watercress words by Dr Aletha

Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was not born in Ireland, although he is considered the Irish patron saint. He was born in Roman-controlled Britain in the 4th century.

Kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland, he later escaped but returned as a missionary, bringing the Christian Gospel to Ireland.

Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25, 433. There are several legends about what happened next, with the most prominent claiming he met the chieftan of one of the druid tribes, who tried to kill him.

After an intervention from God, Patrick was able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. There, he converted many people -eventually thousands – and he began building churches across the country.
catholic.org/saints

Saint Paul

Saint Paul, the Apostle Paul, was also a missionary to the part of the Roman world surrounding the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Paul identified himself as a “slave of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1).

Much of the New Testament contains Paul’s writings, including the letter written to the early Christians in Rome. Today, Christians read, share, and memorize these verses, which so aptly express the foundation of our faith—God’s unchanging love.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to tose who love God Romans 8:28 — graphic from the Lightstock.com collection, affiliate link.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8:35, 37, by the Apostle Paul

Greece

These are photos from my tour of Greece, visiting the sites where the Apostle Paul started churches in the first century.

exploring the HEART of faith, hope, and love

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth Greece. In it he described what love truly is. It became the 13th chapter in the book of 1st Corinthians and contains these words.

faith, hope, love spelled out in wooden block letters — Faith Hope and Love, a graphic from Lightstock.com affiliate

In this review of a personal memoir, I tell you how an Irish family faced and coped with significant health challenges.

I Found My Tribe-a book review

“I Found My Tribe” by Ruth Fitzmaurice is a poignant memoir about finding community and support in the face of her husband’s motor neuron disease. Ruth navigates the complexities of caregiving, friendship, and longing for a different life, offering a glimpse into the challenges and resilience of her family.

Keep reading

January 27, 2022July 18, 2024

What Is My Reader Rewards Club?

My Reader Rewards Club is a great way to earn free books and Bibles for yourself, friends, and family! Your journey to earning free faith-based products starts HERE.

You can also earn points when you:

Shop at Tyndale.com, NavPress.com or Hendricksonpublishers.com
Refer a friend
Write reviews
Take surveys
Sign up for e-newsletters and e-devotionals
And more!

(If you sign up through these links, I can earn free books that I may review for this blog.)

I notice more television commercials for dental care products and services, and most of them follow a theme. In the past most advertisements were for toothpaste for preventing cavities. Now they focus on whitening, stain removal, straightening, dentures and dental implants.

There is a series of ads for dental clinics that promise “not to rob you” featuring skits portraying people afraid that dentists will demand huge amounts of money for dental care.

Myths about dental care

I think these ads reflect myths about dental care that many of us believe and unfortunately base our behavior on. We need to dispel these myths with some truths about oral health, which includes our teeth and mouth.

These myths include

Care of our teeth is mainly a cosmetic concern, affecting our appearance only.
Dental care is a luxury, nice but optional, not a necessity, it can be ignored.
Dental care is expensive and out of reach without insurance or a high income.
Tooth disease and loss is inevitable, so we might as well just accept it.
Dental care is low priority, behind food, housing, and medical care in importance.

Truths about dental care

But the truth, based on recommendations from experts in oral and dental health, tells us differently.

Care of our teeth is functional- we need a healthy mouth for eating, drinking, breathing, and talking. Our mouths also help us interact with other people emotionally- frowning, smiling, kissing, singing.
Oral care is a basic component of health care, vitally important to overall health. I’ll say more about this later.
Dental care can be affordable; it’s probably more costly if neglected.
Loss or disease of teeth and other mouth disorders are preventable and treatable.
Dental and oral care is vital to overall good health, and ultimately can be cost effective.

Family of 4 sitting at a dining table. — Our mouth- eating, talking, smiling-connects us with our family and friends.

Our teeth and oral cavity, the “window to general health”

The oral cavity, or simply called the mouth ,includes the teeth and gums, as well as the lips, the tongue, the palate (roof of the mouth), and the mucosa (sides of the mouth).

diagram of the mouth from the National Cancer Institute — The underside of the tongue and nearby structures (lip, tongue, salivary glands, and floor of the mouth) are identified. Alan Hoofring (Illustrator) public domain

Why dental care improves our overall health.

Over 100 diseases and at least 500 medications can affect our teeth and mouths. Regular dental care can monitor for these effects and prevent them from progressing into tooth disease.

Our mouths contain over 500 species of bacteria and other organisms, some of which are protective and some destructive to our teeth. Good oral care can keep these in proper balance to prevent tooth and gum disease.

People with poor dental health have a higher incidence of heart attacks and stroke. Experts have not determined if this is direct cause and effect or coincidence, but believe it may be due to increased atherosclerosis (hardened arteries from cholesterol) due to the chronic inflammation of gingivitis.

Bacteria from the mouth can lead to pneumonia in susceptible persons, like those with emphysema or those hospitalized with critical illnesses or injuries.

Diabetes, when the blood sugar is not controlled, negatively impacts periodontal health, and periodontitis makes glucose control more difficult. Periodontitis is inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.

Poor oral health during pregnancy increases the risk for miscarriage, low birth weight, preeclampsia, and stillbirth.

Resources for understanding different types of dental and oral disease.

Gum Disease-Also called: Periodontal disease

Tooth disorders

Oral Cancer from the American Dental Association

Paying for dental care

Dental care should not be a luxury, and can be within financial reach with some research into available options. These sites can help you discover what you may quality for.

When You Don’t Have Dental Insurance

Free/Low-Cost/Sliding Scale Dental Clinics

The importance of dental care for children

Health teeth in adults ideally starts with dental care in childhood. Jenny Silverstone, blogger at Mom Loves Best, has created this infographic about caring for children’s teeth. I suggest you also read her in depth article about helping children have healthy teeth.

Don’t neglect adult dental care

Continuing good mouth and tooth care as an adult can help you avoid tooth loss, painful gums, or other problems. If you have any problems with your teeth or concerns about your mouth, see your doctor or dentist right away.

a doctor looking into a patient's mouth — Michael Munger, M.D., examines a patient at his medical office in Overland Park, Kan. courtesy American Academy of Family Physicians

Here are some helpful things you can do:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Floss your teeth at least once a day.
Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
Ask your doctor if your medicines have side effects that might damage your teeth.
Look inside your mouth regularly for sores that don’t heal, irritated gums, or other changes.
See your dentist every 6 months for regular check-ups and cleanings.

(source: familydoctor.org)

Using a power toothbrush may keep your teeth healthier, especially if you have any difficulty using a manual brush.I use an Oral-B Rechargeable Toothbrush by Braun.

(This is an affiliate link. )

I appreciate your reading and sharing this post on your social media pages.

And please follow Watercress Words for more information and inspiration to help you explore the HEART of HEALTH.

Thank you for viewing the advertisements and using the affiliate links that fund this blog; with your help, we can grow, reach more people, and support worthy causes that bring health and wholeness to people around the world.