HEALTH OF CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 8

HEALTH OF CHILDREN

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE TEETH. (Published under the authority of the Education Department.) It is the object of this article to correct some eroncous opinions prevalent amongst parents concerning 'children's teeth. It is commonly assumed that tht firs; set ot teotli are of little importance as they are replaced later by tho second set, also that it is necessary for thorn to decay in order to make room for the permanent set. On the contrary, the first set are relatively more important. They are in use during a period of life when growth is active and the constitution is being built up, when healthy nutrition and adequate mastication in a clean mouth are so essential, it is more important to have a complete sound sei of teeth during this period than at any ether- in the life of tho individual. Nature's method is that each tooth oi the first set gradually loses its roots, which, are übsorbed by the pressure oi the permanent tooth coining up beneath it. The first tooth, being left without a root, beconps loose, and painlessly shells off the guim. When these'teeth decay early, their roots not being absolved in this way extraction may be necessary. It is unnatural for the first teeth to decay. That they do so is in a large measure due to the errors of diet which "linve been set i'ortTi" in previous article*of tills series. When tliey do decay they should receive careful attention fromji dentitt. A'third tn'or—and one of serious consequence—is that the four large giindei or molar tee;h which conic through at about six years of age, are temporary teeth, and belong to the first set. They are, in consequence, frequently neglected and allowed to decay in the boliev that they will soon be replaced by others The first set of teeth, tea in each jaw, have all come through by the agf of two years or a little later. These, largo grinders of which we speak appear one at ewh side behind the first set in each jaw. They do not displace any of vbe teoth of the first set. They come through about the same time as the front teeth cf the first set are coming out. They take tho brunt of the work of raaf'ication, and act as buttresses oi outposts in the developing jaw whilo the te<"th of the first set are being 6hed and replaced by their successors. The im(Nii'tance of taking every precaution to preserve these six-year permanent grinde;s cannc.t be overestimated.