Back in the 70’s and early 80’s, the best smelling shampoo and conditioner was believed by some to be Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific by the Andrew Jergens Company. Jergens may have discontinued the very popular smelling shampoo and conditioner, but Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific (GYHST) is still available in the U.S. to buy if you know where to look.

I can still vividly remember the commercial for Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific, and the fragrant floral and spicy smell would last all day and night after washing and drying my hair. Teenage girls and young women loved the shampoo and conditioner but all of a sudden and without warning or explanation, neither the shampoo or the conditioner could be found in grocery stores or on pharmacy drug store shelves. Whatever happened to the Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo and conditioner that we all loved so much, is a question many have wondered ever since the products disappeared from sight.

About a year or two ago Grandpa (aka my husband) and I were discussing a variety of men’s colognes, women’s perfumes, shampoo and conditioner hair products that are no longer available but we wish they were. Grandpa mentioned how much he missed Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific by Jergens, and I was quite surprised because it hadn’t occurred to me that some guys would like the smell of the shampoo and conditioner as much as ladies did, or especially that teenage boys or grown men might want to wash their own hair with GYHST.

The fact that Grandpa remembered Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific from so many years ago, and his reminiscing and wishing we could buy some got me thinking about other retro hair products like Clairol Herbal Essence, the original Agree shampoo and conditioner, Prell shampoo, Body on Tap, LemonUp, Short and Sassy, and Protein 21. I haven’t seen Prell in stores for awhile now, but I do remember a hairstylist once telling me that Prell is so strong it will remove dark hair dye and red streaks from hair, and is harsh enough to strip off floor wax so it should never be used to wash hair.

I could tell from our conversation that Grandpa really wanted to buy Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific at least one more time for old times sake, so I searched online for places where I could purchase some for him and surprise him with a bottle or two just because. I loved the smell of Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific too and thought it would be fun to find out if our old favorite shampoo still smelled the same, and if the Original Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner by Clairol was available anywhere, so the hunt for GYHST began.

It didn’t take me long to find new bottles of Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific online at a couple of different websites, and when I saw the whopping price of $14.95 plus shipping for just one 12 ounce bottle of shampoo or conditioner, I nearly fell off my chair. Fortunately, I was able to find the same size bottles of the shampoo and conditioner at a discounted rate on an eBay “buy it now” listing at a much lower cost than other places, so I bought him two of the larger bottles of the Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo and two big bottles of the conditioner.

Even after paying for shipping, I still paid less on that sale than if I had bought them directly from the online website who now sells the products almost exclusively. I say almost exclusively because sometimes hair care products like “Gee, Your Hair Smells…” can be found at Amazon or on eBay, but it’s been quite awhile since I tried to research where to find Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific for sale online.

As soon as Grandpa opened his “just because” gift of the shampoo and conditioner, the big smile on his face and shocked expression that Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific is still available after all these years said it all. Even though Grandpa wouldn’t mind at all if I decided to use a little of his shampoo and/or conditioner from time to time, the fact that the shampoo has alcohol in it and seems to make hair very dry and possibly cause hair breakage, I think I’ll pass. I’ve finally managed to get my hair looking and feeling very healthy with a brand new hairstyle, and I don’t want to mess that up.

Grandpa and I laughed out loud a few days ago when we found a new catalog from The Vermont Country Store in our mailbox and started flipping through the catalog right away to see what new and obscure items they may have added. The Vermont Country Store carries many previously discontinued items including the Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo and conditioner hair products and some of the weirdest, hard to find items you could imagine.

The Vermont Country Store is currently running a special on Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific for 3 or more 12 oz bottles at $9.95 each, so that totals up to a whopping thirty bucks for either the shampoo or the conditioner, but you’re going to want both. As a special one time thing or as a very unique Christmas stocking idea, Jergens popular shampoo sure made Grandpa a very happy man. Grandpa still has an almost completely full bottle of GYHST conditioner and shampoo, so I won’t be buying him any new bottles anytime soon, but the blast from the past brought up a lot of fun memories for both of us.

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As the months lead up to my turning 50 years old, I began to wonder if it wasn’t time to make some hairstyle changes and cut my long hair to a shorter length, at least above my shoulders. Having read so much information online and in magazines about hairstyles for women over 40, 50 and older, it became clear that none of the so-called hairstyle experts agree on what hairstyles are best for mature women.

It makes sense that the chosen hairstyle would compliment a woman’s best and most attractive facial features, bringing out a woman’s pretty eyes as one example. Many of the over 40 or 50 hairstyle pictures recommend short and blunt hairstyles, with celebrity photos in hairstyle magazines or online websites giving women ideas of what their hair might look like. I say “might” look like because how a hairstyle looks on a woman with a round or square shaped face won’t look the same on women with long or oval shaped faces, and the differences in ages and facial features from a hairstyle model vs. the women inquiring about styles should also be considered.

