21 minute read
Brushing Twice A Day Keeps The Cavities Away
BRUSHING TWICE A DAY KEEPS THE CAVITIES AWAY HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD' S TEETH
By Holly Grattan
Enfants d’Azur’s medical expert, Dr. Mona Moussalli, a paediatric dentist, says, “In order for your child to have healthy teeth and gums throughout their life, it is important that you help your child to take good care of them from birth”. So, what is the best way to take care of your child's teeth at the following critical stages: 0-5 years, 6-9 years and 10-15 years? 0-5 years old: Brush the teeth from the moment your child gets their first tooth, and if your child uses a pacifier, try to wean them off it by the time they are 3 years old.
According to Dr. Moussalli, as soon as your child gets his or her first tooth, a toothbrush and toothpaste should be used. She recommends that your child’s teeth be brushed twice a day using a soft toothbrush with a small head. Use baby toothpaste that contains fluoride relevant to the child’s age. When your child is under 3½ years old, an amount corresponding to half of their little fingernail must be used. When the child is over 3½ years old, the amount can be increased so that it corresponds to a whole little fingernail. Once the child has got his or her baby molars, it is a good idea to start flossing in between the teeth, since a lot of cavities start there. When it comes to using a pacifier, Dr. Moussalli says that there is no need to be worried about the teeth. She explains children have a natural need for a pacifier, and it can be fine for a short period of time. However, she advises that you should try to avoid your child using one excessively. Additionally, you should never dip the pacifier in sugar or honey as it can cause cavities. The same is true if you give your baby juice or sweet drinks in a feeding bottle. Only give your baby milk or water in a bottle. However, make sure not to give the baby anything other than water in their feeding bottle at night, as milk contains lactose that helps to create cavities in the teeth.
6-9 years old: Train your child to brush their teeth themselves and pay attention to the first permanent molar. When the child is between 6 and 9 years old, Dr. Moussalli advises parents to continue helping with the brushing, since a child is not capable of brushing the teeth correctly themselves. Now it is fine to use the family's normal toothpaste as long as it contains fluoride. It is good to train your child to brush their teeth themselves, but always brush them again yourself afterwards and do not forget to floss. Around the age of 6, your child gets their first permanent molar. They come behind the baby teeth and can be difficult to see when they first emerge. It is important to brush the first molar from the start.
If they are difficult to reach, you should try turning the toothbrush sideways. The first molar has a high risk of cavities and is normally sealed at dental clinics to avoid this.
Dr. Moussalli emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet on your child’s oral health. What your child eats, and drinks plays an important role in the care of their teeth. Choose healthy and varied foods that your child likes and save on foods and beverages that are high in sugar. Give your child water or milk to quench their thirst during the day, and only let them drink sweet drinks on special occasions. It may be a good idea to introduce 1 day each week where your child is allowed to have candy, and then drop it completely for the rest of the week. 10-15 years old: Make sure your child does not get too many sweet things. At the age of 10, you no longer need to help your child brush their teeth, but you need to check that they are doing it properly. Continue making sure that the child gets a healthy and varied diet and try to avoid your child snacking on sweet things but instead eats fruit or vegetables as a snack. If your child eats sweets all the time, there is a great risk that they will eventually get cavities in their teeth. Therefore, try to limit the child's intake of sweets to a maximum of once a week, e.g., in the form of Friday sweets. It is also important to pay attention to what your child is drinking. Thirst should be quenched with water or milk, and sodas and juices should be limited to ½ litre per week. The acid and sugar in sweet drinks really damages the teeth and creates cavities. When your child is between 10 and 13 years old, the last baby teeth become loose and fall out. However, as Dr. Moussalli explains, it may happen that
new teeth appear in front of or behind the old baby teeth, so that the child has 'double teeth' for a period of time. Eventually they will fall out by themselves, but if this is not the case you should contact your child's dentist.
Around the age of 12, children get 4 new second molars and they come out behind the first molar. As with the first molar, it is important to brush the second molar well from the start. As with the first molars the second molar in most cases also needs to be sealed in order to protect it from cavities later in life.
THE EXPERT
Dr. Mona Moussalli Paediatric Dentist Kidz-Doc Antibes
BUILDING A TINY HOUSE ON WHEELS
KELLEE AND CEDRIC’S SELF-BUILD TINY HOUSE PROJECT
© Tiny Easy LTD www.tinyeasy.co.nz
Kellee, Cedric and their little princess, Lexie from Simple Life Builders have recently taken minimalism and sustainability to the "next level" by following their dreams and joining the "Tiny House Movement". They are currently building a tiny house on wheels.
