Some thought to Chew On

Contributed by Specialist Dental Group

Have you ever thought how chewing gum may benefit you? The Singapore government banned chewing gum from being imported and sold in the country in 1992 to preserve cleanliness as people were disposing of their chewed up gum in inappropriate places. In 2004, limited sale of chewing gum was allowed for therapeutic purposes by pharmacies and dentists.

Depending on the ingredients, there are certain brands that contain small amount of nicotine, helping smokers to quit their habit gradually. We all know how smoking destroys one’s health, including oral health! Or if you are susceptible to tooth decay, gum containing Xylitol (a sugar substitute) may have some benefit for you. Some studies have indicated that one of the benefits of Xylitol is caries prevention.

Chewing of gum after meals also helps to stimulate the production of saliva. Saliva helps to neutralize the acid produced by bacteria in plaque, which if left untouched, will erode enamel and cause dental decay and bad breath. Chewing gum can also help relieve pressure in your ears and sinuses by encouraging jaw movement.

Despite the dental benefits, however, frequent chewing may cause muscle fatigue, jaw joint pain, or headaches. Thus, moderation in consumption is always advised to prevent your jaw from overworking. Chewing gum fans should also bear in mind that gum chewing cannot replace the need to brush, floss and make regular visits to your dentist to ensure your teeth and gums are in tiptop condition.

Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). For more information on different types of dental treatments, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.

Dragon News

Text and photo by Sally Monteith

Overlooking the water with a back-drop of lovely greenery, the setting was beautiful. The music was interrupted by a horn and it was announced that the next race had started. Looking up the reservoir you could see paddles flying and water splashing. Although the race was a short 250 metres, it was intense. A lot could go wrong in less than 90 seconds and it did for a few teams. Many of the races were won or lost that day, by less than a dragon’s head.

The Canadian Dragons had boats in 5 categories, including a “Senior’s” category - which we prefer to call the “Mature” boat.  These races gave our newest members an opportunity to experience a race situation. We will be gearing up for the big Singapore River Regatta at the end of November.

The Canadian Dragons always welcome new members, whether or not you have paddled before. We are multi-cultural with many nationalities represented in our boats – including Canadians!  If you are interested in joining our fun team, come out for training at the Kallang Riverside Park. We train in the boat on Saturdays from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, and Sundays from 10:00am – 12:00 noon. Please come 30 minutes early to sign in, get kitted out – we have PDF’s and paddles, and to warm up. You can always contact us through our website at www.canadiandragons-sg.org/?q=node.

High School Students Ready for Action!

Grade 11 CIS students taking the OSSD Healthy Active Living Education course are now certified in First Aid and CPR through the American Red Cross. As a result of this training, our students are prepared to help any organization needing First Aid support at their event.  This three day certification is recognized globally and teaches the latest life-saving techniques for a variety of situations; from cuts and scrapes to muscle, bone and joint injuries as well as CPR and resuscitation.

The Healthy Living course not only focuses on being active, but also emphasizes the relationship between schools and their communities. One activity planned to enhance student understanding of the community is to hear a guest speaker from the Singapore Red Cross explain the important role that blood donation plays here in Singapore.  After an interactive presentation, students tour a blood donor clinic and have the opportunity to donate blood themselves. This experience helps students understand community needs and provides them with an engaging and safe environment in which to help support our community.

One of the desired outcomes for this course is to see students being proactive in their lives, throughout their schooling, and in the community by volunteering their time and resources in meaningful and effective ways. 

If you would like to support this programme or if you are in need of volunteers certified in first aid and CPR for an event, please email Renee Bellavance at rbellavance@cis.edu.sg  for more details.

THE PERANAKAN TRAIL OUT & ABOUT TOUR

Text and photos by Dolores Parker

This was a wonderful tour to kick off a new season.  We were fortunate to have Irene Boey and her colleagues from Far East Organization sponsor this tour, beginning with a lovely breakfast at the Orchard Scotts condominiums and a tour of the impressive grounds and show flats.

Once aboard the tour bus we were introduced to the Peranakan culture enroute to the Peranakan Museum.  Our guide, Agnes, showed us the highlights of the beautiful museum and explained Peranakan customs as we admired the distinctive beadwork and pottery.  Many of us have plans to go back and spend more time there. 

Our next stop was the Kim Choo Kueh Chang shop on East Coast Rd, where we had tea and Nonya snacks.  We watched a dumpling making demonstration and Joy tried her hand at making one.   It’s harder than it looks!  Next we learned more about the unique beadwork and how to wear the sarongkebaya.  Our model, Sara, looked gorgeous.

We ended with a delicious lunch at the Kim Choo Kueh restaurant.  The only problem was that the tour ran over an hour!  Oh well, I suppose that can happen when you spend a fun morning with 30 old and new friends, mix in some good food and shopping, and explore another aspect of Singapore’s history.