Should a women over 40 or 50 choose to go with a hairstyle plus bangs or what are commonly referred to as “swoop bangs” that don’t look like what a younger woman or little girl would have is a personal choice. Swooped bangs for women over 40 or 50 are highly recommended by many of the hairstyle experts, if bangs are of interest at all. Some of the picture examples of hairstyles recommend a good layered cut, where lots of layers are cut into the hair to frame the face and neckline nicely, or to hide sagging necklines or chubby double chins in older women.

The reason why many older, more “mature” women want to have bangs or swooped bangs as part of their hairstyle is often to hide age lines appearing on her forehead, and fine lines or wrinkles near her eyes called crows feet. Being a young Grandma, rather than a much older grandmother well into her 60’s, 70’s or 80’s, the old-fashioned grandma hairstyles do not appeal to me at all. My own grandmother had very long hair for most of her life, usually braided and styled in such a way that it was often pinned up high on her head, but old lady hairstyles have gone out of style (thankfully) and there are many pretty modern hairstyles for us young grandmas.

One of the most popular hairstyles for women these days is the “Bob” hairstyle, which is a versatile hairstyle because a Bob hairstyle can be either short or long, or even medium length. Many years ago I had a classic bob hairstyle and I loved it and received many compliments, but nowadays it seems a lot of women have the bob haircut and some women want a hairstyle that isn’t used by nearly every woman they meet or see on tv. Personally, I don’t care how trendy, popular or unpopular a hairstyle is in other people’s opinions, because when it comes right down to it, the decision of what hairstyle I choose to have for my own hair is my decision.

Bob Hairstyles For Women

It is very common for women to bring a picture of a celebrity’s hairstyle with them to their hair salon, and sometimes that hairstyle turns out to look great on them and other times.., not so much. Doing an online search for “hairstyles for women”, “celebrity hairstyles”, “bob hairstyles” and similar search terms brings thousands of short, medium length and long hairstyle photos for women to look at and decide if the cut and style is right for her.

Celeb’s like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Raquel Welch, Victoria Beckham, Nicole Ritchie, Jenny McCarthy, Katie Holmes, Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, Faith Hill, Halle Berry, Heidi Klum are just some well-known celebrity women who stay up-to-date with hairstyle trends. The bob hairstyle from years ago has now graduated to a variety of modern short bob hairstyles, with versatility to match all types of hair and hair lengths.

Modern bob hairstyles in 2010 include graduated bob hairstyles (concave bob hair), the angled bob hairstyle, and the straight short bob hairstyle. A layered bob hairstyle is one of my favorites as there are many different ways to style a bob haircut, rather than always styling hair to go under with a round brush or curling iron. Jenny McCarthy’s bob hairstyle looks gorgeous on her, which is achieved by using mousse and a flatiron to smooth and flatten the hair to get perfect results.

With a medium or large round brush, short, medium or long bob styles can be blown dry to go under, but it always seems like women need a couple extra hands to get the same results received by the hairstylist at the salon. I’ve seen women with the bob style who curl their hair with a curling iron so that the ends curl or flip out rather than under, or even manage to get the same results with a flat iron too.

Out of all the pictures I’ve seen over the last few months of women’s hairstyles, my favorite is the modern bob hairstyle and since I’ve already seen how many different ways to style a bob there are with the help of hair gel, hair mousse, hot rollers, curling irons or flat irons, the short bob hairstyle is what I chose as the perfect hairstyle for me. I was only a little nervous about cutting my long hair to the short length it is now, but once I got my hair cut into a short/medium length bob and started hearing all the nice compliments from family, friends and perfect strangers, I knew I had made the right choice.

An added bonus to the length of my hair is that it’s still long enough to use clip on hair extensions made out of human hair or synthetic materials if I want or need a “fake” longer hairstyle for special occasions, weddings, or just to temporarily change my hairstyle for the fun of doing it. Clip in human hair extensions and bangs are even available for women with highlighted or colored hair, but I’d still have to learn how to put in clip in hair extensions like professional hair salons do it so my hair looks perfect rather than clipped on by an amateur.

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Just for fun, I did some online searches on what the best hairstyles for women over 40 are and saw pictures of new hairstyles for women, especially women over forty. The so-called fashion and hairstyle rules about women over 40 years old not having long hair make me laugh. I’m now 51 years old now and my hair is still long, past my shoulders, and shall remain long for as long as I choose.

The hairstyle “experts” and fashion gurus offer a plethora of advice for mature women 40 plus years old regarding hairstyles for older women, saying that most women over the age of 40 should not have long hair. Experts say older women should opt for a short and layered “sassy” looking hairstyle that might be called “trendy” for women who are more “mature” in age.

I say, Phhht.

