health-care habits are a major factor in halitosis - infrequent brushing and flossing allow the buildup of oral bacteria that produce stinky sulfur byproducts, explains Kimberly Harms, D.D.S., an American Dental Association (ADA) consumer adviser in Farmington, MN. Anything that dries out the mouth, such as alcohol or caffeine, can also leave breath less than fresh, since saliva works to rinse teeth clean of problem-causing bacteria, and it naturally contains antibacterial agents.

The fix: Floss

There's no getting around the annual payment to Uncle Sam, but no one wants to pay more than they have to. Yet many do: According to the Government Accountability Office in Washington, DC, in one year alone, more than 2 million Americans overpaid on taxes by more than $400. We got the inside scoop from experts on the write-offs people often don't take advantage of.

Use the tried-and-true saving strategies of money mavens.

Save When You Spend
For your federal tax return, you can deduct all the sales tax you paid for purchases in the previous year (from clothing to a new minivan) instead of writing off how much you're paying in state and local income taxes. So add up those receipts and deduct whichever amount is higher. No receipts? Use the Sales Tax Deduction Calculator on irs.gov to estimate what someone in your locale and income bracket would have spent on sales tax. "If you have receipts for more expensive purchases, such as a car or boat, add on the tax for those," says Mark

As of Sunday, spring will officially have sprung. We're psyched for cute spring dresses, but not so psyched about the winter flab they'll bare, which is why we've got a two-week plan to set healthy, long-term slimming into motion. Here, the first five days:

Take small steps to slim down.

Day 1
Do: Start slow: 15 minutes on the bike or a brisk 30-minute walk. Don't plan a big workout and wind up disappointed in yourself for not being able to make it through; a good experience will get you motivated.
Avoid: Your usual (bad) diet. Identify 10 bad habits (like scarfing down your kid's fries). Rank them from hardest to change to easiest and start slowly knocking items off, starting with the simplest.

Get a jump start with this all-over body blaster.

Day 2
Do: Plan ahead. Stash smart snacks (rice crackers, raw almonds) in your purse to prevent junk-food binges. Bring your gym bag to work so you can head straight to the gym.
Avoid: Get-fit-quick gimmicks. Don't fall prey to the false

John Edwards's former mistress Rielle Hunter is finally talking. And she has a lot to say, especially when it comes to why Edwards cheated on his wife Elizabeth.

Hunter, who has a young daughter with Edwards, told GQ this month, "Infidelity doesn't happen in healthy marriages. The break in the marriage happens before the infidelity. And that break happened, you know, two and a half decades before I got there. So the home was wrecked already. I was not the Home Wrecker."

If you've been a victim of cheating, you've undoubtedly wondered why and how did it happen to you. Counselor M. Gary Neuman surveyed 200 cheating and noncheating husbands to get at the real reasons behind men's infidelity. Check out more of his findings here.

48% of men rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated.
The problem is that men are less likely than women to express these feelings, so you won't always know when your guy is in need of a little affirmation. "Most men consider it unmanly

There are never enough minutes in the day for busy, working moms. Although the business meetings, soccer practices, scout meetings, and birthday parties aren't going anywhere, you can make it all more manageable. Check out these helpful planning tips and find out if they could work for you.

Map Out Mornings
Begin the day by quickly mapping out where your time goes. The idea is to make the haphazard elements of your schedule as visible to you as if the day were a messy closet in need of order.

It's important to get a sense of what you're trying to squeeze into that closet - and decide if it will fit or not. Sometimes it's not the number of commitments on your schedule but rather the disorder and uncertainty surrounding them. Make your schedule as concrete as possible and share it with your spouse, so you both have a sense of when you're available. By identifying solutions to potential problems early (you have an early appointment so the kids will carpool with the neighbor), it will

Dylan Ellis/Getty ImagesYes, wrinkles make you look old and a fresh glow makes you look young. But there are other ways your appearance can age you (or shave a few years off!). Here's what might get you called miss...and what might get you called ma'am.

Get your sexy back. Here are 21 ways.

WHAT MAKES YOU LOOK OLDER
Receding gums: +10 YEARS
"Everybody's gums recede," says Michael Apa, D.D.S., an expert in aesthetic dentistry. "But when gums recede significantly before your late 30s, it can be very aging."
Get rid of them: Your dentist can restore your gum line with AlloDerm grafts (about $2,000 to $3,000). Or, porcelain veneers applied over your teeth will cover up the receded area ($1,000 and up - per tooth).
Avoid them! Don't slack on your regular professional cleanings. At home, Apa suggests microbe-killing the Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Mouth Rinse, $7.50.

Safegaurd Your Smile. Here's How.John Davis/Getty Images

Veiny hands: +7 YEARS
A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that the number one thing that

A hot topic as this year's Oscars was the fact that Best Director nominees Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron used to be married. Talk about a competition between exes! But instead the focus was on the strong level of support the two continue to offer each other. Could this be a prime example of when divorce just works?

Editor Candace Walsh compiled essays from 28 women who rejoiced in the gifts their divorces brought them - healing, independence, and the blessing of starting over. Here's what they learned:

Divorce is an ending, but it's also a beginning.
"The women were able to see their divorce as evidence of growth," Walsh says. "When their marriage ended, they felt liberated - they renovated their homes, went back to school, traveled the world, or simply appreciated the ability to take a walk whenever they pleased." In beginning anew, they regained their sense of self and found happiness within. As Jessica Cerretani writes, "As sweet as my new guy is, he isn't the only reason for

No matter how much we love tracking celebrity blunders, we also love the glamour that comes out of Hollywood. And nowhere is that truer than Old Hollywood. Starlets like Marilyn and Audrey dazzled onscreen and off. They captivated then and continue to captivate now, so when it comes to modern beauty, it's all about channeling your own inner Old-Hollywood screen siren.

Marilyn Monroe's Red Lips
There are many glamorous things about Norma Jean's look, but her red lips top the list. To get the look, find the perfect shade of red (we like MAC Matte Lipstick in Russian Red, $14, maccosmetics.com) and wear with confidence.

Find other bold lip colors that are hot this season.

Sophia Loren's Cat Eyes
Women have been trying to achieve the perfect cat-eye since Sophia Loren rocked her dramatic look in the 1960s. The key to a flawless cat-eye is a liner with an ultra-fine tip, like Smashbox's Heartbreaker Liquid Liner Pen ($24, smashbox.com).

Get more beautiful in just four weeks.


Audrey