How to make teeth whitener at home

Everyone wants a Hollywood smile with teeth that are dazzling white. Unfortunately, day-to-day living often results in stained dental surfaces. Consumption of coffee, tea, cola, wine, smoking or just plain aging can make teeth appear yellowish and dull.

Drugstore preparations, such as whitening strips, pastes, mouthwashes and paints are expensive and by no means foolproof. They work better for some people than others. If a dentist whitens your teeth, it will be even harder on your pocket book.

Before opting for costlier remedies, why not try one of several homemade whitening agents which others have found to be safe and effective? There are a number of cheap and easy to obtain preparations which can be used at home which will give very satisfactory results. Among them are the following:

1. Once or twice weekly, swish a capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide all around your mouth. Immediately after, swish with water, then brush with your regular toothpaste. The hydrogen peroxide will disinfect any small abrasions in your mouth, whiten your teeth and freshen your breath. Caution: do not use hydrogen peroxide stronger than 3%. It can be poisonous.

2. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with 3 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Mix and brush as you would with toothpaste. Rinse mouth well. Repeat only once a week. Baking soda is abrasive and can damage the enamel on your teeth.

3. Crush a large strawberry and mix with a tablespoon of baking soda to make a paste. Using a soft toothbrush spread the mixture on your teeth and leave for 5 minutes. Brush with your regular toothpaste and rinse well. Use once a week.

4. Mix a teaspoon of white apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and use as a mouthwash. It's important to dilute the vinegar because it is acidic and may damage tooth enamel with extended use.

5. Eating fruit daily is an effective way to whiten teeth. Chewing apples, strawberries, and orange peels will gently scrub teeth, massage gums, reduce plaque and promote production of saliva which protects oral health. In addition, all fruit contains malic acid, a gentle, natural tooth whitener.

Don't expect immediate results; improvement in the appearance of teeth will be gradual, probably occurring over a number of weeks. This is good, because too sudden a change would be noticeable and everyone would know that your dazzling smile is not natural. Also, it will be necessary to repeat whatever procedure you choose to keep teeth sparkling indefinitely.

Entertainers and indeed anyone in the public eye know that white teeth are importance. They testify to good health and good oral hygiene and contribute to a youthful appearance.

Movie stars spend thousands to ensure that their dazzling smiles are always ready for photographers' cameras and the fans' adoring gazes. With a few minutes, little know-how and some common household materials, anyone can obtain the same effect at home. Why not give it a try?

Why do dogs chade their tails?

Most dogs, at some time in their lives, will chase their tails. A puppy may be lying quietly, with nothing particular to do, nothing claiming his attention at the moment, when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he sees something move. He tries to grab it. It springs away. He tries to catch it. The chase is on!

Tail-chasing is normal with puppies. It is especially noticeable when they've first been separated from their litter mates. They don't realize that the tail they're chasing now, can only belong to themselves.

The problem arises when the behaviour persists into adulthood and becomes excessive. There are several possible causes, some of which the owner can correct, others which will require a veterinarian's attention.

Dogs are social animals and they crave attention from their owners. Of course, positive attention is best, but negative attention is better than none at all. What happens when your dog chases his tail? Do you laugh? Do you call others' attention to him? Do you offer another activity to distract him? Even if you scold him, he's getting attention.

The remedy in this case is to completely ignore the chasing behaviour. Instead, praise him and give him treats when he's quiet, or behaving in an acceptable manner. Alert family members to do the same.

Sometimes sheer boredom can cause a dog to chase its tail. Is your pet getting enough exercise? Is he spending too much time confined in a small space? Some dogs have so many restrictions placed on their behaviour that there's few opportunities for normal canine activities. Some of these unfortunate dogs will chase their tails until they're tired enough to fall asleep.

Anxiety can be another cause of tail-chasing. Humans may bite their finger nails, or twist a lock of hair. Dogs may chase their tails. Is anything different in your pet's routine or environment? Has a favourite person gone away? Is there a new baby in the family? Try to pinpoint when the excessive tail-chasing began. What happened around that time? What changed in the dog's life?

