The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-02
a TALK ABOUT CUILDREN's TEETH.

by DIR. Thomas j. Calvert, of Srnrtnuburr,
south Carolina, Graduate In Dentistry nud
Medicine.
1t IS q sad fact that in spite of tho
numDC rlcSS dentists and doctors, tooth
ache Is very largely on the increase.
thousands OF teeth are extracted annual
~, which by timely care might have
hecp preserved. Not one man in ten has
perfect teeth; lot one woman in twenty
but suffers from the many bad effects
arising from this evil. Unfortunately tho
strong white teeth of our grandfathcrs
cannot be handed down to us as IL good
ly heritage. The strength and dur1bili-
ty of each individuals teeth depend in q
lai &c measure on tive faithful, persistent
efforts OF the III theirs towards that end
Feeling assured that no appeals made in
behalf OF the little ones will be made in
VAIN, wish now in as simple manner
as possible to call the attention of inter
cStcd mothers to few facts concerning
their childrcn's teeth. A small amount
OF knowledge and a vast amount of per
severance on the mothers part will save
the little ones much suffering.
In the first place, L will speak of the
time of formation. AS early as the scv-
cnth week of fptal life, the formation of
the temporary teeth begins. The growth
Is carried on through various stages, un-
til at birth the twenty dccidous or baby
teeth are oil in an advanced condition.
anu the germs of twenty-five Of the Dcr-
manent set arc i'll n state Of Development
LII Is therefore very necessary that all cX-
pectant mothers live on such diet as will
i'lfnlsh sufficient quantity of tooth and
Done forming material. AS limo is one
principal clement of tooth structure, it
Is mghly important that it be furnished
III abundance. Nature, always ready to
supply her childrcn's needs, is very gen
erouS in her supply of this clement, it
appearing III milk, eggs, vegetables and
fruits, and more especially in the various
grams. In the fine white flour, in sugar
and butter, which form the dict of SO
many delicate women, not ono particle
OF lime appears. Graham flour, oat
meal, cracked wheat and honey, abound
i'll tooth food. a mother should there
fore dict herself according to practical
common sense rule, and not according
to capricious appetite, remembering
always that the health and comfort ol
another helpless human being is depend
ent solely on her fnithfulnCss in per
forming natures simple requirements
A dict of milk, eggs, fish, oysters, meat
with Graham flour prepared in the many
delicious ways, should satisfy any moth
er, while such food will double her owl
strength, and provo of incalculablc bcnc
fit to the unborn child. Lime water j!
very beneficial Mt such periods; as i
often relieves the indigestion and hear
burn from which SO many suffer, at the
same time rcfurnishing the much needed
limc-salts directly to the system. 1t cal
be easily and chcaply made by putting ,
tcacup full OF uusiackcd lime in hal
gallon of Mater, stir thoroughly, an(
allow it to settle. When this second
water has become clear, pour it of int,
bottles, and it is ready for use. A table
spoonful in glass Of milk or water
cannot be detected by the taste, and il i:
very beneficial to prospective mothers
Mothers should protect themselves from
all skin diseases, such rs smallpox, scar
let fever and measles. During thi.
poriod they invariably render the tcctl
of the child groovcd or pittcd, thu.
making them more liable to decay. Fo,
the same reason children should be pro
tcctCd from such diseases until after tn,
eruption Of their teeth.
When about five months old the chilG
begins to cut its teeth, as the phrase
goes. There is no absolute rule MS tC
the time. Usually the lower teeth prc
ccdc the upper of the same class, anC
generally come in pairs. The order anG
time of eruption may be seen from til,
following table:
Two central incisors, No. 1, between {
and months.
Two lateral incisors, No. 2, between +
and 10 months.
Two CANNES, No. 3, between u and
1G months.
First molars, No. 4, between II and
20 months.
Second molars, No. S, between 20 and
3G months.
The child is in possession Of all of it>
temporary or baby teeth, twenty il
number, by the time it is three years
Old. L wish just here to impress upon
mothers the Importance Of preserving
these baby teeth until the permanent
teeth appear. a child should never be
allowed to suffer with toothachc. Such
suffering, III almost every Instance, may
be directly traced to the ignorance OF
neglect OF the mother In the first place,
strict cleanliness should be observed.
AS soon as the littlo teeth appear they
should be washed daily, by wrapping a
soft rag around the finger, and rubbing
them very gently up and down. AS soon
rs practicable, use n soft camcl's hair
tooth brush. Immediately on the ap-
pearanco of any decay or spots, dentist
should be consulted and the child's teeth
should be placed in his care. Should
he be competent and faithful, not one of
the baby teeth would be lost until they
fall out, whole and sound, according to
natures method, to make room for the
larger permanent teeth. 1t is not q
dentists whim nor mere theory that
many evils are the direct result of pre-
maturcly extracting childs teeth.
Without them q child cannot properly
maSticatc its food, and thus indigestion,
With its train Of discomfiting evils, is the
result. If the nerve is killed, the alb
Sorption of the root is arrested, and in
iiammation and gumboils cause the con-
tlnual annoyance to the child. Often
this dead tooth becomes an obstacle in
the way of a new tooth, causing it to
come out whore it can best find room,
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