Remember: Brush twice a day.

Do you know how bad heated mayonnaise smells?

Well my entire family found out 15 years ago thanks to a Seventeen article that encouraged teenage girls everywhere to make their own hair treatments using nothing but the family pantry and a microwave.

It’s impossible to remember the exact ingredients, but it definitely called for mayo and olive oil. And in case the stench of my homemade conditioner didn’t sufficiently establish that I was a complete idiot, I slipped on the oil in the shower and made it official.

It’s always a wonder what magazines could get people to try – beer treatments for your hair, strawberry puree on your face – who knows what else. That’s why I’m alarmed by a recent press release from the Chicago Dental Society who claims that some patients are cleaning their teeth with Comet Disinfectant Powder and using superglue to secure loose dental work.

“As we countdown to CDS's annual Midwinter Meeting, one of the largest displays of dental products in North America, here are a few of the worst dental habits to have:

Cleaning teeth with Comet, bleach or other household cleaners. Household cleaners are abrasive and will wear down the enamel on your teeth. Some are also toxic to ingest.

Using 'crazy glue' for loose dental work. Super-strong glues will still wear away over time. See your dentist for a long-term solution to loose dental work."

Of course, no magazine would ever recommend using bleach to clean teeth or superglue to fix a crown – everyone knows they shouldn’t do that and I can’t imagine anyone would want to. But maybe – just maybe – some people have to because they can’t afford a proper dentist visit.

Maybe CDS can address that issue at their annual Midwinter Meeting.