There may be an underlying medical condition which is irritating the tail, the hind quarters or the anal area. The dog may be attempting to address the origin of his discomfort. There may be fleas or ticks on his tail. He may need to be de-wormed. Check for a rash, which could be related to an allergy, on his hind quarters.

Some dogs may have neurological conditions, such as seizures related to psychomotor epilepsy, or compulsive disorders. These can usually be controlled with medication, but it must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Make an appointment and be ready to give the following information about your pet.

The vet will ask about the frequency and duration of the chasing episodes, and the intensity of the behaviour. If your dog is a new patient, s/he will want to know its medical history. He will also inquire whether you know of similar behaviour in closely related dogs. The more information he has, the more accurate the diagnosis will be, and the more effective the treatment.

Dogs are good friends and valued family members. Like humans, they sometimes have bad habits, illnesses, or psychological problems which need to be addressed. They can't tell what's troubling them or where it hurts like human friends and other family members can. They are completely dependent on their owners to care for them and preserve their health and well-being.

Anyone who owns a dog but who is unwilling to accept responsibility for its health and well-being, is unworthy of the privilege of owning a pet.

Changes affect friendships

It is said that nothing in life is permanent except change. Those changes that most reflect the different stages of our lives are the friendships that come and go over the years. They are like jewels in a precious chain of memory. We can grasp each in turn, almost like a rosary, and remember the person, the the circumstances, the good times and the not-so-good times that we shared with them. Each was different, each was of great value, each had things to teach us.

My earliest memories are of the nineteen forties. My friends were all girls. We lived in the same neighborhood, and went to the same school, a Roman Catholic day school taught by the Sisters. Those were happy, innocent days. The biggest problems were who didn't get invited to who's birthday party and usually it turned out to be only a lost invitation.

After high school, our group was splintered. Some went to university, some to business school, others began nurses' training. I, with several others, went to Teachers' College in a neighboring city. My closest friend had gone another route, but we remained in touch in summer and on holidays.

There were new friends at college and we had lots in common. We helped each other prepare lesson plans and went out practice teaching. Afterward, we'd commiserate with each other's successes and failures in the classroom. In June, we returned to our home towns and another set of friends soon faded into the background of our lives.

Soon the high school group started getting married. There were lots of weddings to attend, but afterward our contacts became less frequent. Everyone was working and looking after a house or apartment and that kept us busy. Also, now there were two sets of parents who deserved some attention. Time for socializing with the girls was scarce.

It was unrealistic to expect our husbands to bond as we had over the years. Gradually, the congenial couples became fewer. Then the babies started to arrive. I had four within seven years.

I continued to teach, we needed the money, but I was constantly exhausted. It wasn't an easy time. My husband, who, I see now, really wasn't mature enough to handle a large family, couldn't take the messy house, the demands of the children, the late meals, and the other inconveniences of having a working wife and four young children. He left to start a new life.

I no longer fit in with my former friends. They were in couples, I was single with four children. Fortunately, I found a new group of friends, people in my situation who gathered for support and fun. They held activities for single parents and their children. The group was called "Parents without Partners". I'm not sure whether the organization is still in existence today, but I would highly recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in that position. It saved my sanity, and I actually started to have some fun times, and so did my children.

After eight years, I met a very special man who was willing, and yes, even anxious to take on a new wife and help with the raising of four young teenagers. We were married. He became my new best friend, and I believe you can understand why. He still holds that position today.

As a recycled family, we maintained a small circle of friends, mostly from our workplaces, but life again was busy with the young people, their schooling, dates, and finally weddings. Now there were ailing parents to add to the bundle of responsibilities. As always, time relentlessly marched along.

At present, I feel as if I had come almost full circle. My husband is still my best friend. My children and grandchildren hold the next dearest places in my heart. I have one close friend from the original school group. Strangely, cousins who seemed to be merely acquaintances in former years, have become quite close. Maybe that old saying about blood being thicker than water has some merit. And, of course our chocolate lab, Phoenix is now my constant companion.

