Gemma Ray

It’s foster care fortnight #FCF23 and I haven’t seen anything about kinship fostering on the socials as part of the #FosteringCommunities drive. This past 6 months as a kinship carer has been the hardest of our lives. It would’ve been made a lot easier with… 🧵 1/9

@scott_mills I think you’re talking about me and the toilet brush 😂😂 @BBCRadio2

@Tommy_1972 Don’t forget the last bit “you mother f******* c***s!” 🤦‍♀️

My favourite Paul Danan moment was when he was switching the Christmas lights on in Preston and he told the audience of 3,000 people, mostly made up of children, to “make some fucking noise” as he flicked the switch. He got sacked from the city’s pantomime the next day.

@ruthabram @m90_djf @bosdovja92 I just came to say wasn’t that you @ruthabram 😂

@m90_djf @bosdovja92 I was one of the winners!

Can we talk about the chaos that was Soapstar Superstar? I need to know immediately who came up with this concept, why they thought it would be a good idea and why they were actually right 🤣 thread of the madness that was this show 🧵👇

@criminographer Absolutely heartbroken to read this. I don’t know you but I’ve read your posts regularly and admired how strong and resilient you are. My heart hurts for you, Mama. May those beautiful babies play together and watch over you all 💔

We are devastated to say that our beautiful Isabelle died in the early hours of this morning. We are absolutely broken. However, we want you all not to think of her death, but to honour her by living life as she did: fearlessly, joyously & spontaneously.

If a canvasser knocks at your door during the election campaign, please be polite. These people are volunteers trudging the streets for many hours because they believe in something. It's a thankless task, and they don't deserve abuse.

@POferriesupdate Thank you

@gemmadeeray Good evening Gemma, Dover's experienced some minor queues today, but is currently clear

👋 Good evening everyone! It's Loredana here until 7am to keep you updated throughout your P&O Ferries journey tonight. Have a pleasant trip. 🚢

@RachelMead1 @rhyner_anna @POferriesupdate I know it was chaos the other way last week. Wondering if it’s still the case

@gemmadeeray @rhyner_anna @POferriesupdate Calais to Dover for sure! (I was there!)

@rhyner_anna @POferriesupdate *way

@POferriesupdate Can you please advise if you are expecting the same kind of chaos tomorrow that I've been reading about today and yesterday? What additional measures have you put in place for tomorrow?

Ok I haven’t posted on here for ages, I hate Britain’s Got Talent but I’ve just happened to catch this choir on the show. EPIC. I want to join! Ha ha. This is ace. I hope they win. So good it made me want to post about it.

@HMRCcustomers Hi I am a kinship foster carer who is also self employed. I have tried to do my self assessment tax return and ticked the box to say I foster carer but can’t see any space to input a fostering allowance. Adding fostering as a 2nd biz also doesn’t allow space to input allowance

Good morning. We’re here until 8pm to answer your general queries 🧑‍💻 Please don’t post any personal details ❎

@CathyConn Yes Cathy!!!

@thesecretsocia4 Are you doing any tweaks/edits and republishing? I spotted a couple of typos. They might already be highlighted in KDP if you look there. Could DM you where they are if helpful.

Idk if the lack of community care in our culture is more evident than when moms casually say they daydream about being hospitalized for something only moderately serious so that they are forced to not have any responsibilities for like 3 days.

@Claire_journo How cool is this video!!?? Amazing.

Happy birthday dad 🤍 Nine years on, still missed. A lot. And I never get sick of this... thank god he was into cameras and gadgets. Priceless old (VERY old) footage of us playing football together 😂❤️

@wevsandthat Hope he’s ok. And you too. ❤️

So today’s the day. T’other half was diagnosed with nasal cancer in May and he’s going under the knife today. If you can all think some positive thoughts until about 8pm that would be bloody marvellous x