Tell us a little about yourselves.
We are a French-Kiwi couple, passionate about making the most of our lives by following our audacious and sometimes crazy dreams. Our latest adventure is pausing our successful businesses (Kellee’s Hair Design and Riviera and What to do Riviera/Antibes) in order to pursue a dream which is aligned with our values by DIY building our very own tiny house on wheels.
What got you interested in tiny houses and where did the idea come from to build your own to live in full-time?
We were obsessed with watching tiny house programs and documentaries. We fell in love with the idea for a few reasons. The fact that it forces you to become more minimalist has always been a pull for us, but the financial freedom side of the tiny house movement has been the biggest. Tiny house living usually means no or low mortgage which enables more freedom. We are also free to go wherever we choose because our little home is on wheels!
© Tiny Easy LTD www.tinyeasy.co.nz
Can anyone do this?
Absolutely! It certainly isn’t for everyone but there are huge benefits. There are so many choices around design, size, price and whether you choose to build with a professional or DIY. We chose to build ourselves because Kellee has a passion for the building industry and secretly has quite a bit of skill up her sleeves. Kellee has been a builder’s hand and worked for a design and build company so this project is perfect for us.
Tell us about the legislations surrounding building a tiny house on the Côte d’Azur, France.
https://tinyhousefrance.org/ Is an amazing resource for information around tiny house legislations in France, but it really boils down to your local council. Tiny house classification is still very much a grey area in France and some councils are happy to welcome tiny house living, some, not so much. Tiny Houses are generally classed as
“fancy caravans”. To take your “caravan” on the road you need to be under a certain size, height and weight.
How did you find your land to park and live in your tiny house? Have you rented or purchased the land?
At this stage we are lucky enough to have land with family, but it is very popular to rent land. We may look at buying land later and build a bigger fixed home. We love the fact we would be able to live in the tiny house whilst constructing the fixed home.
How much did you budget for your in general?
Due to the fact we are building ourselves we are saving a lot. We are looking to spend somewhere between 30 – 40,000€. This is for a very good quality, medium-high spec mini home. The price range is huge! You could probably build a tiny house for 15,000€ using mainly second-hand materials. It is quite common to spend around 60 - 70,000€ or more if you were to
tiny house? How much are tiny houses
build with a professional company.
How did having a four year old child impact your decision to go ‘tiny’? How have you designed your space with your daughter in mind?
We think it's amazing that she is watching her parents build a home with their own hands. She is adorable and always talks about her “tiny house camping car” (her affectionate name for it). She has her own toolbox and can happily spend hours playing with the wooden offcuts, mud and sawdust whilst we are building. We have designed the tiny house with her in mind in the way of privacy and safety. We have a full height walkway that will go between the 2 mezzanine bedrooms. Her bedroom will have an option to close completely or be semi open.
You run the group @FrenchRivieraMinimalism where you talk about sustainable living, recycling, reuse and using less of the world’s resources. Tell us how you plan to bring these elements into your tiny house life.
We already do many things around recycling, composting and trying to adopt a minimalist mindset when purchasing items, but here are a few elements we are bringing into our build.
Composting toilet (which apparently doesn’t smell!)
TPO roof which you can safely collect and filter rainwater for both household use and drinking.
We are using 12 or 24 volt lighting and electrical products where we can.
Eventually we like the idea of going with solar power but initially we will be attaining power traditionally.
Currently we have a huge supply of vegetables and fruit from the garden which is something we love and will continue when possible.
In general, tiny house living equals a lower carbon footprint.
Most of our materials for the build are eco-friendly.
Tell us about the process, what you have learned and any if you have had to overcome any challenges so far?
We have definitely had plenty of challenges! Everything takes much longer than we anticipated and as much as you try and be organised with materials, we always seem to forget a little something. A huge amount of self-education has gone into this build, there are so many questions every day, but we get there with the help of the internet/YouTube and Cedric's family, who are amazing. We have designed the layout and framing plans ourselves with safety and lifestyle in mind.
What helpful advice would you give to others interested in going tiny?
1) Feel the fear and do it anyway!
2) Don’t worry about other people’s judgement if it’s something you really want to do.
3) Don’t shortcut on your research. Kellee, Cedric and our little princess xx
Scan this QR code to find some of Kellee & Cedric’s best Tiny House resources.
