GOOD TEETH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD HEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 152, 16 March 1918, Page 2

GOOD TEETH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD HEALTH.

HOW CAN GOOD TEETH BE ENSURED? 1. By Good Pre-natal Conditions— At birth the huiehed crowns of the temporary teeth and the germs of the permanent teeth are already embedded deep in the gums; ithereforo tho expectant mother should do all in her power to lead a normal, regular, healtiiy life, witb sufficient exercise, etc., to enbure that the teeth may be lvell started, and that there will be a good supply of breast niilli for the baby. (See the Government pamphlet, "The Expectaut Mother and Baby's First Month," and "The Story of tho Teeth," Whitaombe and Tombs.) 2. By Breast-feeding; at Regular Inter vals.—The structure, growth, proper settine, and eruption of the permanent teeth depend on the srpply of an abundant Btream of rich, healthy blood throughout the period of most active growth. To ensuro this a baby niust be fed regularly with proper food. Tho best food for a baby is mother's milk. Make sure that you do not overfeed baby, especially in the early weeks. This is a common cause of indigestion, and babies are frequently weaned because the mother has too much good milk—not too little. If there is any doubt on this point, balance baby !>efore and after nursing each time lor a complete period of 24 hour 6, and compare the quantity he has taken from the brea6t with the amount advised in the table for feeding, page M, "Feeding and Caro of Baby.'' For details regarding weighing, before and after nursing Bee page 57 of the society's book. 3. By giving the baby (where artificial feeding must be resorted toi milk prepared so. as to approximate as nearly a 6 possible to mother's milk —in other words, humanised milk. This artiflicial food should be properly graded, and should be given from a bottle ,\ith a teat which ensures as much exercise for tho baby's jaws as possible. Tho smaller the hole in the nipple the better, provided that the baby can be induced to take enough food in a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes at the outside. This can ouly be done by holding the feeding-bottle and maintaining a certain pull on it, so that the teat is kept towards the front of tho mouth. By thiß means tho baby is brought to suck much more aotively. 4. By Avoiding a Duinmy.-This dirty contrivance deforms the jawe, palate, etc.. and gives rise to defective, irregular teeth, and is a leading cause of mouth-breath-. Ing and adenoids. Besides this, it upsets the digestion t-y inducing constant sucking and dribbling of saliva. If there is indigestion there cannot be good, pure blood from which to build strong sound teeth. 5. By Giving Bones, Crusts, etc., and avoiding pap-feeding as much .as possible. A baby should be given a bono to munch from six inonthß onwards. The baby's early natural instinctive desire for somethiijg hard to bite at should be fostered and encouraged. Beginning with tough, crusts at the ninth month of age, such hard, dry foods as toaßt, hard, plain ship s biscuit, raw rips opplc, brown bread, and cake, etc.. should be introduced as the ohild grows older, and is able to cope with them. „. , , 6. By Giving Plajn,. Simple, Regular Meals.-Don't overfeed children. After 18 months or two years, three meals a day are sufficient. As large a proportion as possiblo of this frod should bo of a nature to require active chewing. The solid part of the meal should be well chewed, mTxed thoroughly with the saliva in the mouth, and swallowed before any fluid is allowed. The child should bo taught to wait until the end of the meal before taking a drink. Vvoid soft, sticky foods, such, as sweet biscuits, soft white bread, cakes, caramels, chocolates, etc. , , ~ Wkolc-meal bread, moat, fish, poultry, vegetables, and fruit are better for the teeth, o.b they require more mastication and stimulate the flow of the' digestive Jl ßound, ripo, uncooked apple is the best of foods to finish a meal with, as it not only cleans the teeth, but alsoi causes; a very free flow of saliva, which flushes out the whole mouth.. . Never give a biscuit or chocolates last thing at night. . . By Cleaning the Tceth.-This should bo : done night find morning from 18 months of age. Children must bo taught to clean their teeth by example. The teeth should bo thoroughly cleansed, not by merely brushing across them, but also outsirle anU insido and up and down, so that food particles lodging between tho tenth, may be/ amoved. The back teeth must bo specially attended to; they are not scon, but must, not bo neglected on that account. 8. By ta.kingJbo child to a dentist every three months. A dentist will bo able to detent speckß of decay which the parents might miss. If specks of decay are present, even in tho first teeth, havo them attended to at. once. ' KifCßuard tho first permanent molars. Theso important teeth appear about the sixth year, and bb none of the baby teeth have been'shed, the mother .often imagines these "permanent, molars arc only ternporary teeth, and they are allowed to doJav and be extracted to the lifelong injury of the child. Therefore, 1 say again, bo sure to safeguard the first permanent carefully to all the essentials for health. (Seo pageß 1 and 2 of the Society's Book.) , . Especially see that the children have abundance of pure, cool, fresh air day and night; plenty of outdoor exercise; per-, feet regularity of the boweta: and, after 16 months or two years, a cold bath every morning', followed by brisk friction, rapid dressing, and quarter of an hours active CXCrCU °-' DECAYED TEETH. . . If the teem uru uireudy showing signs of decay, what should bo done? Attend carefully to all tho essentials for health referred to above, and take your child to a good deutist ae soon as possible. ... , , What harm is there in having decayed 1 Decayed teeth cause toothache, w£jch makes a child sleepless, nervous, aud irritable, thus inducing a lowering ot the general health and a lack of power to rc6ißt disease. . ■ , 2 Decayed teeth render chewing of food painful and difficult, and the food is swallowed without being properly masticates and mixed with saliva. This gives rise to indigestion, and the child becomes miserable and peaky. 3 Decayed teeth not only provide foul pockets for the lodgment and breeding ot disease germs, which give nso to sore throats, rheumatic fever, and consumption, but they aro constantly pouring living germß and poisonous matter into tno mouth. This is swallowed, tends to interfere with digestion, and may upset the whole system. . Keep the teeth sound until maturity: and then, if cleaned regularly, they tend to last for life.