5 Kitchen Tricks We Can Thank Our Dentist For

Instead of making a mess by trying to slice crumbly goat cheese with a knife, slide an 18-inch piece of dental floss under a log of goat cheese. Cross the ends of the floss above the cheese and then pull the floss through the cheese to slice it. Move the floss and cut again to make slices of the desired thickness.

If you’re out of kitchen twine and you need a short length of food-safe string, unflavored, unwaxed dental floss works in a pinch for tying meat, poultry, or bundles of herbs.

A knife can squish and tear soft yeast dough, causing the filling to leak out the sides. For a better, smoother way to slice off cinnamon rolls, hold a piece of dental floss in each hand and carefully saw through the dough with the floss to separate individual pieces.

Have stubborn tea stains accumulated over time? Fill the stained teapot, teacup, or any stained piece of ceramic with water and drop in a denture-cleansing tablet. Let it soak for 2 or 3 hours, then wash with dishwashing liquid and hot water. Light stains will disappear, leaving the cup or pot looking as good as new. Heavier stains may need several treatments followed by a scrubbing with hot soapy water.

After working with pungent ingredients, such as garlic or fish, lemon juice helps to wash away any lingering odors from hands. However, when the odor is too strong even after a spritz of citrus, wash your hands with a couple of tablespoons of mouthwash.