There are so many things that can affect our smiles, and we might not even realize we are doing so. There is more that goes into caring for your dental health and smile appearance than visiting the dentist and brushing twice a day. Your lifestyle can have a huge impact on the way that your mouth and teeth look. 

There are a few things that you can do – or not do – to help keep your smile looking radiant. Some habits may be simple to break, while others might take some time to get used to. You can also adjust the way you enjoy certain things like coffee to prevent it from having too significant an impact on the look of your smile. 

Genetics 

Genetics plays a part in many aspects of our health, and dental health is no exception. Our family history can dictate how straight our teeth will be and how susceptible we are to common dental issues like decay and gum disease. While there’s not much you can do about your genetics, being aware of what to look for and knowing your family history can be valuable. Find out more about how genetics can impact your smile from the dental professionals at ALIGNERCO.  

Nail Biting 

Using your teeth as nail clippers is never a good idea for both your teeth and your nails themselves. Our hands and nails harbor a lot of bacteria, which is why it is best to avoid putting your hands in or near your mouth unless they are freshly washed. Biting your nails can also break down the enamel, potentially causing chips in the teeth or decay.  

If biting your nails is a nervous habit, consider finding something else to do instead, such as a fidget spinner or stress toy. You could also use specialist nail polish that tastes unpleasant when chewed on. Learning healthy coping mechanisms can also be beneficial to help you stop biting your nails.  

Coffee 

Coffee is a common cause of teeth staining, which can be costly to fix if you end up requiring professional cleaning by your dentist. One way to prevent staining from coffee is by drinking your energy-boosting beverage through a metal straw. This can keep the liquid from washing over your teeth and preserve your pearly whites.  

Ice 

Many people crunch on ice when the weather is warm as a way to cool down. Some even enjoy doing it because the crunching itself is so satisfying. This can be bad news for your teeth, however, as crunching on hard things like ice can cause small cracks, which can lead to decay or even tooth loss. If you crunch ice to cool down, consider letting the ice melt in your mouth instead of drinking a cold drink. If the temptation is too much for you, consider avoiding ice in your drinks altogether.  

Teeth Grinding 

Teeth grinding is common and often occurs while we sleep when there’s not much we can do about it. If this is something you deal with, you could consider investing in a mouth guard to wear at night. This will prevent you from grinding your teeth, providing a cushioned surface to protect your teeth as you sleep.

Collaborative post with out brand partner.

Frost Magazine, as our readers will know, became particularly interested in the importance of community during Covid.

Thirsk’s wonderful community hub was highlighted as prescription deliveries, and every other form of help was provided. The small shops turned on a sixpence overnight, to make it easy for people to order, and out the vans would go. Bliss, a local cafe delivered meals, and always the neighbours… It was wonderful heartwarming evidence of community at work.

So, what about Thirsk’s sense of ‘community’ today, now the emergency is, we hope, over?  Again Frost Magazine has written of just one facet that continues, though there are many more. Thirsk has the Yarnbombers brightening our lives and raising money for causes various, latterly Ukraine. This gang of 100 knitters come in stealth overnight, and when we enter Thirsk the next day, the bollards, and assorted piller boxes and various town squares are dressed in a particular theme, see above, the Jubilee. Yes, the Queen’s foot is resting on the top tier of cakes, but heavens, after the year she’s had, why not?

Now let’s have a look at the response to Covid in other areas, and where better to look than at one of my absolutely favourite places; my mum’s birthplace, and home, and where I spent many of my childhood summer holidays – Brady Square in the pit village or perhaps town of Washington.  Washington in Tyne and Wear, is where George Washington’s ancesters were born and lived. (The Old Hall is well worth a visit – lovely tea room too)

Brady Square

My adored Uncle Stan and Auntie Isobel ran the family shop, called locally I think -memory is fickle – The Long Pull in Brady Square, featured above to the left of the white shop. A train ran through the square back in the day, just to the right of  Stan’s shop.  Uncle Stan had brown sauce on his breakfast fried bread and my sister and I were also allowed, and they took us, with David their son, to the seaside – oh, those endless beaches.  But on the downside we had to buy our sweets!  My mother was known as Little Annie Newsome in her childhood. She and Stan were orphaned when their da died when she was 11. Community was there for the bairns. Is it still?

Mum and Stan in hired clothes for an photographer’s photo following her mum’s death, probably for her da, who was still at 1WW war.

I was lucky enough to grab Marion Taylor’s arm, holding this powerhouse still for long enough to tell me how the community fared during Covid, and were faring now.

Marion is a native of Brady Square, Washington, and she tells me that:  ‘The local community did not waver during Covid and although people were house bound, we worked with a local business and delivered essential items over a five-week period of free food to over 400 houses a week. My husband along with other volunteers did the deliveries and I organised all the routes so we could cover the whole of Washington and not just Brady Square or Columbia as it is known today. Elderly people along the way were caring for each other and prepared to share a box of eggs or only accept a single apple so the lady next door could have one too. Although Covid was crippling it didn’t take away the community spirit and the need to care for each other.

Asked whether she had any special memories of that time, Marion didn’t hesitate: ‘Easter Sunday 2020 we delivered 3,000 Lindt chocolate bunnies to the elderly and house bound people of Washington. A team of volunteers worked from 8am until every bunny was delivered – a spectacular achievement which brought so much happiness to the people who couldn’t be with their families that day.

‘When the council eventually took over, we concentrated on delivering hand sanitizers and masks to the care homes throughout the North East, travelling as far as Morpeth to ensure people had the PPE they needed.

‘I created a facebook page “Polly’s Patter Page” and set various fun tasks and puzzles, inviting people to join in to help keep their minds active. We still have this page.’