Not only are hairstyles for women over forty a matter of seemingly grave concern, but hairstyle experts (I use the term loosely) say women over 40 and/or 50 should completely change their hair color and dye it the opposite color they have worn perhaps most of their lives. I’ve been blond most of my life, although not entirely “naturally blond” for the last half of my life thus far.

Hairstyles For Women

My hair is naturally a light brown, or some would say a “dirty dishwater blond” or some color closely related to that. Add the gray hair that has had the nerve to invade much of my hair follicles in recent years and you’ve got yourself a color mixture of dirty dishwater blond-brown color combined with gray hair that is more like white. Phhht.

If I were to follow what the hairstyle “experts” say I should do with my long, color treated blond hair, I would dye my hair to a medium brown and cover/hide the gray hair. I did that once. Temporarily. It looked terrible on my light skin tone. Sorry, no awful pictures of the evidence of the too-dark brown hair recommended by the phhht hairstyle and color experts will be shown here. Nor am I willing to go entirely gray, which would be relatively easy to do at this stage of my life.

If you are a woman over 30, 40 plus or even 50 or over, the fastest way to find out if your hair color is the right or wrong color is to send a photo of your new “do” to a couple friends or relatives and see what their reaction is and how quickly they respond. Or not. Comments such as “it looks different”, or “you look nice but it’ll take a little getting used to”, or “what did you DO?!” are surefire ways of knowing your new “trendy” hairstyle or new permanent hair color didn’t receive high ratings.

If their responses come a day or more after sending the picture of your new hair color or hairstyle, along with suggestions of what you should have done with your hair, those closest to you don’t like your hair one bit. And they want you to change it to what they recommend or suggest for you to “look your best”, in their opinion. But wait. If you cut, style, color or dye your hair how everyone else claims would make you look good and fashionable (regardless of your age), you will be changing your hair as often as you change clothes because you can’t please everyone all the time.

Long Hairstyles for Women Over 40

My hair is long and straight, but I am not real fussy about my hairstyle, or the lack thereof. Nor do I feel the need to curl my hair with hot rollers or a curling iron. I don’t care about using a flat iron to smooth out my long hair to help with “bad hair day” frizz etc. Frizz gel or hair goop works fine enough for me. Pinning my hair up on occasion, putting my hair up in an “updo” occasionally, or using a hair clip to hold my hair back is just fine for me.

Having a nice, age appropriate hairstyle that I like, and that won’t require a ridiculous amount of time standing in front of the mirror fixing and fussing over every strand of hair would be great. What hairstyle looks best on me is a matter of opinion, widely varied opinion, and that includes what color my hair should be. If the hairstyle gurus and experts were to have their way with my hair, my hair would be cut and styled so short that I’d be lucky for my hair to reach my shoulders at all. Like with a short Bob hair cut, like Katie Holmes has. It ain’t happenin’.

I’ve spent several days looking at a variety of pictures of hairstyles for women over 40, but haven’t found one single hairstyle that remotely comes close to anything I would like. The hairstyle experts recommend the style frame your face nicely, which of course sounds reasonable. National magazines for women and so-called public opinion say that women over 40 should not have long hair but should automatically cut their hair short. Phhht.

Even the historical roots of women and long hair after the age of 40 shows the prevalence towards short hairstyles for more mature women, but public opinion or society’s attitudes need not dictate a woman’s hairstyle or color choice. My hair is long because I like it long. I don’t like how I look with short hair above my shoulders, although I have had medium-length hair a little passed my shoulders and like that length just fine.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an older, more “mature” woman wearing a longer style as long as the hair does have some style. Then again, what “style” means to one person may not to another. Whose opinion matters most in regards to hairstyle and/or hair color in each woman’s life? For me, my personal opinion primarily matters (it is MY hair) and then also considering how my adoring husband feels about how my hair looks.

From what I’ve read during my online searches, women who grow their hair long just so it’s long (lifeless, dry, brittle, etc) rather than choosing a more healthy looking, flattering hair style a bit shorter in length may find their hair doesn’t do anything for her overall looks except to make her look older than she really is.

Choosing an appropriate, healthy looking hairstyle, means a woman not only looks younger than she actually is but she will also feel younger and more vibrant. No woman over thirty or forty or fifty has to cut her hair short and wear those tacky traditional perms that older women often resort to when there are so many great hairstyles available to choose from. I’m still trying to find my “perfect” hairstyle for my hair and will hopefully make a decision soon, whether to keep my hair long or cut it into a more current “fashionable” style that fits my needs and schedule.

Even though I refuse to follow the so-called “rules” about hairstyles for women over 40 or 50, I still want my hair and it’s style to be healthy and look good. On me. How a hairstyle looks on someone else or on a hairstyling model posing in magazines doesn’t mean the hairstyle will look good on me. And don’t get me started talking about those ridiculous looking hairstyles seen so often in magazines displaying runway models in some foreign country, and all their florescent glory and wild braids and spikes. Phhht.