I feel I have been very blessed with friends: those who are presently in my life and those whom I have known through the years. Changes in your life will affect your friendships, it cannot be otherwise.

However, I believe that someday, we'll all meet again in God's kingdom, where there'll be one, grand, everlasting reunion, with no tears, no hurt feelings, no bitterness, no sadness and no curfew. Boy, will we ever have a lot to talk about!

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is an invaluable test which enables a physician to detect disorders of the colon such as colitis, polyps and colon cancer. Though colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, it is 90% curable if discovered early. For this reason alone, all those over 50 years of age, statistically the most vulnerable age group, should have a colonoscopy every five to ten years.

During the examination, a flexible tube is inserted through the patient's anus, into the rectum, and through the length of the colon (4-6 feet). This instrument is called a colonoscope. Its tip is fitted with a light and a video camera. The doctor is able to watch its progress through the entire bowel on a monitor beside the patient's bed. If he sees a suspicious polyp, it can be snipped off by the colonoscope for later biopsy. He will also check for actual tumors or any suspicious-looking tissue. During the test, the patient may be lightly sedated or under total anaesthetic, depending on the preference of the doctor.

Many patients feel the preparations for a colonoscopy are the worst part of the test. To assure clear and accurate images, the colon must be free of solid waste. Only drinks of clear fluids are allowed for two to three days ahead of time. On the day or evening before, the patient must take a laxative preparation and drink large quantities of water. It is necessary to spend these hours at home, close to toilet facilities. By bedtime, you will be quite certain that your intestines are completely clean.

Truthfully, the test is not pleasant, but neither is it very painful. Your doctor may even agree to let you sleep through it. If you are fifty or older, or if your have any the risk factors for colorectal cancer, you would be well-advised to have this examination. Risk factors include: having a family history of this cancer, having inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, being obese, or eating a high-fat, low-fiber diet.

When the test is over, and you've been assured your colon is healthy, the satisfaction you'll feel will be worth any discomfort you may have experienced. Be ready to accept hugs of relief from the family and loved ones. Most enjoyable of all will be the expressions of admiration from friends and acquaintances who should undergo a colonoscopy, and are trying to work up the courage.

The father of the atomic bomb

"Science is not everything, but science is very beautiful." J. Robert Oppenheimer

Robert Oppenheimer, often called "the father of the atomic bomb", was born in New York City on April 22, 1904. He grew up in a comfortable Manhattan apartment with one younger brother, Frank, who also became a physicist in later life.

Their father, Julius, was a German immigrant who made his fortune in the family textile importing business. His mother, Ella Friedman, was a painter whose family had lived in New York for generations.

Robert received an excellent education in the elementary grades and high school at the Ethical Culture School of New York. He graduated in 1921 at the top of his class. Besides Mathematics and Science, he studied Latin, Greek. French and German. He was recognized as having a special flair for languages.

He began studies at Harvard, where he excelled in Physics and Chemistry. He continued to study languages and developed an interest in the classics and Oriental philosophy which would continue throughout his life. He graduated summa cum laude in 1925.

In 1927, Oppenheimer received a PhD in Quantum Physics from the University of Gottingen in Germany. There, he met and worked with some of the most brilliant physicists of the day. With Max Born, he was engaged in exploring the structure of molecules.

In 1929, he accepted teaching jobs from both Caltech and the University of California. He divided his time between Berkeley and Pasedena and attracted a following of brilliant young Physics students.

When his father, Julius, died in 1937, Robert became a wealthy man. He had a romantic affair with Jean Tatlock, a graduate student from Stamford University in the 1930s, but married Kitty Harrison in 1940, and the couple subsequently had 2 children, Peter and Katherine.

Because he was usually absorbed in his studies and the theoretical world of Physics, Oppenheimer did not pay much attention to the politics of the times. However, he did take a strong stand against the fascism when it arose in the 1930s.

In 1939, the U.S. Government learned that the Nazis had split the atom, and were preparing to make extremely powerful weapons with their new knowledge. President Roosevelt established the Manhattan Project and appointed Robert Oppenheimer as its director.