Follow their journey on instagram, youtube and facebook
@SimpleLifeBuilders
Home Staging Tips: How to Prepare Your Home to Sell
© Tim Mcguffog
Many of us are ready to put 2020 behind us with a move in 2021. If you’re looking to sell your home in the New Year, there are several ways you can get your property ready to optimise its appeal to your future buyers.
Here are five tips to get started.
1. Declutter
The first step towards getting your property ready to sell is to get rid of old and rarely used items, yes that means long abandoned exercise equipment or broken pieces of furniture! If 2020 has blessed us with anything, it’s plenty of time at home, and a big declutter is the first step towards getting your property ready to welcome potential buyers.
2. Repair minor issues
Each individual house or apartment is very different, so this is an important point to discuss with your real estate agent, who should be able to advise you what is best for your situation. Depending on the type of buyer you’re looking to appeal to, it may or may not be worth doing some minor renovation work. Often, a quick repaint or repair of any small issues can give your property the facelift it deserves. The more work a buyer feels they need to do, the more they may be tempted to negotiate. Quality finishings leave a great impression that many buyers are willing to pay for. Unlike any other purchase, buying residential property (rental investment aside) is a sentimental process. Any potential buyer must be able to imagine themselves living there. This part is often difficult for a seller, as a home is such a personal space, often filled with precious memories. Sellers need to aim, where possible, to give new buyers a blank
canvas where they can imagine creating their own life and memories. This isn’t easy to do surrounded by quirky holiday souvenirs, family photos or children’s toys. If it isn’t possible to remove this type of item for your visits, try to at least depersonalise as much
4. Clean
© Tim Mcguffog
3. Depersonalise
as possible for your listing photos. This may seem like an obvious one, but a clean and well-presented home allows the buyer to see the home at its best. A sink overflowing with dishes or dirty laundry on the floor isn’t how most buyers want to picture their future home (even though we all know it can often be the reality!)
As with the points mentioned above, it’s much easier for a buyer to envisage their own projects in a clean and tidy house. It’s all about making a buyer feel welcome and comfortable, so much so that they want to make you an offer!
© Tim Mcguffog
5. Home Staging and Photos
An excellent presentation of your home on its listing advert is truly essential to target the right buyers. The photos are the first impression buyers will have of your property and they need to be an honest reflection of the space, while showing it in its best possible light. The right angles and set up are the secrets to a good set of listing photos. Depending on the type of property you are selling, home staging, physical or virtual, may be advantageous. Be sure to discuss your options with your estate agent. The basic rule is to empty and refill spaces. Empty out any clutter or personal items and refill with neutral decor objects, green plants are excellent for filling space. Setting the scene with a breakfast, or bottle of wine where appropriate, is often a nice touch. The key is to always remember the
© Tim Mcguffog
emotional aspect of the sale, you’re selling a life project, which is a lot more than just a property. Remember this and you’ll be on the right track to finding your perfect buyer.
Author: Keely Barrett is an international real estate consultant on the French Riviera Email: keely@abitan-immobilier.com
S E E Y O U R S E L F L I V I N G H E R E . . . ? Since relocating to the South of France 11 years ago, I ’ ve helped manyMAKE YOUR international clients find their dreamPROPERTY DREAMS home in the sun. Whether you ’ re
lo oking to buy or sell a villa orCOME TRUE AND
apartment, I ’ ll guide you in your projectINVEST IN YOUR
from A- Z, in English or in French, VERY OWN PIECE OF
providing bespoke property finding services and free valuations. THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Keely BARRETT International Real Estate Consultant C O N T A C T M E T O D A Y T O D I S C U S S Y O U R P R O P E R T Y N E E D S + 3 3 ( 0 ) 6 3 5 3 2 9 5 2 9 O R K E E L Y @ A B I T A N - I M M O B I L I E R . C O M F O R M O R E U P D A T E S A N D C L I E N T R E V I E W S Let' s connect ! Follow me : Keely Barrett @ keelylisebarrett Agent commercial -ENFANTS D’AZUR MAGAZINE RSAC NICE 802 373 381 January/ February 2021 00010 61
Galette des Rois
By Sue Stokes
Galette des Rois is a french traditional pastry eaten to celebrate Epiphany. If you didn’t buy your Galette des Rois with your Christmas shopping, then now is the time to make your own ready for January 6th.
Here is a quick recipe using store bought frozen flaky pastry.