This is ace

@BowTiedGatorDDS @deNutrients @meghaverma_art This is ace. Thanks 🙏

Are teeth bones? According to resident nutrionist @deNutrients it is a resounding yes. Does lack of protein cause cavities during pregnancy? According to our resident Art and Literature expert, @meghaverma_art the answer is "Absolutely" This is going to be a long post, not because I want to but because it is my responsibility. I'm up early on a Sunday typing a rebuttal to two midwits who feel the need to comment on something that is not within their domain. Why? I have no idea, but as a self-proclaimed educational vigilante, we must protect and serve. ARE TEETH BONES? Simply, no they are not. But let's get into the details. Composition: Both teeth and bones are hard, white, and contain calcium, but that's where the similarity ends. The majority of a tooth is made of dentin, which is calcified connective tissue that provides the tooth with its basic shape and rigidity. The outermost layer of the tooth is the enamel, which is the hardest and most mineralized substance in the human body. It's composed of approximately 96% mineral (mostly hydroxyapatite), 3% water, and 1% organic material. In contrast, bones are composed of about 50% mineral (also largely hydroxyapatite), 25% water, and 25% organic material, including collagen. This composition gives bones strength and flexibility. Function: Bones serve many functions including supporting the body, protecting organs, producing blood cells, and storing essential minerals. Teeth, on the other hand, are mainly for biting, cutting, and grinding food. Regeneration: Bones have the ability to regenerate and heal themselves if fractured. They are constantly undergoing a process of remodeling, where old bone is resorbed and new bone is formed. Teeth cannot regenerate in the same way. Once tooth enamel is lost, it does not regrow, and cavities cannot heal themselves. Dentin can be regenerated to a very small degree, but it happens from within the tooth not from without. Blood Supply: Bones contain bone marrow. Teeth, on the other hand, have a pulp which contains a blood vesel, and nerve. The types of tissue are completely different and have almost nothing in common. Now that we've discussed the differences between teeth and bones, we can pick apart her argument that the child creates a demand for calcium due to low magnesium. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge proponent of taking magnesium. I take it daily. While magnesium is a crucial mineral for overall health, including bone and tooth health, a direct connection between low magnesium levels and tooth decay is not evident. Instead we have a myriad of other strongly understood mechanisms in which pregnant women take a sharp turn for the worse with regard to oral health. Ah, what a relief. Now we can move on from the boring topic of "teeth are bones". Next up we have this ice cold take: She uses vegans as proof that protein is why saliva quality is the only reason for pregnancy cavities. Low protein during pregnancy is a huge problem, and leads to serious effects on the mother and baby, but cavities are not one of them. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P… It is possible after reading that link, that @meghaverma_art mother did not have adequate protein intake during pregnancy. These two takes are not "WRONG WRONG WRONG" They are instead, half true. Which is more dangerous, because pregnant women may see this and say "wow all I need is a quest bar and a magnesium pill and I'll be cavity free! No, you won't. Here's what @deNutrients and @meghaverma_art should have said, but didn't because they don't know what they are talking about: PREGNANCY AND TEETH During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through a myriad of systemic changes. Some of these changes can contribute to dental issues, including cavities. Let's explore these in detail: Hormonal/Microbiome Changes Pregnancy triggers fluctuations in hormone levels, (increases in progesterone and estrogen.) This hormonal shift leads to "pregnancy gingivitis," an inflammation of the gums that can cause swelling, tenderness, and bleeding. This allows the proliferation of anaeobic bacteria which cause cavities and gum disease. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P… Changes in Diet and Eating Habits Many pregnant women have cravings, which usually leads to an increased intake of process carbs/sugars, fuel for cavity causing bacteria. Acid reflux or morning sickness can also expose teeth to stomach acid, which can erode enamel and make teeth more susceptible to cavities. Decreased Immune Response Pregnancy is a state of immune modulation, where the body balances between protecting itself and not rejecting the baby. This can lead to a decreased immune response in the gums, making them more susceptible to bacterial accumulation and potentially to cavities. ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewconten… Changes in Oral Care Routine Some pregnant women experience an increased gag reflex, leading to difficulties in maintaining their regular oral hygiene practices. This, along with possible changes in sleep patterns, physical discomfort, and fatigue, can sometimes lead to less optimal oral hygiene during pregnancy. How do I know this? Not because of my degree in art, but rather the thousands of pregnant women I've seen as patients. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36163018/ Changes in Saliva Composition Some research suggests that pregnancy can affect saliva's quality, altering its mineral composition and buffering capacity. This can potentially impact the natural protective functions of saliva and contribute to an increased risk of tooth decay. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32718487/ Calcium Metabolism Changes There's a common belief that the baby draws calcium from the mother's teeth if dietary calcium is inadequate, but this is a myth as demonstrated by the weird pushback on my tweet yesterday. The calcium for the fetus is drawn from the mother's bones if dietary intake is insufficient not the teeth. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1090175/ So there you have it. Taking care of your teeth during pregnancy is an uphill battle, but it's completely possible. I manage 4-5 pregnant women at any given time, and I have methods to get them to a place of stability and adequate oral health. Optimal oral health is never the goal because pregnant women have bigger priorities than their teeth. My goal is to just maintain them until the body has a hormonal balance again.

@Th2Engineer @BowTiedGatorDDS This is absolutely true

Your child didn’t “steal” the calcium from your teeth when you were pregnant, you just had subpar hygiene and the hormonal shift caused a spike in acidity in your mouth. I need more mothers to understand this.