While many people used to believe that the cold winter weather put us at greater risk for illness, the truth is that it's not the cold, but the spread of germs through the environment -such as the hundreds of surfaces we touch everyday-that cause illness.

During the warm-weather months, we spend lots of time outdoors, whether at the playground, local zoo, or sports arena, to name a few favorites. As we're traveling or simply out and about, we rarely stop to think about the germs that our hands pick up in public, outdoor places-settings that offer fewer opportunities to wash hands at a sink with soap and water.

According to Dr. Charles Gerba, nationally known germ expert and professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, eighty percent of all common infections are spread through the environment around us-meaning we're more likely to come into contact with germs at all those crowded public places that we frequent in the summer months.

Keeping Teeth and Mouth Healthy

Is it better to have the perfect smile at a job interview or at your wedding? Which is more important: a clean body or a clean mouth? And if women could share their sink with a Hollywood hunk while brushing their teeth, who would they choose?

The makers of Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste recently conducted a survey to uncover the answers to these and other fun oral care questions. Some of the most interesting tidbits include:

"You're Hired!" Trumps "I Do!" Three out of four respondents want their smile to be its best at a job interview, while only half vowed that they needed a sparkling smile for their own wedding.

First Impressions on First Dates. While the nose knows that body odor ranks first on the list of biggest turn-offs during a first date, bad breath came in a very close second.