Tooth decay, or dental caries, is caused by prolonged exposure to acids produced by bacteria in mouth. We cannot avoid bacteria in air. When we breathe it enters mouth and attaches itself to everything, including teeth. In fact, there are more microcosms in one mouth than there are people on earth.

Sugar is main culprit in tooth decay, because that is what bacteria eat. Bacteria then produce acids as a byproduct. Those acids eat at enamel of our teeth, until hole or cavity in tooth appears.

Our story begins in 17th century, when sugar plantations developed in “new world.” Until then food was produced and prepared with much less added sugar. Then 18th century saw sugar beets being harvested in England. Now, virtually everything we consume, from cereal in morning to steak and eggs at night contains extra sugar. Bacteria on our teeth count themselves lucky to live in 21st century, where there is an almost unlimited supply of free food for them to thrive on.

We are in cahoots with sugar and bacteria when we do not brush and clean our teeth. Leaving bacteria to feed upon sugar and produce acids in our mouths allows bacteria time to form a visibly organized colony between gums and tooth that we call plaque. Plaque actually acts as a cover for acids that sit on surface of our enamel. Without cleaning, acids will eat at out enamel almost at will, creating tooth decay and dental caries.

There are too many people walking around under condemnation by this illusion. They feel they have failed at game of life. It is not true. You have not failed. You cannot fail at something that is unattainable. Instead, you should be pleased that you got as far as you did. There are many that check out of this life because they refuse to fail at anything. Lets talk about how you can live authentically with life you have.

One, you must make decision to live in moment. We have too many who are living in past, with its mistakes, or in future, with its uncertainties. In order for you to be authentic, you are going to have to take proverbial bull by horn and live in here and now. We all know that we cannot change past, yet many of us have set up camp there in hopes that we can make sense of it. Then there is other group that is off to a time that hasn’t happened yet. Neither group is useful. Life is happening now.

So, how do you live now? Start by taking off mask. Admit that life hasn’t been what you expected and then forgive yourself and God. Yourself, for chasing an illusion, and God, for blaming Him when it didn’t happen as you expected.

Second, Be honest with yourself. Honesty is a lost commodity in era we live in. People love to lie. The only problem is that you take your lies internally and they judge you. You might say, “I don’t lie.” Let’s take a short quiz.

1. Do you make promises to yourself that you don’t keep? (I’m going on a diet.) 2. Do you make promises to others that you don’t keep? (I’ll be on time.) 3. Do you tell others what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear out of fear of repercussions? 4. If you asked your closest friend if you were an honest person how would they answer?

We lie without thinking about it because that is what we are conditioned to do. We soften them by calling them little white lies. A lie is a lie. Of course, there are other extremists who lack tact in their honesty. They try to belittle people. Both sides are not good. As you start living authentic you must make honesty your priority. Why? How can you be honest with someone else if you are not honest with yourself? Further, you project it onto other people. By projection, I mean that you put burden on another person to be what you cannot be. You will find fault with person who is just a mirror of yourself. Since you do not have compassion to love shadow of yourself, you will not have compassion on other person. Let me give you an example, I have a friend that is a procrastinator to a fault. It used to aggravate me until I saw I was same way. When I dealt with that aspect in myself her procrastination no longer bothered me.

Jung says, “Man turns a blind eye to shadow-side of human nature. Blindly he strives against salutary dogma of original sin, which is yet so prodigiously true. Yes, he even hesitates to admit conflict of which he is so painfully aware.”