Totally Unattractive Mouths

We all know that its important to care for our mouths. So we try to keep healthy teeth and gums by brushing our teeth and flossing. Many of us also go a step further by using whitening products to improve the appearance of our smile. But for many folks that's where taking care of the mouth ends.
Everyone knows that caring for it means a little-bit of work. Why? Because we're constantly using it! But cleaning our mouths should involve more than brushing, flossing, and rinsing. After we walk out the door in the morning people may notice how nice our teeth look, but what they will remember the most is what comes out of our mouths. No, not our breath, well unless its really pungent or something. No I'm talking about our words.





Guarding what we say isn't easy. Especially when everyone around us doesn't seem to care. But the issue of excessive swearing and cursing is one that needs some attention. Its getting a bit out of hand. Like weeds in a garden once someone starts speaking that way it tends to spread into all their conversations until it nearly becomes a new language!

Ever notice a really attractive person and get shocked to hear what's coming out of his/her mouth? Or have you noticed how little kids are spouting off curses and fowl language these days? I don't know about you but to me its disturbing to hear kids utter those things and its a major turn-off to hear good-looking people speak so ugly.

It makes me wonder... why do people curse and swear so much? Is it to impress others? Is it a desire to be accepted? Maybe a bit of both? Entertainment certainly plays a large role in the problem. And fowl language is so prevalent that it sometimes feels like a hopeless case. Why even bother when " everyone" is doing it, right? Wrong. People can improve their speech. How?

Well it starts by really listening to others and thinking about what they're really saying. Every time I've done this I've tried using different words to create the same expression or feeling. And believe-it-or-not, most people who speak fowl language excessively either express anger or frustration... or both. Those emotions are not attractive on anyone. But the good news is that people can change.

A close friend of mine had to do just this because her boss told her that her language was not appropriate for a professional establishment ( in this case an ER.) So she had people close to her, friends and family, stop her speaking every time she uttered something offensive. And you know what? It worked. Her speech has improved and she found better words to express the same meanings she wanted to share before.
But one day she said something that surprised me. She had wished someone would have told her how offensive her language had become before her boss did. That made me feel bad. I had wrongly assumed that because she spoke that way it meant that she didn't want anyone telling her otherwise.

So if someone you know has a serious problem with this issue then let them know, in a respectful manner of course, that its offensive. Like my friend, they may not even realize their speech needs a " make-over." But change of any kind takes time. Be patient.
Striving to make what comes out of our mouths as attractive as a clean, white-toothed smile is a smart move. And you can bet that people will notice the change. :)

"... for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.."

( Matthew 12:24)