So, obviously the next BIG question from Frost Magazine was: what now? Pollys Patter Page remains, but has the rest disappeared into the ether?

Heavens, I might as well have asked, have you sworn off gin?

‘Certainly not. To start with we have two Columbia pages where we share information, post photographs and advertise our events. These pages have contact numbers so people can contact any member of the committee if they need advice or help with anything.

‘Columbia uk Community Forum   and Columbia Community Association

‘We also have the Columbia Community Centre, and  our new committee used the facebook  pages to introduce ourselves to the community and invited them to visit the centre where we welcomed their input into what activities they would like and how we could move the centre forward. It was a case of bringing the people together after the social isolation they had experienced and make them feel part of the community again. Bit by bit we gained their confidence and their belief in what we wanted to achieve for the community.

‘Our Memories of Brady Square facebook page is  very popular, and is where we can reminisce and it’s great for the community to chat and see old photos of what it used to be like in Brady Square.’ 

So that was Little Annie Newsome’s daughter, Margaret, well and truly told! But wait: next week we will hear more about the Comlumbia Community Centre; its activities, and  fundraising to restore the building, the… No, that’s enough, read about it next week. I tell you what, though, my mum would be thrilled to bits to hear that community is alive and well in dear old Brady Square, now known as Columbia.

Columbia Community Association will be open Monday to Friday from 8am – 4pm from July 11th
This is to accommodate the residents who are having to vacate their properties during refurb.
Everyone is welcome to pop in.

Margaret Graham is editor of Frost Magazine, and an author of 28 novels and a couple of books on writing.

.She writes under her own name, and Milly Adams also Annie Clarke. Her latest as Annie Clarke is The Home Front Girls series (Arrow) set in a north east pit village. Her mum was amazed that her dilly daydream daughter managed to complete even one book yonks ago, and had to have a gin. www.facebook.com/margaretgraham4

It was an ordinary school day, the day I lost my little brother. One moment he was on the roundabout and then was gone. Gone. Missing.

They all blamed me. I was in charge. Even though I was only ten years old. They sent me away. The hurt, the shame, the questions. The not knowing. I tried to move on.  It’s been nineteen years in exile and now somebody wants me back.

Someone with a dark secret. They hold the keys, they know the truth.So, I need to return to the Welsh village of my childhood to find out who, because I have a secret, too…

I did something bad…

In reviewing My Little Brother I have to declare I have a very personal attachment to this book: during lockdown I attended a virtual book launch for Diane Saxon’s book ‘The Ex’. During the launch Diane revealed that some lucky attendees would have the opportunity to pick a name for a character and another would pick two random objects for her to sneak into her next book. I said to myself ‘If i get to pick a character’s name i would use my mum’s name ‘Caryn’ as she has never been able to buy things like a mug with her name on, as it is so rare.

In addition my mum spent the first half of her life spelling out her name whenever she made a appointment etc. and then when she married my dad her surname changed from Thomas to Peeke and for the last 34 years she has had to spell out her last name too. 

Lo and behold I won the chance to name a character and true to my word (all be it to myself) i chose Caryn. And as fate would have it my sister won the chance to pick two random objects. She chose darts as her husband plays darts and false teeth which is one of our memories of our great grandmother – she would keep them in a glass in her very pink bathroom and as children we found it hilarious.

You can imagine my excitment when Diane Saxon informed her readers of the book title and release date and that a Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) was available on Netgallly. I was ecstatic when my request to read it was approved.

So, now you know my life story I will progress to the review.

Diane Saxon is a sensational author and her latest book will have you on the edge of your seat because nothing is certain, except that you are questioning everything.

My Little brother is a gripping, tear jerking, nerve racking and exciting read.

The scenery is described with such empathetic detail that you are transported to the rainy valleys of Wales, and almost feel the rain. The characters are so diverse and strong but totally believable, and Saxon flawlessly includes Welsh dialect and accents which not only do not hinder, but actually contribute to the characters’ authenticity.

Diane Saxon is a natural born story-teller and this is reflected in all of her books. Reading My Little Brother reminded me of watching episodes of Johnathan Creek and Poiriot because anything could happen, and frequently did, and it makes sense. This novel is far from predictable and you will not be able to put it down until all is revealed

If you enjoy a good ‘who done it’ then this book is for you. Read it, and see if Saxon has included the false teeth, the name and darts!

My Little Brother by Diane Saxon is available from 11th July in HB, PB. Audio and eBook.

Joffe’s book of the week is THE COWES WEEK MURDERS, the latest utterly gripping detective mystery from bestselling author Pauline Rowson — out now for just 99p | 99c.

Renegade detective Andy Horton is on a sailing trip to France when he gets the news: Sergeant Cantelli’s nephew, Johnnie Oslow, is missing.

Then the charred remains of a body are discovered in a disused tunnel. Is it Cantelli’s nephew?

The search for a missing person soon becomes a hunt for a ruthless killer. And this killer is just getting started.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE COWES WEEK MURDERS BY PAULINE ROWSON FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

The Secret of Bagnett Hall by Norman Russell   99p/99c

One dead heiress.
A fortune hanging in the balance.  A cunning guest who’ll do anything to claim the money for herself.  

The brand-new, completely gripping whodunnit from Norman Russell is filled with gripping twists, charming characters and old-school intrigue . Just my sort of read.

The End of a Journey by Grace Thompson    99p/99c

South Wales, 1953. Zena Martin and Jake Williams are happy, in love, and about to announce their engagement. Meanwhile, Zena’s brother, Greg, hopes to persuade the beautiful Rose Conelly to meet his family and begin the next stage of their relationship.

Everything seems to be going well for the Martins. Then their beloved father tragically dies of a heart attack and long-buried secrets come to light, changing everything. As secrets so often do but they are great for plotting, and this is no different.

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