DENTAL DISEASES,

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1923, Page 1

DENTAL DISEASES,

AN INTERESTING BEY I KAY. In view of the propaganda for the Prevention of Dental Disease which has been carried on by the Health Department during the la.st three years, tho following article by Dr. William I’. Cooke, issued by the Preventive Dentistry and Oral Hygiene Department. Harvard Dental School, should be of general interest, emphasising as it does the maxims that are taught in New Zealand as being absolutely fundamental if tooth decay is to be prevented in our voting children. VALLE AND USE OF TEMPORARY TEETH.

There is in the minds of many persons the idea that temporary teeth are not- very important and as they are probably almost lost hv the twelfth years of life, no care should b 0 taken to save them. This idea is very wrong when we consider that these teeth aie planned to last twelve years, and that tliesp years ate largely the body build ing years of the child. The enamel of these teeth depends upon the diet of iho mother for their substance. Cases are on record where the mother’s diet was mostly tea, sugar and while bread, and her children had their first teeth with very little enamel.

Tho temporaiy teeth when they first erupt have no roots, these roots gradually grow and make a very firm attachment to the jaw. The molar roots are spread as the second teeth that take their places conic between them. This standing apart of these roots makes a very firm hold upon the jaw. Such a firm attachment indicates the purpose for which these teetli were made, namely to grind the load that is to make the body of a 101 b. baby into a child of TOOlbs. in ten years. An examination of these temporary teeth shows how admirably they are formed—their bulging or convex surfaces prevent the food from pressing upon the gums in chewing food. The cusps meet .flicopposing cusps in such a manner that a. series of planes cut and shear the food in chewing. Food is cut off by tlu- anterior teeth and chewed finely by the Kick teeth. CHEWING SHOOED BEGIN EARLY. lYhcn should this chewing process begin. I know a bahv who. at 7 months old. was chewing hard toast upon her gums. Biolluts of this baby have been brought up on the same system and at il and 7 years of age they have perfect teeth and normal arches—no decay has developed in their teeth. Tiie reason for such a healthy condition is that the diet fed these children called for thorough mastication and ns no liquid, not even water, was allowed at meals, the food had to he well chewed heloie it could lie swallowed. During the war England made an effort, ami with good results, to reduce the amount of bread eaten. Instruction in proper mastication gren/'v reduced the consumption of bread, as when a person chews liis food earelully, not so much can he eaten as in the bolting process. This also aids digestion, as the food when finely chewed digests easily. DECAY IS RAPID

Decay of the temporary teeth progresses very rapidly when it begins. The mouth is an ideal place for the process of dental decay. It is warm, moist and has plenty of easily fermentable food in it. especially when a person doc., m>t remote the loud alter each meal, and when his diet has been of ilie soft, sticky, sweet foods so generously eaten by Americans. When a child of four to five years lias his teeth so much decayed that, they have abscessed and lie cannot- properly chew liis food, somebody has not known that- denial decay is a preventable disease. A FOREIGNER'S OBSERVATIONS A person, born and raised abroad, when he conies to America is greatly surprised to see the amount ol gastric diseases, intestinal troubles and dental diseases. Alt observing foreigner who lias lived in many countries—Rounmnia. Turkov. Egypt—never found troubles • if this nature to any such ariiounv as in the United States. lie considers these troubles are due to tho diet—the amount of candies, ice-cream, and in general the soft diet charged with ear-lm-hydrates which tire comumed sn this country. The foreign children v. cie breast-led—this develop -d the tongue and jaws. The gniwn-iin people ate raw vee’ctahles. fruits, and \t ii l -*•- grain bread, linked hard. The teeib need exercise and the temporary teeth are Wu m-e as well as the pel-mall -ia leeiii. I have si-i n in public clinics, kindergarten children lour am! five years old whose u-elh were so badly decayed thatthe\ nee abscessed three or four allcesses in tic same mouth. ’lhe child would mu properly chew his p-e.l. and (lit- puis ui from ihi- ahseo-se- v.a Lad for the la-all ii of the child. The dido imisi have had great pain ami hm mouth could not have eve: L n :em-f,„-table. This condition m tail acces-s-in I’arents who Iced their children upon sweets and allow them candy between meals are to l-bllia-. Dv. ii , ay attacks the teeth of rich amr p • i alike "hen they eat practically Die same diet. ... Tho tempura: v teeth oml "-l will fast until they drop '"it. ' ■ >" •< the tooth erupts there is no r..ot. A-i-o tho root is made am! hapurpose it i' ah-orbed ami Da- n lerials are used to make ih- s,-oml teeth. The enamel port-m < mv ato fall out. i here sh 00.1 ' •- ' j U these teeth. When they decay my. die and b: conic ah- '"s.-d t oe - ■ < come in the wrong place, due to til( ' uot absorbed and tho second tooth ma\

root of the temporary tooth being in the v.*ev. CM FAY AND LIVE AVhen a dog cannot chew liis loud he is near Ids end. When a Imrse cannot chew liis food, unless the condition can he remedied, he dies. Sensible human beings do not use the same sense in ear-

ing for their children that they use in caring for animals. Barents should examine the mouth and tooth of their children. AA'hen the parent sees what a wonderful chewing apparatus the child has. he "ill wish lo keep it. At least once a week the parent should carefully examine the child’s mouth and teeth. Do not allow these teeth to be decayed. If you find food packed betwepn tho teeth, have it removed. Decay can and must he prevented. It is not a question of money. It is a question of diet and care. Dental decay is called the disease of the people.” It i' for the parent to prevent the child’s eating between meals, also eating oan(h , for tiu- more sugar the more tooth decay. The temporary teeth are very Useful in talking, in chewing food, and in helping the jaws develop so that the second teeth, which Are larger than th” first, wiil have room. It is compartively easy fn prevent tooth decav—it is expensive and annoy!.ig to repair Inc of tooth substance by filling. .AA’lmt shall it he? A mouth full of badly diseased teeth cr a mouth clean and with perfect t-eth. It is for the parent with the lmln of the ihthl io decide. Ti'nip-iiorv teeth are very useful and good looking. Dental disease that destroys these teeth can he prevented.