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Grandparent books for new grandparents or older, more-experienced grandma’s and grandpa’s, are books for and about grandparenting that every grandparent should read. Are you a new grandparent or a soon-to-be grandma or grandpa and need help choosing your new grandparent nickname?

Below you will find a list of grandparent books that deal with picking a grandparent name for yourself, books that discuss grandparent rights and visitation issues, as well as a great list of grandparent memory books that grandmother’s and grandfather’s can and need to create a long lasting history of memories for their children, grandchildren and ancestral genealogy records.

If you are a new grandma or grandpa and have ever said to yourself, “Don’t call me Grandma!”, you will love the first grandparent nickname book listed below. There are over 10,000 grandparent nicknames to choose from, nothing like the ridiculous grandparent names suggested online, that you’d surely be embarrassed and upset if your grandchild called you any of those names.

Grandparent Books – Grandparent Names/Nicknames

• You Can Call Me Hoppa! The Grandparents’ Guide to Choosing a Name that Fits by Lauren Charpio

• The New Grandparents Name Book by Lin Wellford and Skye Pifer

• The Big Book of Grandparents’ Names by Jeanmarie O’Keefe Moore

• A Grandparent’s Book by Milton Kamen

• Grand and Great: Grandparents and Grandchildren Share Their Stories of Love and Wisdom by Mark Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark

• 101 Ways to Spoil Your Grandchild by Vicki Lansky

• Long-Distance Grandparenting: Connecting With Your Grandchildren from Afar by Willma Willis Gore

• Teach Yourself Grandparenting by Lynn Chestermann

• The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas! by Sally Lloyd Jones

• Funny, You Don’t Look Like A Grandmother by Lois Wyse

• Grandma and Me by Karen Katz

• That’s What Grandparents Are For by Arlene Uslander and Freddie Levin

• Grandparents are Special by Trena Gologan

• The Grandparents’ Treasure Chest: A Journal of Memories to Share with Your Grandchildren by Edward Fays

• Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul: Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the Spirits of Grandparents by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Meladee & Hanoch McCarty

• The Grandparent Guide: The Definitive Guide to Coping with the Challenges of Modern Grandparenting by Arthur Kornhaber

• Our Story by Editors of Readers Digest

• I Loved You Before You Were Born by Anne Bowen

• The Gifts of Being Grand by Marianne Richmond

• Welcome To Grandparenting by Rosemary Weis and Michelle Johnston

Grandparents Rights & Raising Grandchildren

• Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family by Sylvie De Toledo

• Raising Our Children’s Children by Deborah Doucette-Dudman

• The Essential Grandparent: A Guide to Making a Difference by Lillian Carson

• Grandparenting in a Changing World by Eda J. Leshan

• Black Grandparents As Parents by Lenora Madison Poe

• Grandparents Rights, 4E (Grandparents’ Rights) by Traci Truly

• Grandparents’ Rights: What Every Grandparent Needs to Know by Patricia Slorah

• To Grandmother’s House We Go and Stay: Perspectives on Custodial Grandparents by Carole B. Cox

• Second Time Around: Help for Grandparents Who Raise Their Children’s Kids by Joan Callander

• To Grandma’s House, We–Stay: When You Have to Stop Spoiling Your Grandchildren and Start Raising Them by Bob Rowland and Sally Houtman

• The Extra Parent: How Grandparents Are Helping Out, Pitching In, and Raising Their Grandchildren by Elaine Denholtz

• When A Parent Goes To Jail: A Comprehensive Guide for Counseling Children of Incarcerated Parents by Rebecca M. Yaffe, and Lonnie F. Hoade

• Godly Grandparenting: A Christian Guide for Today’s Families by Ben E. Dickerson and Darrel R. Watkins

• Thou Shalt Not Whine: The Eleventh Commandment: What We Whine About, Why We Do It and How to Stop by January Jones

• When the Labels Don’t Fit: A New Approach to Raising a Challenging Child by Barbara Probst

Grandparent Memory Books – Personalized Memory Books

• Grandparents’ Memory Book: Did You Really Walk Five Miles to School? by Teri Harrison

• My Thoughts with Love: A Parent’s Keepsake Journal by Anne Geddes

• Memories for My Grandchild by Annie Decker and Nicole Stephenson

• Grandpa, Tell Me Your Memories by Kathleen Lasier

• Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories by Kathy Lasier

• Grandmother’s Treasures: Reflections and Remembrances by Lois Wyse

• Journal of Wisdom: Grandfather’s Thoughts on Life and Living by Penton Overseas Inc.

