DEAR HELOISE: Thank you for all your hints, which I read in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. In response to Lori B. about the difficulty of reading the expiration dates on product labels due to the small print, I have a solution. There is a magnifying glass feature on my smartphone, which I use all the time for this very purpose. Just go to your app store and download it. It’s free! I hope this helps.

Thank you. Best wishes!

— Maria Eugenia, in Long Beach, California

DEAR HELOISE:I brush my teeth with an electric toothbrush for 2 minutes, then I brush with a regular brush and rinse my mouth out with water. Then I use a mouthwash and rinse with a water pick, using most of the water in it. I cannot stand the taste of toothpaste or mouthwash, so I am left with a very clean taste in my mouth.

I have not had a cavity since I started using this routine. I also have my teeth cleaned twice a year.

— Dorothy C., in Montana

Dorothy, this is a nice routine for healthy teeth and gums. Many of us just brush our teeth and go about our day with this type of cleaning. Mornings are often rushed for many of us, so it’s all the time we have.

However, at bedtime, I like to wash off makeup and oil from my skin, then brush my teeth a little longer and use a disinfecting mouthwash. It must be working because I haven’t had a cavity since I was a kid.

— Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: In response to Louise Y., in Irving, Texas: If she wants the sausage casing gone, she could just take a sharp paring knife, slice the casing, and remove it before cooking. It is easy and saves a lot of undue stress rather than removing it later. The sausage will cook just fine without the casing.

— Rich S., in Connecticut

DEAR HELOISE:I enjoy your column and read it in the Los Angeles Daily News. Please let your readers know that if they receive a phone call where the caller immediately asks, “Can you hear me?” or a similar question, it’s likely a scam. It’s often referred to as the “Can you hear me?” scam.

Scammers are trying to record your “yes” response to use it later on to authorize fraudulent transactions or to make your phone number active for further scams.

— Bob M., in Woodland Hills, California