Taking care of our teeth is a key aspect for maintaining good health. Even the ancient Egyptians knew how important oral hygiene was. A toothbrush-like object has been found in tombs of the Pharaohs made from a branch, with one side covered in toothbrush bristles. In addition, they used a toothpaste made with beef, burned egg shell, pumice, salt, pepper, water and mint.

But the toothbrush as we know it was invented by the Chinese in the fifteenth century. It had a bone for a handle and the bristles were made from boar hair. Meanwhile, in the Middle Ages in Europe, brushes were not well-known. There was very little hygiene during this time. Magical tales of princesses crumble when you imagine the elegant ladies of the court having terrible breath.

What do you do if someone has bad breath? In some cases, this is due to digestive problems, gum problems and even improper brushing of the teeth. We tend to minimize the situation, but the truth is that sometimes bad breath causes couples to become distant, children suffer from lack of acceptance or grandchildren flee from the presence of grandparents. Halitosis affects family relationships. As for the person who has it, the fact is that bad breath always causes a certain degree of isolation from colleagues, friends and family.

Here are some tips for you to have fresh breath and healthy teeth:

1. Drink plenty of water

Dry mouth helps the bacteria remain in it. If you take a small bottle with you wherever you go, it will be easier to remember to drink it.

2. Learn to brush correctly

While brushing your teeth, pay special attention to the point where your gums attach to your teeth. At that point, tilt the brush at 45 degree angle so that the bristles can thoroughly clean the tooth. In addition, floss, swish mouthwash vigorously and brush your tongue. It is also important that you brush twice a day to avoid damaging your tooth enamel.

3. Brush on the go

Take a toothbrush with you to brush after each meal. Using gum or breath spray can be beneficial as well.

4. Eat breath-freshening food

Both mint and parsley are foods that contribute to have pleasant breath. Cinnamon and cloves are very helpful as well.

5. Don't go too long without eating

If you fast or don't eat for a long period of time, your mouth will be dry and you will be more likely to have bad breath.

6. Be careful with mouthwash

Contrary to popular belief, the use of mouthwashes is not advisable to avoid bad breath. Some experts believe that mouthwashes infused with a lot of alcohol dry salivary glands and contribute to halitosis.

If you have tried these tips and bad breath persists, its origin may not be in the mouth, but in the digestive tract or another medical condition. This is a sign that you should consult your trusted doctor.

This article has been adapted and translated from the original, "Ahórrate problemas y evita el mal aliento con estos seis consejos" which was published on Familias.com.

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As parents, we feel excited when we see our children developing each day. As a matter of fact, babies grow so quickly that their progress may surprise us. I remember the first time my daughter said, "Mom,"� and I felt as if my heart would explode. My baby said, "Mom!" Her laughter and happy sounds were gifts given by life and they sure made my day.

In order to help our children develop language skills, it is necessary to help them explore, experiment and produce different sounds until they discover the ability to communicate. We can help them acquire these critical skills and foster their development.

Here are several ways to help your baby develop language skills:

Name different parts of the body while bathing or changing y our toddler

Take your baby's hand and point to the different features on your face, saying the name of each. Then, point to and name the same features on hers.

Sing songs to your baby

Singing to children is one of my favorite activities because music is essential for human development. When we accompany songs with body movement, we help the baby to associate a gesture with a specific sound.

Tell your child poems, riddles and tongue-twisters with different sounds

They will enjoy hearing the rhythm and cadence and repeated sounds.

Read stories

One day, my 4-month-old baby fell asleep while I was telling her a story. Although babies may not understand what the story is about, this is a good starting point to introduce them to the habit of reading.

Sit with your baby in front of the mirror so that he or she can imitate the movements you make with your mouth. Babies love mirrors and are naturally interested in faces.

When your baby babbles, try to repeat these sounds

By imitating your baby, you are initiating a dialogue and this will make him or her feel safe.

Talk to your child while doing any activity

For example, say, "You need to take a bath," "You are going to take a nap," or, "This milk is delicious." In order for the baby to acquire language skills, repetition is one of the key points.

Last but not least, it is a good idea to make eye contact while speaking softly and clearly. You may find other fun ways to establish a lasting bond with your baby.

Each child has a time to develop and mature and their progress reflects their growth. Our dialogue with them can become more complex as they begin talking. At this point, we can begin naming things and help them imitate the words. Your pediatrician may also have more ideas and activities that may help you foster your baby's language skills.

*Translated and adapted by Anders Peterson from the original article "7 consejos para estimular el habla en los bebés" by Maia Fernandez.

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Published in Desarrollo Personal by Maia Fernandez on October 13, 2013.

