The Importance of Dental check-ups

We have heard of the old adage, “Prevention is better than cure”. When it comes to oral health, this advice rings true - It’s about preventing and detecting early symptoms of dental problems.

People do not usually see the need to visit a dentist unless they are in pain. However, some serious dental problems can be silent and not cause any discomfort until a critical stage.

What happens during a dental check-up:

• The dentist will do a consultation and perform a thorough examination of your dental condition
• Any cracks, decay or wear and tear to the teeth will be assessed
• Your gums will be checked to see if they hug around the teeth firmly
• An X-ray will be taken as and when advised by the dentist, to help detect hidden problems which are unseen with the naked eye (rest assured, advances in technology have resulted in digital x-rays being much safer, and much more detailed than before)

Remember the 3 Rules of 2s to keep your teeth in their best shape:

• Visit your dentist regularly, twice a year,
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and
• Brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time.

To find out more about common dental issues visit our FAQ page at http://bit.ly/VCHNIb

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·        Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883

Where to Draw the Line

By Jo Clary Maughan

Have you ever stood in front of the mirror and wondered which hemline suits your legs best? Should you invest in long and full skirts, or go for a leggier mini?

Knowing which hemlines suit you best is usually a process of trial and error.  By following the tips below, you can get it right every time:

1.       The length of your body in proportion to your torso determines your ideal hemline. If you’re long legged but short in the torso, you can wear a longer hemline. If you’re shorter in the legs than the torso, your best hemline is around the knee or shorter. Steer clear of very long skirts.

2.       The width of your hemline can make your legs appear thinner or heavier than they really are. A wide hem gives the illusion of slender legs, while a right hem will make them appear heavier. A very wide hemline will also make you appear shorter.

3.       Every one of us has a natural curve in the leg and it’s at this curve your best hemline can usually be found. Never end a hemline at the widest point of your calf – this will only make your legs appear heavier, giving you a dowdy look.

4.       Lastly, whichever hemline you do choose to wear, always remember the Golden Rule of matching your hemline to the heel height you pair with it. “The shorter the hem the lower the heel, the lower the hem the higher        the heel”.  Never wear a mini with a pair of stilettos and never wear a long skirt with a pair of Birkenstocks.

Call F3 today to find out more about booking a Colour & Style Consultation to enjoy the freedom of purchasing garments and accessories you’ll wear over and over again!

Jo Clary Maughan, AICI FLC, Leading Image Consultant at F3 Image Consultants, provides individual consultations and group workshops for: Colour Analysis, Fashion & Style Solutions, Make-up Solutions, Accessory Magic, Wardrobe Audits, Personal Shopping, Total Makeovers, Professional Makeovers, Deportment Solutions and Colour & Style Solutions for Men.

 F3 Image Consultants --  Phone: 6876-1761/9150-1705 / Email: info@f-3.com.sg / www.f-3.com.sg

Hosting a Wine Tasting at Home

By Herb Pilles

A wine tasting is a fun way to learn more about the subtle qualities of wine and move from “just drinking” to a greater awareness and enjoyment of the unique characteristics of different wine varieties and origins. 

At your next dinner party, instead of buying the same bottles on the two-for-one offer, carefully select two different wines of the same grape variety, perhaps an Australian shiraz and a French Syrah.  Serve them both at the same time - just before your main course, two glasses side by side, and let your guests taste and compare.  Or you could choose two entirely different wines and let your guests decide which wine to drink with their meal, and compare notes.

For a blind tasting, blindfold the bottles, not your guests! Take two bottles of the same grape, for example, a red Burgundy and a New Zealand pinot noir, wrap each in a white napkin, and challenge your guests to compare.  You might like to identify which is the “old world” and which the “new world”.  Or which is the more expensive one – not always obvious! 

These are some important things to pay attention to in a wine tasting.

1.   The Appearance
Hold the glass up to the light, examine the colour, the clarity - cloudy, brilliant, clear, sparkly, dull? The viscosity - swirl it slightly. Does it have shapely legs (the way the wine runs down the inside of the glass)?  Is it watery, oily, heavy, sparkly?

2.   The “Nose”
Swirl again and yes, stick your nose in the glass and breathe in deeply!  Is there a distinctive, identifiable aroma? Have some fun with words:  “I detect a faint hint of barnyard”, perhaps, or, blackberry, fresh bread, peaches, English leather, gasoline?

3.   The Taste
For most people, this is what really matters!  For white wines, is it sweet, or dry, or bone dry?  Is there a balance between acidity and sweetness?   For reds, is it astringent, hard, dry, soft?  How is the acidity- tart, flat, refreshing?   Is it full-bodied or flat and thin?  When you hold the wine,        do the flavours fill your mouth?  After you swallow, do the flavours linger or disappear?  Does the wine have a satisfying complexity, or is it simple and disappointing?

4.   Overall Impression
After all the analyzing, it is important to bring everything together for a full picture, an overall impression of the wine.  This is where you finally ask the question, “How much did you like it?”

All this dialogue is just fine verbally.  You can get more serious and academic about it, but really, it’s all about learning 

more and enjoying more,  so design a wine tasting that works for you!

Thinking Visibly with Harvard Scholar and Author, Dr. Ron Richhart

Parents and staff from international schools around Singapore attended the  Canadian International School’s “Visible Thinking” evening with visiting Harvard scholar Dr. Ron Ritchhart on 11 October. 

A leading researcher with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Ritchhart provided an intriguing walk through his most recent new book, Making Thinking Visible, exploring practical tools designed to enable learners to take their thinking to a deeper level. The strategies he has put together can be implemented both inside and outside of the classroom, making them tremendously valuable for teachers, students and parents alike as they seek and implement a 21st century education.

What is the CIS Visible Thinking Initiative?

The Visible Thinking Initiative is a key focus for the CIS staff for the 2012/2013 school year and beyond.

The initiative considers what it means to be a thinker - examining thought processes and how to improve them at all stages of development. This concept of visible thinking goes beyond mere recording of thought - it is about developing the skills and tools to recognize if one is taking thinking to a higher, more effective and more meaningful level. It has to do with critically analyzing and synthesizing information. The Visible Thinking Initiative consists of evaluating decisions while simultaneously considering and understanding more than one point of view by engaging in metacognition (analyzing one’s own and others’ thought processes, how one thinks and how one learns).

This initiative has already had a meaningful and profound impact on both teaching and learning at CIS since the start of the school year. Teachers will continue to implement additional thinking routines and thinking tools in their classrooms as the academic year progresses. These routines and tools are all specifically crafted to support key 21st century learning skills as identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.p21.org): critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.