• To Our Children’s Children: Journal of Family Memories by Bob Greene

• The Story of a Lifetime: A Keepsake of Personal Memoirs by Steven and Pamela Pavuk

• Book of Us: A Journal of Your Love Story in 150 Questions by David and Kate Marshall

• The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography In 201 Questions by Carl and David Marshall

• Grandmother Remembers: A Written Heirloom for My Grandchild by Judith Levy

• Grandfather Remembers: Memories for My Grandchild by Judith Levy

• Dad Remembers: Memories for My Child by Judith Levy

• The Mommy Journal: Letters To Your Child by Tracy Broy

• Grandparent’s Memory Book for Jewish Families by Various Authors

• Christmas Memories: A Keepsake Book from the Heart of the Home by Susan Branch

• The Grandparent Book: A Keepsake Journal by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

• A Grandparent’s Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words by Thomas Nelson

• The Grandmother Book: A Book About You for Your Grandchild by Andy Hilford and Susan Hilford

Grandparent memory books make a great Christmas gift for grandparents, or as a Birthday, Anniversary or “just because” gift for a grandmother or grandfather. If you are a parent yourself, remember to always keep a journal or scrapbook of notes and remembrances (with photos) for your children and grandchildren to remember you by when your time on Earth is done.

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, fluoride IS a toxic poison. Fluoride added to water supplies is NOT pharmaceutical grade fluoride. Not even close. The negative health affects of consuming fluoride via water fluoridation, fluoride toothpastes, mouthwashes, rinses, fluoride supplements, vitamins etc etc, are well known and proven to be a fact.

Just a few days ago I happened to notice the cover story of a dental magazine by the ADA called “ADA News”, mentioning how a town in Florida had recently voted 3-2 to keep their municipal water supply fluoridated. See it here. What do the two people who voted against continuing adding fluoride to the town’s water supply know about fluoride that the other three do not know or choose to ignore? What about all the people that live in that town? Do the citizens not have a right to choose if they want toxic chemicals forcibly added to their water supply against their consent, and perhaps even without their informed knowledge?

And guess what? The various health “authorities” (The American Dental Association and others) heavily promoting fluoride use on dental patients and the general public know full well that more and more scientists, doctors, dentists, dental hygienists and the general public (YOU) are wising up and realizing they have been lying to you for many years about fluoride and water fluoridation, and are increasing the pressure on dentists and dental staff to increase the promotion of fluoride use and fluoridated water. See the proof here. The Almighty Dollar is at stake.

The TRUST that uninformed and misinformed doctors, dental professionals and consumers have placed in these “authorities” to truly be looking out for the good and well-being of the public is unraveling rapidly, and the once blindly trusted authorities don’t like it one bit. More and more people are becoming aware of the fact that health authorities and government officials have known for a very long time just how toxic and health damaging fluoride truly is. Watch this brief 5 minute film showing how the facts about fluoride’s harmful effects on health have been known and proven for a very long time.

Fluoride and water fluoridation promoters are fighting hard against their opponents, those who are against water fluoridation and fluoride in dental products, etc. However, those in opposition to fluoride are fighting just as hard, if not harder, to inform the public (YOU) to read and research for yourselves WHY fluoride is toxic and why fluoride is harmful and where fluoride REALLY comes from.

Below is another article about the harmful effects of fluoride, written and submitted by Dr. Tom McGuire, who has kindly submitted previous guest articles on the damaging effects of “silver” mercury amalgam fillings.

Introducing Dr. Tom McGuire….

Fluoride is a Poison – How Does Fluoride Affect Health?

Fluoride is a poison and there are those who make a good argument that it is not needed by the body, in any quantity for any reason. The fact that it is found in the body doesn’t mean the body needs it. Mercury is found in the body and everyone knows the body doesn’t need it. Even the fact that it has shown to reduce tooth decay doesn’t mean it isn’t a hazardous substance.

The amount of fluoride that is said to reduce tooth decay is only slightly less, in parts per million, than the amount that causes dental fluorosis, which I speak of later in this article. There is no doubt that it exhibits unwanted side effects in extremely small amounts and sodium fluoride is actually still used as a rat poison.

Since 1997 the FDA requires that all fluoridated toothpaste carry a warning that reads:

Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek PROFESSIONAL HELP or contact a POISON CONTROL center immediately.

In fact, if a small child swallowed the contents of a regular sized tube of fluoridated toothpaste it would most likely be fatal. Parents are also encouraged to use only a pea sized drop of toothpaste for children under six and to make sure it is not swallowed after brushing and rinsing. Of course this isn’t an easy task as toothpaste manufacturers make toothpaste very appealing to children, especially in how it tastes, and children have a built in tendency to swallow everything that tastes good.

Fluoride’s Link to other Diseases

In addition, fluoride has been linked to bone cancer and a debilitating bone disease called skeletal fluorosis, with symptoms ranging from chronic joint pain to hip fractures and bone cancer. Excessive amounts of fluoride can accelerate joint and ligament aging and negatively affect bone growth. What is interesting about this is that early symptoms of fluoride poisoning mimics arthritis, which along with the incidence of hip fractures and bone cancer, has dramatically increased in today’s population. When you realize that exposure to fluoride has dramatically increased from when it was first introduced in the mid-1940’s, those increases are logical. Fluoride has also been shown to negatively affect the health of the:

• Thyroid gland;
• Kidneys;
• Brain and nervous system; and
• Immune system.