Translated and adapted by Anders Peterson from the original article "5 ideas para relajarse en 10 minutos"� by Maia Fernandez

Family life can be overwhelming, whether you have a baby or several children at different ages, or if you are working and taking care of the household chores. In order to avoid collapsing, it is necessary to take time to relax. We need to feel good so that we live in harmony with our children and ourselves. The problem is that we run out of time going from one place to another. Nevertheless, keep in mind that if we overdo it, our body will suffer the consequences.

I propose that you set aside 10 minutes of your day to put into practice any of these activities. I can assure you they will help you feel better, more relaxed and able to recuperate the energy you need for the rest of the day. You can choose the time of day when you would like to do it. You can even work on these activities with your family so that everybody will benefit from them. I recommend you find a quiet place, and put into practice these five ideas in order to feel relaxed in only 10 minutes:

1. Place a blanket on the floor

Lie down and place your legs against the walls at a 90⁰ angle so that your bottom is leaning against the wall. This will relax your back and release more oxygen to your brain. Take a deep breath as you do this.

2. Sit on a comfortable chair or lay down

Play your favorite music. Classical music or natural sounds can help you feel relaxed. Avoid thinking or focusing on specific things during this activity.

3. Go to your garden or to the backyard and sit down to observe nature

You can concentrate by simply looking at a flower or your favorite plant. In addition, you may close your eyes and take a deep breath. Take off your shoes and put your feet on the ground.

4. Go for a stroll for a few blocks

. Observe your surroundings; try to focus on your stroll. This concentration is like meditating as you move. Try to avoid any distractions.

5. Stand firmly on your feet, stretch your arms upward until your hands touch above your head.As your hands are going up, inhale, but exhale as they go back down making an ssss sound. If you do this exercise in a natural environment, you will be able to get better oxygen, you will feel more energy and you will feel renewed in order to continue with your chores.

If possible, as you do these activities, close your eyes so that you forget the world around you. In order to do this, you must focus on your breathing. You will soon notice that your ability to think of abstract things will increase. As a result, you will get a better outcome in everything you do.

Remember that our mind and body need a break. You will soon realize that your performance will improve in every activity, you will be happier, and your smile will be contagious.

Try these tips and let me know how they work for you.

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Translated and adapted by Anders Peterson from the original article "La importancia de hablarles a los bebés

"�by Maia Fernandez.

A few days ago, I watched the movie Castaway on TV. I recall seeing it on a trip to Spain about 10 years ago. I had a few days left, and the truth is that this was not an ideal movie to watch before boarding a plane.

Nevertheless, if we really think about it, this movie has a beautiful message and a few aspects to reflect on. I will particularly make mention of the scene where Tom Hanks draws a face on a volleyball which he calls Wilson and then starts talking to it. By so doing, he finds a way to deal with this difficult situation of being lonely in a deserted island. This helps him relieve his emotions in order to avoid losing his mind. The ball is so important to him that it becomes his friend. In the end, when the main character goes out to sea to save himself, the ball falls into the water. Then he does everything to rescue it, even taking the risk of drowning or losing his raft.

Later, I reflected on the importance of talking and communicating. The ability to communicate is what makes us different from animals. On one hand, we can hurt people by using our words. On the other hand, we can give love and comfort. Now, if communication is so important for adults, imagine how important it is for babies. This is why it is so important to talk to them and make eye contact when we speak to them. In order to understand this matter, I would like to share an experience about a mother who did not talk to her baby at all. By ignorance, she said: "I do not talk to my baby because he doesn't know how to speak."� That child ended up being autistic. On the other hand, there are experiments that have been conducted with babies that have been provided with food and shelter but nobody has talked to them. As a result, these children weren't able to make meaningful connections with other individuals.

In the book, "Frankenstein Educador," the French educator Philippe Meirieu explains that in order for babies to be nurtured, adults must introduce the world to them by using expressions such as, "This is your uncle,"� "This is daddy,"� or "This is a tree."� Babies need a mother (or any person who fulfills this role) who will speak to them. This is how family bonds are established. Language helps us think and build our reality.

In this manner, talking to babies becomes part of the essential education that every human being should have in order to feel loved and protected.

The following are a few examples of different situations in which talking to babies is important:

1. If we are alone with the baby, we should say, "Mommy will be back, she is going to the restroom."� If we are leaving the baby with a caregiver, we should explain, "Mommy is going out, but she will be back."� In her book, "

Niños agresivos, niños agredidos,

"� psychoanalyst Francoise Dolto shares the story of a baby who had surgery. After that, he lived with his grandparents for a while. His parents had not explained anything that would happen to the baby. As a result, the child started hitting his head against the safety bars in his bed. Doctor Dolto explained that this was due to the child's need for a motherly hug. The baby missed his mom and called for attention by touching the safety bars. This could have been easily prevented had his parents set aside time to tell him what would happen.

2. Unfortunately, if our children see us going through tense situations or nervous breakdowns, the psychoanalyst suggests that we say, "Mommy was very nervous, but everything is OK now."�

3. We must teach them the language. It is very important that we talk to babies from the first day in order to instill the language in them. In addition, it is essential to call them by name. By so doing, we motivate the babies so that they will try saying their first words later on.