Oppenheimer set up a research station at Los Alamos, New Mexico. He brought in the best minds in Physics to work on the creation of the first atom bomb. At the station he managed more than 3,000 people and also grappled withtheoretical and mechanical problems that arose.

On July 16, 1945, Oppenheimer witnessed the first explosion of an atomic bomb at a site dubbed "Trinity" in the New Mexico desert.

"We knew the world would not be the same", he observed. He went on to reflect further, "I remembered the line from Hindu scripture.."Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

Later that month, two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The horrific events resulted in the surrender of Japan on August 10, 1945.

After the war, Oppenheimer chaired the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. In 1949, he strongly opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb, because he was now fully aware of the dangers of radioactivity caused by nuclear explosions. However, he was overruled by President Harry Truman.

In 1953, Oppenheimer became a victim of McCarthyism. He was accused of being closely associated with Communists in the 1930s. A security hearing found that, while he was not guilty of treason, he could no longer be trusted with military secrets. He lost his position with the Atomic Energy Commission.

In 1963, he was forgiven for his former far-left leanings and was awarded the Enrico Fermi medal by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This award honors scientists of international stature for their lifetime achievements in the development, use, or production of energy.

In his later years, Oppenheimer thought and wrote much about the concepts of ethics and morality. He attempted to address the dilemma facing scientists when the dictates of their own conscience and the apparent security of their country or the decisions of their leaders are in conflict. His conclusions, if indeed he came to any, are unknown.

Robert Oppenheimer died of throat cancer in 1967.

The youth of Albert Einstein

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, to a Jewish family living in Ulm, Germany. He was the only son of Hermann Einstein and his wife, Pauline (nee Koch). Hermann worked as a tradesman and small business owner.

In 1880, the family moved to Munich, where Albert's father and uncle founded a small electrical equipment plant. In 1881, a daughter Maria, called Maja, was born to the family.

The Einsteins did not observe Jewish religious practices and Albert attended a Catholic elementary school, from 1884 to 1889. Although he suffered from speech difficulties in early childhood, he was a top student in the elementary grades.

When he was five, Albert's father showed him a pocket compass. The child realized that there must be something in the seemingly empty space that was moving the compass needle. Einstein later stated that this experience made "a deep and lasting impression" on him. As he grew older, Albert built models and mechanical devices for fun. He also began to show a talent for mathematics.

At age six, his mother insisted that Albert take violin lessons, but he disliked them and eventually quit. Later in life, however, he enjoying playing for relaxation, and he took great pleasure in Mozart's violin sonatas.

When he was ten, Einstein entered the Luitpold Gymnasium. His father intended that he become an electrical engineer, but Albert disliked the rigorous regimen and clashed with school authorities. He later wrote that the spirit of learning and creative thought were lost in strict rote learning.

At age twelve, he learned Euclidian Geometry from a textbook a friend had loaned him. Some after, he began to investigate Calculus.

In 1894, Hermann Einstein's business failed. The family moved to Pavia, Italy. Albert was left behind in Munich to finish school, but he only lasted at the Gymnasium six more months.

Einstein's biographer relates that the young man devised a scheme whereby he was given a medical certificate to leave, on the basis of a potential nervous breakdown. He then convinced a mathematics teacher to certify that he was adequately prepared to begin his college studies without a high school diploma.

In 1895, Einstein tried the entrance exam for Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and failed. He subsequently enrolled in a Swiss high school at Aarau which he found to be much more to his liking than the Gymnasium in Munich. Here, he made rapid progress.

He took the entrance exam for the Institute of Technology again the following year and passed. Once accepted. He found the school held little appeal for him. He rarely attended classes and hated studying for exams. However, he did graduate with a secondary teaching degree in 1900, at the age of twenty-one.

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." Albert Einstein

History mystery: Biography of Kaspar Hauser

On May 26, 1828, a strange young man appeared on the streets of Nuremberg, Germany. He was dressed in peasant garb and walked with the unsteady gait of a toddler. His helpless and bewildered manner soon attracted the attention of the townsfolk. When they began to question him, they discovered that the youth could hardly talk.