Why Add Fluoride to Drinking Water?

The previous section was only a brief description of the side effects of fluoride and as you can see, it isn’t very user friendly. This begs the question that if even small amounts of fluoride are so hazardous to one’s health, why would anyone want to put such a poisonous substance into a public water system?

I believe there are two answers to that question. The first was a well-intended effort to use fluoride as a type of vaccine that prevents tooth decay. I’m sure it sounded like a very noble idea to dentists and local governments at the time it was introduced, but its value and safety has not withstood the test of time—or science.

The second reason is more sinister because it involves finding a use for the large amounts of fluoride that is produced as a by-product of phosphate fertilizer production and aluminum production. I can just hear the marketing department of aluminum manufacturers trying to figure out a way to get rid of this highly poisonous substance and make some money in the process. Promoting it as an anti-decay product by putting it into municipal water systems was just the kind of profitable solution they were looking for. This group has always been a proponent of water fluoridation.

Fluoride and Tooth Decay

I wouldn’t be so critical of water fluoridation if fluoride wasn’t a poison and if it actually prevented tooth decay. But it is a poison and it doesn’t prevent tooth decay. It may reduce it in some people but it doesn’t prevent it. In addition, once the enamel crowns of the teeth has formed, usually by the age of 15, fluoridated water ceases to have a value in preventing tooth decay. Thus, any amount of fluoride you ingest is unnecessary and depending on how much water you take in, potentially a health hazard.

I also wouldn’t be so critical of fluoride use if everyone had a choice and it wasn’t forced upon people via their water supply. This takes on even more significance when you realize it serves no purpose after the age of 15, yet you are still forced to drink it—unless you choose to install a filter or buy purified water.

The only area where I feel fluoride has a value in preventing decay while eliminating its exposure to the body is dentally applied topical fluoride treatments. But with the advent of dental sealants to help reduce decay you now have another choice.

Fluoride: What it’s Supposed to Do and What it Actually Does

The difference in the amount of fluoride in the water that could reduce decay and the amount that could cause fluorosis (a disease of the teeth where excessive fluoride causes staining, brittle enamel, and enamel pitting called mottling) is extraordinarily small. For example, if:

• The amount of fluoride in the water exceeds 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million (The lower amount is used in hotter climates where people tend to drink more water and the higher in cooler climates where less water is consumed.);

• You drink lots of water (which many people do, especially active people);

• You drink higher quantities of water during the short period of time that the enamel of your permanent teeth is forming; from about the age of 2 to 15; and

• You receive fluoride from any other source, such as vegetables and sea food; then

You could develop fluorosis.

What Fluoride Doesn’t Do for You

You will have a decent chance of reducing tooth decay if you had ideal amounts of fluoride during the time the tooth’s enamel was forming. That’s the good news. (Keep in mind that the most vulnerable area of the tooth to decay is the grooves of the back teeth; et this is the area that fluoride provides the least protection to.)

But if:

• Fluoride in the water exceeds 1.2 parts per million;

• You drink more water than is considered average, such as what you’d drink on a hot day, or what an athlete would drink;

• Consume fruits and vegetables grown in areas where the natural water content of fluoride is high or the water is fluoridate; and

• You received extra fluoride from mouth washes, toothpaste, vitamins, or other sources; then

You will most likely experience fluorosis and other side affects of fluoride poisoning.

Fluorides Will Not Prevent Gum Disease

The truth is that fluoride doesn’t do anything to prevent gum disease and gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss; not decay as most people believe. Even if you received exactly the right amount of fluoride, over the right period of time, and you experienced reduced tooth decay; you would still have to properly brush your gums to prevent gum disease.

So it doesn’t matter whether or not the water is fluoridated, you have to brush and floss your teeth in the same way, and just as often, to prevent gum disease as to prevent decay. Of course while you are taking care of your gums you would also be prevent tooth decaying, even if your water wasn’t fluoridated. The difference being that you can still effectively prevent all forms of dental disease if you have a sound oral hygienie program, but without risking the side effects of fluoride poisoning.

Even a Little Fluoride is Too Much Fluoride

It should be noted that people today are exposed to greater quantities of fluoride than they were 25 years ago. Twenty-five years ago, the major source of fluoride exposure was fluoridated water. Today, it is also found in mouthwash, toothpaste, rinses, tablets, and even vitamins. There is evidence that shows fluorosis has shown up in areas where the water isn’t fluoridated. I’ve no doubt that this is because they are receiving excessive amounts of fluoride from other sources mentioned above.