4. When babies start producing the first sounds, we should imitate them as if we were conversing. In this manner, they feel included.

5. When babies cry, we must calm them down. It is also important to hug them and tell them words that help them feel calm.

A mother's word, voice and look create such a special combination. Thanks to mothers, babies start differentiating them, and they start conquering their place one step at a time as they gain independence. In addition, they develop a unique identity. Talking to babies is similar to giving them an affectionate gesture. It is the same as saying to them, "I acknowledge you as someone important."� In summary, if we want to be better parents, it is necessary for us to be conscious of how important it is to talk to our children, regardless of their age.

The post The importance of talking to our babies appeared first on FamilyToday.

Not long ago, I witnessed a situation that made me very sad. At a school where I worked as a substitute teacher, there was a boy who didn't follow the rules. During recess, the young 10-year-old boy was a bully and constantly called for attention by hitting other kids and making fun of them. During class time, he could not sit still and there was no way to motivate him to work.

When I asked one of my colleagues what was going on with this kid, she answered, "His mother calls him silly, she always says that he is a 'Good for nothing.' I realized that when a child does not receive love at home, he grows up to be insecure and manifests his anger by bullying other kids."�

As I listened to her, I thought, "Are there parents that treat their children like that?" I realized that perhaps the boy's mother had been treated the same way during her childhood and that is what she learned. I felt sympathy for her. The saddest thing for me was to realize that this boy was growing up with a lack of love and confidence, believing that he wasn't good at anything.

It is important that we reflect on our behavior, feelings, emotions or negative beliefs that we drag with us from our childhood. The more critical we are, the better we will be able to understand our fears and challenges. By understanding ourselves, we will become more conscious about the example we provide for our children and search for tools that will contribute toward the development of their self-esteem.

What attitudes should we develop in order to help our children grow with happiness and confidence? Let me share a few tips with you:

1. Cherish a child's insight

When we were growing up, we were often told, "Be quiet, the adults are talking." Of course, children need to learn respect, however, it is important to allow them time to express themselves freely. This will provide them with confidence.

2. Avoid mocking a child

Although children are young and have a lot of lessons to learn, it is important for us to respect their emotions, desires and goals. For example, I know a teenager who told her parents that she had fallen in love with someone. Mockingly, her parents laughed at her and asked, "What do you know about love?"

3. Provide your children with tools to express themselves appropriately

Art is one of the most effective ways for children (and for all human beings) to express themselves. Children can use music, dance or drawing to see their finished work, to value their efforts and to express their emotions. This is not only healthy for them, but it also helps them develop a greater amount of self-esteem because they will see their goals become fulfilled. In addition, journals are a great tool for children to write about their experiences and feelings.

4. Avoid comparing your child with other children

If you have more than one child, avoid committing the mistake of comparing them to each other. Some parents say, "If you were like so and so ... " which may create rivalries and feelings of inferiority - especially if the children are very close in age.

5. Avoid labels

When parents make comments such as, "Johnny is terrible, stubborn and mischievous," they only worsen certain characteristics of the child's personality. This happens because the child ends up believing what he or she has been told and will be determined to fulfill this role.

6. Discipline your children with love and teach them to learn from their mistakes

Help your children to see challenges as a learning opportunity to grow as a person. Cheer them up when they make mistakes. Reassure them that they will be able to overcome obstacles.

7. Treasure your child's efforts

It is essential for parents to be there for their child at each learning stage. Show your happiness when he is successful. It is important to verbalize your happiness by complimenting and hugging him.

8. Show each child your love

Parents love their children but sometimes it is hard to demonstrate this love. Oftentimes parents think their children already know they are loved. Nevertheless, it is important to express love in all human relationships. We can show our love with a word, a smile, being attentive and listening to children's needs, fears or desires - accompanied with a hug or an expression such as, "I love you."

9. Never say, "What are people going to think if they see you doing this?

Most likely, everyone heard these words when they were growing up. Another expression is, "You are being watched. Behave!" These phrases create insecurity. As adults, we must teach our children to behave because it is the right thing to do and we must explain to them why. Thus, little children will act correctly without fearing what other people may say.

Besides practicing these tips, it is essential that we make a sincere effort to show confidence when making parental decisions. We must show calmness when facing trials and happiness at all times. Thus, we will set a good example for our children to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Moreover, they will become happy individuals who know their strengths and weaknesses in order to overcome any obstacles they may face in life.

I invite you to share these tips if you find them useful and to let me know what you and your family do to raise confident children.

Published in Ser Padres by Maia Fernandez on September 20, 2013

Translated and adapted by Anders Peterson from the original article "9 consejos para criar hijos con confianza," by Maia Fernandez.

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