In our article Healthy Teeth found in this issue of Crackers, we try to bring to your attention the benefits of taking care of your teeth. Cutting out on sugary foods and cleaning your teeth at least twice a day will leave your teeth healthier and with a brilliant smile.
This month’s Saghtar is out at all newsagents. Do not miss it. As usual, it is packed with very interesting articles from various contributors covering many subjects and general knowledge.
Did you know that we might be related to a man who lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago? Scientists say that we are all linked to each other by a genetic thread, and our threads are interwoven through the migrations of our ancestors. You can learn more by visiting the site which is mentioned in the article New project traces humans’ ancient wanderings in order to get more information on this new discovery.
Today we are announcing the winners of our various competitions carried out during the past weeks. We will be having more interesting competitions in the forthcoming issues with great prizes for you to win!
See you next Thursday
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Happy Birthday
Belated birthday wishes and lots of hugs and kisses to our little princess KAELYN HANNAH WOOD on her first birthday. Wishes are coming from mummy Joanne, daddy Shawn-Harold, brother Jake Harold, grandparents Rose, Tom, Ann and John, aunties, uncles and especially from great grandmother Kathryn.
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Belated birthday wishes to our most loving and wonderful daughter Kirsty Borg who turned seven on Monday. Wishes are coming from mummy Charlotte, daddy Luciano, her loving sister Kyra, nanna Carmen, nannu Lino and auntie Marcella.
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Birthday wishes to REBECCA CAMILLERI who will be 12 years old tomorrow. Best wishes are coming from mum, dad, brother Mark, grandparents, aunties, uncles and especially from cousins Gaby and Sheryl.
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Kids’ News
New project traces humans’ ancient wanderings
Most of us know who our close relatives are – parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. But every one of us may also be related to a man who lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago, according to recent studies
Most scientists agree that the first humans lived in Africa. What routes did humans take as they moved out of Africa to the other places people live today? Scientists in the project are studying genes, which are millions of bits of information in people’s cells.
Genes tell cells what to do and how to act. Genes also help decide a person’s characteristics or appearance.
For example, a gene determines whether a person has straight or curly hair or green or brown eyes.
Genes are inherited. That means they come from your parents.
Ever wondered why you resemble one or both of your parents? It’s because of genes!
By studying genetic characteristics shared by specific groups of people, the scientists will be able to map connections between them, like a giant game of connect the dots.
For example, scientists have studied the genetic makeup of men living today in Asia.
They found similarities between the genes of people living in Mongolia and the genes of the Hazara, a group living thousands of miles away in Pakistan.
Scientists say that we are all linked to each other by a genetic thread, and our threads are interwoven through the migrations of our ancestors.
The project could teach humans about our past. Scientists hope that what we learn can make the world today a better place: “Hopefully, the idea that we all share common ancestors will help people overcome some of the prejudices they have,” they said.
www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic
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HEALTHY TEETH
No more Easter eggs, no more ‘figolli’! Now is the time to take care of your teeth and learn how to properly clean and keep teeth and gums healthy. Taking care of our teeth should be a daily regime and if done properly, should give us a healthy mouth and a big smile!
The parts of the tooth
A tooth is basically made up of two parts: the crown and the root.
The crown is what you see when you smile or open your mouth. It’s the part that sits above your gumline.
The root is below the gumline. It makes up about two-thirds of the tooth’s total length.
The kind of food you eat is important in keeping teeth and gums healthy. Certain foods with sugars and starches can lead to tooth decay. It is not necessary to avoid these foods completely, but moderation is the key. Eating vegetables may be a healthy choice since they help in removing some deposits on the teeth.
What’s wrong with sugary snacks?
Sugary snacks taste so good but they aren’t so good for your teeth or your body. The cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods that we all love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some sugary foods have a lot of fat in them too.
Children who consume sugary snacks eat many different kinds of sugar every day, including table sugar (sucrose) and corn sweeteners (fructose). Starchy snacks can also break down into sugars once they’re in your mouth.
How do sugars attack your teeth?
Invisible germs called bacteria live in your mouth all the time. Some of these bacteria form a sticky material called plaque on the surface of the teeth. When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in the plaque gobble up the sweet stuff and turn it into acids. These acids are powerful enough to dissolve the hard enamel that covers your teeth. That’s how cavities get started. If you don’t eat much sugar, the bacteria can’t produce as much of the acid that eats away enamel.
What causes a cavity?
Your mouth is a busy place. Bacteria – tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly on the move on your teeth, gums, lips and tongue. Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most are not and some are even helpful.
Certain types of bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. If they’re not removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms. More bacteria of different types attach to the colony already growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your saliva also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish film on the tooth. This film is called plaque, and that is what causes cavities.
Cut the sugar, grab the milk
Each time you eat a snack containing sugar or starch (carbohydrates), the resulting acid attack on your teeth can last up to 20 minutes, and a lot of snacks and drinks contain sugar. How much sugar? A can of soft drink contains up to 10 teaspoons of sugar, and if you think that natural sugar (like the sugar in raisins or other fruit) is better for your teeth, it’s not. Sugar is sugar.
How can you keep your teeth healthy?
Brush at least twice a day: After breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.
Brush all of your teeth: Not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
Take your time while brushing: Spend at least three minutes each time you brush.
Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles: Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every three months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change colour when it’s time to change them.
Visit the dentist twice a year: Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and s/he can help you learn the best way to brush your teeth.
http://www.healthyteeth.org/toothGrowth/parts.html
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‘Saghtar’
The April issue of Saghtar is mostly dedicated to the feasts celebrated during this month – Good Friday and the biggest feast celebrated by all Christians, Easter. An article that is both interesting and appropriate for this time of year is that dedicated to Ir-Redentur ta’ l-Isla. In this article, one reads about the origins of this feast and the devotion that the Maltese show towards this miraculous statue.
Did you know that the members of the famous group Sugarbabes were only 14 years old when they signed their first singing contract? Read more about these singers on page 18 and for all football enthusiasts there is a very interesting article about the famous Roma attacker, Francesco Totti.
Do not miss your copy of Saghtar, out at all newsagents.