The only clues to his identity were two letters found on his person. One purported to be from his mother. She wrote that he had been born on April 30, 1812, that he had been baptized, and that his name was Kaspar. She alleged that his father had been a cavalry officer in the 6th. regiment at Nuremberg, and was deceased.

The second was purported to have been written by a poor laborer. He stated that he had been given custody of the boy on October 7, 1812, and that he had taught him reading, writing and the Christian religion as he had agreed to do. He further related that he had kept the boy in close confinement.

When the handwriting on both notes were analysed, they were found to have been written by the same person.

Initially, Kasper was regarded as a vagrant and spent the next two months in Vestner Gate Tower under the care of a jailer. He could only eat bread and water and he was just able to write his name: "Kaspar Hauser".

Although he was judged to be about 16, the boy seemed to have the mental development of a six-year-old. The only words he spoke were, "Horse! Horse!", which he called out excitedly when he saw any animal, and "I want to be a knight as my father was." Further inquiries elicited only tears and frustrated repetitions of "Don't know! Don't know!"

On July 18, 1828, the town authorities delivered Kaspar into the care of a schoolmaster, Professor Daumer, who undertook to educate the boy. He quickly grew stronger physically and mentally. In time, Kaspar was able to tell his life story.

Ever since he could remember, he had been kept in a small, windowless cell, about 7' by 4'. There was a dirt floor, and the ceiling had been too low to allow him to stand. He slept on a pile of straw in the corner. His only toy had been a carved wooden horse. Each morning he found bread and water near the door of his cell. This was all he was given to eat.

Periodically, the water he was given would taste extremely bitter and cause him to fall into a deep sleep. He would awaken to find that his hair and nails had been cut, and fresh straw had been put in the cell.

The details of Kaspar's early life drew international attention. He became known as "The Child of Europe". Rumours began to circulate that he might be related to the Grand Duke of Baden, to whom he bore a startling resemblance.

Speculation began to grow that he was indeed the son of Karl, Grand Duke of Baden, and Stephanie de Beauharnais, adopted daughter of Napoleon I of France. The couple had had a male child who was believed to have died. Karl's uncle, Leopold I of Baden was his successor.

It was suspected that Leopold's mother, the Countess von Hochberg, had taken the healthy infant prince and put a dead baby in his place. If this theory were true, she was the culprit responsible for Kaspar's years of captivity.

Kaspar began to write his autobiography and he proudly showed it to his numerous visitors. This, perhaps. was considered too dangerous an activity by his enemies. On October 17, 1829, a hooded man tried to kill him with a large knife. He only succeeded in giving the young man a long gash in the forehead.

The apparent assassination attempt further fuelled rumours of Kaspar's possible close connection to the House of Baden.

Shortly after, an British nobleman, Lord Stanhope, attempted to win Kaspar's trust with gifts and in time, gained custody of him. He moved the lad to Ansbach, a Bavarian village, and entrusted him to the care of one Johan Meyer. Some historians believe that Stanhope himself had connections to the House of Baden.

On December 14, 1833, Kaspar was lured to a park on the promise of receiving information about his background. He was stabbed in the chest by a stranger. He managed to get home, but died three days later at the age of twenty-one.

In 2002, the Institute for Forensic Medicine of the University of Munster analysed hair and body cells as well as clothing said to have belonged to Kaspar Hauser. They were compared to DNA samples from Astrid von Medinger, a descendant of Stephanie Beauharnais, who would have been Kaspar's mother, if he were indeed the true prince of Baden. There was a 95% match.

The House of Baden refuses to comment on the Hauser matter and refuses to allow tests on the remains of the stillborn baby boy purported to be the son of Stephanie de Beauharnais and Karl, Grand Duke of Baden.

Kaspar Hauser lies buried in a country graveyard in Ansbach. A monument to him was erected which reads: "Hic occultus occulto occisus est". "Here a mysterious one was killed in a mysterious manner."

Many books, articles and two films have been devoted to recounting the story of Kaspar Hauser, but a definite answer to the riddle of the lad's family and background may ever be proven beyond doubt.