Ingredients:
2 circles of ready-made pastry (pâte feuilletée)
apricot jam (confiture d'abricots)
100g butter at room temperature
100g sugar
1 egg
100g ground almonds (poudre d'amandes)
Almond essence
Method:
Switch oven on to 200C/ fan 180°C / gas mark 6.
Put one circle of pastry on a lined baking tray and spread with apricot jam as desired leaving a small border round the edge. My pastry circle was too big for my baking tray so I used a dinner plate to cut out a smaller circle.
Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg. Stir in the ground almonds and few drops of almond essence.
Spread the mixture evenly over the jam and brush the edges of the pastry with water.
Cover with the second circle of pastry, pressing the edges to seal.
With a sharp knife, score the top of the pastry from the centre to the edges like the spokes of a wheel or another pattern of your choice.
Brush with beaten egg and bake for 25-30 mins until crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold.
What is La Chandeleur?
by Holly Grattan
It’s a religious holiday in France celebrated by eating a lot of crêpes.
Why crêpes?
Crêpes look like the sun. This symbolic shape was a way of looking forward to the end of winter and the days getting longer. It was also a good way to use up any leftover wheat before the new harvest.
Why February 2nd? The religious aspect
On this day it is said that Jesus was presented at the temple in Jerusalem. Originally, like so many religious holidays, La Chandeleur was adapted from pagan traditions celebrating the fertility of the earth and the beginning of the end of winter. History tells us of candle light processions which took place on this day in Rome in the 5th century where Pope Gelasius is said to have handed out galettes (a type of salty crepe) to travellers passing through Rome and another link to the custom of eating crepes on the 2nd of February each year. In my family, every year we skip our main dinner and just have crêpes and the kids absolutely love it! ….well as long as there is Nutella involved which there is – loads! La Chandeleur is not to be confused with Shrove Tuesday which in many countries is also associated with eating pancakes.
In France, Shrove Tuesday is called Mardi Gras and is actually a day when traditionally they ate fatty foods in preparation for fasting that began on Ash Wednesday.
So what is the traditional way to eat crêpes for La Chandeleur?
Well, they say that on La Chandeleur you can’t just whip up a batch of crêpes like you would on an ordinary day. Instead, they are usually eaten in the evening and there are many superstitions to follow. Now, I am not superstitious in the slightest and we don’t actually follow the superstitions but, I love that my children being English, living in France, and going to French schools know and can laugh about the superstitions and understand the real traditional French way to do La Chandeleur. I am so grateful that my children have the opportunity to have a culture that encompasses not only being bilingual but also bi-cultural.
So do you want to know some of the superstitions?
Only eat them after 8pm! (we can never wait that long!) It’s important to toss the crêpe in the pan with your right hand while holding a piece of gold or a coin in your left – this is supposed to bring good luck. Another (thankfully very) old tradition was to put the first crêpe in a drawer or on top of a wardrobe to attract prosperity for the coming year. I am not sure how long they left it there? I do hope it is not until next Chandeleur – Eek! And then there are the weather superstitions: Tradition says that a rainy day means another 40 days of rain. Indeed, you might hear the French say “Quand il pleut pour la Chandeleur, il pleut pendant quarante jours”.
Other sayings include:
“Soleil de la Chandeleur, annonce hiver et malheur” which means: a sunny day will bring more winter and misfortune.
“Quand la Chandeleur est claire, l’hiver est par derriere” a clear day means winter is behind us.
“Quand elle est trouble, l’hiver redouble” When it is troublesome the winter will repeat its-self.
“Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte” a cloudy day means another 40 days of winter.
These sayings all sound much better in French, because they rhyme. There are so many other superstitions that we can’t mention them all here but they include lighting candles, coin flipping and ashes.
CRÊPES Enjoy a foolproof french crêpe that has been tried, tested and l recip oved e for many years! They are simple to make and are guaranteed to delight everyone!
By Gabrielle Labourier
INGREDIENTS 300g flour 3 eggs 3 tbsp sugar 2 tbsp vegetable oil 50g butter, melted 60ml milk
PREP Prep | TIME 5 m
Cook | 15 m
Ready in | 20 m
01 02 03 04 05
METHOD In a large bowl, combine flour, eggs, sugar, oil, and butter.
Slowly add in the milk while whisking. Whisk for a few minutes or until no clumps remain.
Heat up a pan or griddle on low heat or use a special crêpe pan if you have one.
Use a ladle to pour a thin layer of batter and move the pan to spread evenly. Leave to cook for one minute and then flip with a spatula. Cook again until lightly golden. Repeat this process until all batter has been used.
