The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-06-06

aggerate constitutional lntirmities, at a com
paratiyely early period, that might have re-
manned dormant or comparatively harmless
through long series of years under the favor
ing circumstances of q watchful observance of
the laws of health in childhood. The period
In which the temporary teeth are brought in
to active service, is, more than any other one
which determines the future well-beiDg Of the
little one committed to your care. 1t is emf
nently the period of active growth and devel- |
Opment-the transition stage between the fee
blcness Of infancy and the strength of matu.
rity when ali the functions of organic life are
most active, and all the vital powers of the
perfected organisms are rapidly unfolding. We
need, therefore, hardly insist that the health
ful or unhealthful play of all the functions at
this critical period must impress the child's
system in after life for good or evil. We are
thus earnest and somewhat elaborate in this
matter, because the subject seems TO us OF
such Overshad0wing Importance and concern
to those charged with the responsibilities of
| parentage or guardianship, that our regret is
not that we have said so much, but, that space
| does not permit US to say more upon subject
| of such paramount interest.
| II. Second only in importance to the con-
5ideratiOns just offered respecting the preser-
walton of the temporary teeth, are those which
relate to the growth of the jaws,an regular
and symmetrical arrangement Of the succeed
| ing or permanent ts.The jaws grow and eX-
pand very much in the same ratio with other
parts of the bony system, and it is in this way
only that adequate room is provided for the
increased size and number of the permanent
| organs. That this expansion may go on uni
formly and progressively there should be no
interruption to the nutrition Of all the parts
associated with these organs during the time
Of their presence and as the continuance of
each individual tooth furnishes in part the es-
sential conditions for the supply of nutritive
elements to all the parts contiguous, it is plain
that not single one of these teeth can be
prematurely removed without modifying or
checking the growth and expansion of the jaw
ut that point. The extent to which the eX-
Ipansion Of the jaw will be thus retarded will
Of course depend upon the number premature
lY lost and the time of their removal, being
greater where considerable number are alb
sent, and where they have been removed at an
early period. The consideration of this por-
lion of our subject might be profitably eX-
tended, but we are admonished to desist, in
dulging the hope that enough has been said
TO engage the readers attention and provoke
reflection.
III. Excluding from our minds the weight
Ter matters heretofore discussed, one other
reason remains why early and continued at
tention should be directed to the preservation
OF these first teeih-a reason which appeals
directly to the heart and the Affections rea-
son founded in our common humani y. There
| Is perhaps no endurable suffering more poign-
ant than that of tooth ache, and children, from
heir peculiar nervous organization, perhaps
Isuter most acutely from this affection We
have seen strong men and women, pale, trem-
bling, and helpless with physical prostration
under this terrible lnfiictiOn of only few hours
duration, and can we suppose that the little
sufferer endureS less, whose responsive nerves
lqulver in every fibre with ineXpressible agony
under the same scourge? Means ofrelief may
palllate-cure temporarily, perhaps. But
sooner or later the paroXysmS return-reme-
dies fail, and the little sufferer, worn out and
sick to the very heart, is brought trembling
and terror-stricken to the dentist to endure
that still more dreaded scourge, extraction
When 1t is all over, your little one may forget
the sleepless nights of suffering, and the DAYS
Of agony from tOoth-ache, but the glitter of
the cold, unrelenting steel the sudden wrench,
the tOrturing throe of agOnizing pain the
streaming blood these are memories burnt as
with hot iron into the brain, and endure
when other memories of sufferngs voluntarily
borne, fade away. 1t is such sad experiences
as these that invest every dentist, however
gentle, humane or considerable he may be, in
The minds of the little victims, with the char
acter of merciless Ogre who only lacks the
opportunity of devOuring them bodily, and be-
gets IN them ever afterwards a causeess and
dangerous apprehension Of suffering and tor
ture in all future necessary operations upon
the teeth.
Every consideration, therefore, of affection,
interest and humanity, conspire to give value
and Importance to those means which shall
secure the child's highest interests in respect
10 these teeth. The inStrumentalities are in
themselves simple, and may be included I'M
der two general heads :-PreVentiye and Re
St0rdtjUe.
Preventive Means The chief and indeed
almost the only preventive means necessary
to be employed, is thorough and absolute
cleanliness This is ordinarily best effected
by frequent additions with brush and simple
tGpid water. The brush should not be harsh
! or stiff enough to abrade the surface, but suf-
ficiently so to induce firmness and hardness of
the gum by moderate stimulation of the mu-
cous membrane, and also to remove effectual-
ly all eXtraneous matters from all portions OF
the teeth accessible to the brush, and espec-
tally from the little pits and groves upon the
masticating surfaces of the mOlars or grind
ers. This cleansing process should be com
menced as soon as the crowns emerge from the
gums. The child, also, should be early in
structed in the use of the brush 1t will be a
divided labor at first, but with patient assist
ance and Instruction. the child will soon ac-
quire aptness and intelligence in its proper
use 1t should be employed at stated inter-
walls, and these as nearly as practicable should
be Immediately after meals, and before retir-
ing at night, and no trivial circumstance
supply pretext for its omission. Thus hab-
it will soon be acquired that will
strengthen with indulgence, and
what was at first perhaps reluctantly done,
will in time be resorted to as a source of posi-
tive pleasure and qualification. Aid your lit
tie ones in its use by judicious appeals to its
childish pride; stimulate it by all the little
dIIS NnlCu Lldh6 ODGuleIlC6 10 your WISHES a
pleasure; inculcate it as a duty with the low
ing aspirations you would fold it's little hands
in prayer, for cleanliness is nearly allied to
goodness; and if need be, enforce it.
In aid of the brush, quill tooth-pick is a
valuable auxiliary inasmuch as parts not ac-
cessible to the brush and very liable to decay,
as the spaces between the teeth can be better
reached by it. Or the same thing can be ac-
c0mplished by drawing between the teeth ..
a piece Of thread or other suitable substance
fl,f,Yrf 4
| the pick
The occasional use of some antacid solu-
ton will promote the health of the teeth by
neutralizing any acids present in the mouth,
and this can be used perhaps most advantage
ously just before going to bed, as the action
OF ids on the teeth is most destructive du-
! ring sleep. For this purpose the mouth may
| be rinsed with a solution of magnesia, or
prepared chalk, or dilute lime water.
A dark green stain sometimes collects, at
an earl y PERIOD on these teeth, especially up
on the upper front teeth near the gum. This
! deposit has the property of dissolving the
! bone Of the tooth, and Is often very destruct-
! i've, producing species of decay difficult to
repair by filing, as the cavities are usually
very sensitive and lily shaped. On the first
appearance of this stain, the services of a den
fist should at once be secured for its timely
removal.
With a faithful observance of the directions
here given, the temporary teeth, if associated
with a sound and vigorous constitution, may
in many cases, be preserved throughout in
good, or at least tOlerable, condition But in
no case should implicit reliance be placed on
the means recommended, for decay Of the teeth
is often so obscure in its development and To-
cation and so insdious in its progress, that it
may exit to an extent sufficient to endanger
the tooth without detection by any ordinary
modes of inspection. Defects requiring the
aid of dentist to detect and remedy, bring US
to a consideration of the
RESTORATIVE means The parent and dentist
must be co-aborers in the work Ofsaving these
teeth. Neither, alone can accomplish all that
is desirable. You have only discharged your
obligation to the child in part, when you have
done what lies within your province at home. |
The child should neverpass beyond its second
year without a careful inspection of the teeth |
by competent dentist, and these examna- |
lions shnnId he rnnnated ri intervals of tLrnn !