Thus the potential for fluoride poisoning has dramatically increased. The real problem we are facing is that no one knows how much fluoride each individual is getting. One person may drink 8 glasses of fluoridated water a day, brush with fluoridated toothpaste, and use fluoridated mouthwash. Another could drink 2 glasses of water and not use any other fluoridated dental products. As you can see, the variations are wide-ranging. Also keep in mind that if your water is fluoridated you will receive fluoride from the water used to make soups, tea, coffee, ice, and any other use of water in food preparation.

Another indirect source of fluoride is fruits and vegetables grown with fluoridated water. There is no way of knowing how much fluoride you may be getting from this source. In addition, hundreds of thousands of pounds of fluoride enter the ecology from water runoff containing fluoride. Each year it adds more and more fluoride to the ecosystem, poisoning live stock, lakes and waterways.

Is Fluoride a Health Hazard?

The answer to that question is is a big YES! Fluoride toxicity is definitely something to be aware of, especially in communities where the water is fluoridated or high levels of it are found naturally in the water. My suggestion is that if you’ve eliminated gum disease and mercury as contributor to any existing health problem, and your physician cannot seem to find the find the cause, you should check to see if your water contains fluoride and suggest he or she consider it as a potential cause.

There is no doubt that fluoride is a poison in very small amounts and for some it can be a serious health hazard and although it does relate to teeth, it’s not really an oral health issue. I see it as a public health issue, as the majority of fluoride you will be exposed to is delivered to the individual via the municipal water systems. Regardless of how it is delivered, fluoride is a poison, and increasing evidence suggests it can create, or contribute, to health problems.

What you have read here will serve to introduce you to the subject of fluoride and if you feel you would like to learn more about this subject, Tooth Fitness: Your Guide to Healthy Teeth covers fluoride in greater detail. It details the pros and cons of fluoride use and addresses all of the controversial aspects of this still controversial subject.

[Dr. Tom resides in Sebastopol, CA and is the author of the best-selling books, Healthy Teeth—Healthy Body: How to Improve Your Oral and Overall Health, The Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam Fillings . . . Hazardous to Your Health, and Mercury Detoxification: The Natural Way to Remove Mercury from Your Body. He is a leading authority on mercury amalgam silver fillings, chronic mercury poisoning, mercury detoxification, and holistic dental wellness. Dr. Tom specializes in patient education and is available for phone consultations about topics within his area of expertise. He has the largest and most visited website of its kind, with over 350 pages of information. His website, www.dentalwellness4u.com has the largest database of mercury-free and mercury-safe dentists available on the Internet. You can contact his office at 1-800-335-7755.]

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Multiple Intelligences. No, I’m not talking about life-forms outside of Earth; I’m talking about the numerous ways that we, humans, learn new things by our different learning styles. I’ve only had 2 days of classes, and my Critical Thinking class feels more like a really fun Psychology class than anything else. I love psychology so, when it’s brought up in class, I get really excited.

We’re in our second week of school (out of 8 weeks) and we just read a chapter in the book that talks about Multiple Intelligences. There are 8 forms of dominant intelligences, 3 learning styles, and 8 personality styles – all which makes up the theory of Multiple Intelligences.

In 1983, Howard Gardner introduced the Multiple Intelligence Theory “as a model of intelligence that differentiates intelligence into various specific (primarily sensory) modalities, rather than seeing it as dominated by a single general ability.” (Wikipedia)

Here are the 8 Dominant Intelligences and what they each mean:

Visual/spatial- Picture smart- Thinks in pictures; Knows where things are in the house; loves to create images with pictures.

Verbal/Linguistic- Word smart- Communicates well through language; likes to write; good at spelling; great storyteller and loves to read.

Musical/Rhythm- Music smart- Loves to sing, hum and whistle; responds to music immediately; performs music

Logical/Mathematical- Number smart- Can easily conceptualize and reason; uses logic; good problem solving skills; loves math and science.

Body/Kinesthetic- Body smart- Learns through body sensations; moves around a lot; enjoys working with hands; some athletic ability

Interpersonal- People smart- Loves to communicate with people; great leadership skills; lots of friends; does extracurricular activities

Intrapersonal- Self smart- Deep awareness of own feelings; very reflective; requires time to be alone; no group activities

Naturalistic- Environment smart- Interest in environment and nature; recognizes plants, animals, rocks and cloud formations; may like camping, hiking and fishing.

There are various tests available to see what your Dominant Intelligence is, and how the others rank as well. My weakest happens to be verbal and then it’s Naturalistic; the others seem to be quite well-developed as I scored quite close in the rest of them despite having my strongest being Body/Kinesthetic.

The part that I found completely and truly fascinating was when it came to the 3 Learning Styles. Although the descriptions sound kind of like the 8 Dominant Intelligences, there is a difference.

