Teeth and lungs

My childhood was on a coastal Tasman Bay orchard. Slump days, and the beautiful orchard, in spite of hard work, could hardly pay its way. However, we had a large vegetable garden, chooks, and a beach with kutai rocks, and from an old dinghy snapper aplenty were easily caught, not to mention patiki spearing with a lantern at night.

We had good tucker, and I was reminded to use my toothbrush. Visiting

grandparents, there were Grandfather’s false choppers in a bowl beside his bed.

My Jewish grandmother, who was into healthy eating, exercise, healthy thoughts and women’s rights, inspected my mouth to see if I had used the toothbrush well. Today I visit my friendly dentist for him to have a poke around and see if anything needs repair work in my 85-year-old mouth.

Usually a pleasant conversation and “See you next time.” As I leave I say. “Thank you Mum and Gran,” and my lucky Whakapapa.

The remains of pre-European Maori show old people with worn-down but 100 per cent sound teeth.

Ok, so let’s get to the lungs now. Smoke from a burn-off, or from the hangi as it is opened, makes you cough, as does the smoke from a burn-out of tyres. Smoke from tobacco, fag, cigar, or pipe, shortens Anne Salmond (NZ Herald, April 21) displays her ignorance of science, which transcends all cultures and nationalities.

Modern science just happened to be