So here are the 3 learning styles:

Visual Learning Style- Thinks in pictures; enjoys visual instructions and demonstrations; would rather read a text than listen to a lecture; avid note-taker; needs visual reference; likes charts and graphs.

Auditory Learning Style- Prefers verbal instructions; would rather listen than read; often tapes lectures; recites information out loud; enjoys talking and discussing issues and verbal stimuli; talks out problems.

Kinesthetic/Tactile Learning Style- Prefers a “hands-on” approach to learning; likes to take notes and uses a lot of scratch paper; learns best by “doing”; learns by moving; doesn’t concentrate well when sitting and reading.

The funny thing with the 3 Learning Styles for me is that I learn things by physically doing them, instead of watching someone else, but I also have a strong Visual Learning Style. I can’t sit in a class all day where the teacher is doing the lecture, I have to stay in my seat, and am expected to listen and understand what the teacher is saying. I have to move!

I can’t sit still for very long, and it can definitely be hard for me to concentrate when I’m just sitting down. I’m not exactly “easily distracted”, I just have to be doing something. So it’s quite interesting to see how these Learning Styles are incorporated into whom I am and how I learn, without me even realizing it.

I’m sure everyone knows about the 8 personality types (introvert, extrovert etc.). It’s also very important to see how your personality type either hinders or boosts your learning. It’s also important for teachers to know how each child/adult learns if they expect every child/adult in the classroom to really understand and comprehend what he/she is talking about in class.

Virtually my entire Critical Thinking class is all Body/Kinesthetic learners, so we learn best by “doing”, rather than just listening or watching. It’s important for my professor to know this so she knows how to reach each kid so they all understand.

It’s also good to know these things because it can and will affect your various jobs. One of my classmates said that he’s a good listener and likes to listen, but has a very difficult time following directions. It doesn’t mean, “Well then obviously you’re not a good listener”, because they might be the best listener you’ve ever met; just don’t give him/her directions on something.

They asked the Professor if she knew anything about it, and she was totally stumped – no one had asked that kind of question before. They ran their own test at home using a video game (that uses a lot of puzzles and requires you to follow directions before proceeding) to see why they have such a hard time following directions. They tried following the directions by repeating what they were told to do, in their head.

Ultimately they couldn’t figure out what to do and got frustrated. So they tried the same thing, but this time repeating the directions to them, but out loud. Surprisingly enough, they were able to do what the directions had said and were able to finally proceed. So they learned that they have an Auditory Learning Style.

I’m a have a very strong visual learning style. Like I said earlier, I can’t sit in class that does lectures and be expected to know what the teacher talked about before leaving the class. When I was in high school, that’s very much how high school was like. My math teacher would stand in front of the class, and lecture all day. Needless to say, I wasn’t doing very well in that class. I transferred to the local Alternative school so I could speed up my learning, and graduate high school before I was due to give birth to my daughter. The alternative school has teachers, just no lectures.

It was purely, “Here’s your packet of work, there’s your book. Do the work. If you can’t figure out from the book, THEN come ask me.” This was quite surprising to me. I felt confused at first, but yet so relieved that I wouldn’t have to waste my time listening to guy try to explain math to me in a way I wasn’t going to understand anyways. There was my packet, there was book, and there was my sweet grade. I passed the math class from the alternative school with a good grade (though I don’t remember what exactly it was). The math class I’m in right now (in college) is very much the same way. The teacher is there if you can’t figure things out on your own, but she doesn’t stand in front of class and explain math to me in a virtually foreign language.

Applying all of this to how I absorb information from work, as a new hire is quite funny. I worked as a waitress for over a year at a Mexican restaurant. My trainer handed me the menu and said, “Learn this.” Ok, I know I need to learn the menu if I’m going to be serving the food to people, but can you show me what this food is supposed to look like, too? I can’t learn my job if I’m just reading what I’m supposed to do. If it’s a serving job I’m doing, you better show me the food and tell me what’s in it, before you start quizzing me on the menu. I need to see the way it’s presented, and see what these weird ingredients are for me to know, “Oh, ok, that’s what that is!”

I always knew that was the case (I had to see, to know) but I didn’t realize how important it was in EVERYTHING I do; not just simply a waitressing job. If it’s a technical job, you better let me do it while your explaining it to me; don’t just say, “Ok watch what I’m doing,” and expect me to follow.

All of this stuff is/can be very valuable information to everyone. If you have young kids that are toddlers, watch them; see how they’re learning. If you know how your child learns, then it’ll be so much easier to communicate with them. When they did something wrong, do they need you to SHOW them what they did, or do they just need you to TELL them what they did? If they’re young enough that you can influence their learning styles, then that’s even better! Help them excel in all 3 learning styles so no matter HOW someone teaches new things to them, they’ll always be able to understand it.

Guest post written and submitted by Heather P. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow Heather P, and engage with her and fellow Hush Hush fans and Twilight book fans.

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