Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-29
THE CARE OF THE TEETH.

THE CARE OF THE TEETH.
The mouth-the organ of speech and
mastication-is not only the most express
siye and characteristic, but also the most
important of all the features. Dentistry
has been defined as medical science ap-
piled to the prevention, modification, OF
removal of the causes and effects of dis
ease in the dental organs" and the prac.
tice demands scientific mechanism and
artistic culture-skill in construction and
judgment in application - so that the
thoroughly qualified dentist is to some ex-
tent physician, surgeon, artist and me.
chanic.
The development of the teeth is one of
the most curious and interesting of the
processes of growth in the body. Two
sets of teeth are developed in the human
mouth, the first known as deciduous or
temporary commonly called baby teeth;
the second, the permanent. The tempo
rary-twenty in number-consist of two
central and two lateral incisors, two ca
mines or eye teeth, and four molars, or
double teeth, in each jaw. There is DO
absolute rule for the time or order of their
appearance; some children being born
with teeth, while in others their eruption
is delayed much beyond the average pc
riod. An erroneous idea prevails with
many people that the teeth, like the hair
and the nails, continue to grow after they
make their appearance through the gums.
Their crowns are completed, as to size and
form before their eruption, though they
gradually become denser and harder. The
deciduous, or temporary teeth, are smaller
than the permanent and of less firm and
solid texture; therefore when decaying
commences in the temporary, it proceeds
more rapidly than in the permanent, and
for this reason the temporary require
greater care than the permanent teeth. 1t
is very common error that because they
are temporary, they need no attention, or
if any anxiety is felt about them it is that
they be not allowed to remain too long in
the mouth for fear they may interfere with
the eruption Of the permanent set. This is
A GREAT MISTAKE,
For the regularity of the permanent teeth
depends very largely upon the retention
of the temporary set until the permanent
are ready to make their appearance. The
teeth Of children should have constant
attention from the time of their first ap-
pearance. The general health of the child
will be greatly promoted by keeping the
teeth in such condition that mastication
can be performed without pain; otherwise
the child will soon learn to avoid that
which is painful, and by swallowing its
food without proper mastication, will soon
suffer the evils OF indigestion.
In infancy the mother should make it
part OF the daily care of the child to Sc.
cure the habitual cleanliness of the teeth
Becoming thus accustomed to it, when the
child is old enough to use the brush it will
not feel comfortable after meal until the
teeth have been thoroughly cleaned
When the temporary teeth decay or where
eruption of the second takes place before
the roots of the temporary teeth have
been absorbed, the child should be taken
to an intelligent dentist who is capable OF
deciding in regard to the best treatment
to be adopted. If decay commences the
same care should be taken to prevent its
extension as would be given permanent
set. The premature loss of the temporary
teeth is the cause of much of the irregu-
larity OF the permanent teeth. A good
rule is to have a dentist examine the
mouth after the child is two and hall
years old, at least twice a year, and oftener
If necessary.
THE FIRST PERMANENT TEETH
Make their appearance about the sixth
year, four in number, one on each side ol
In the upper and lower jaw, called six
year melars. These are often mistaken
for temporary teeth, and If attacked by
decay, as very frequently occurs, no atten.
ton is paid to them because it is thought
they VIII soon have TO give place to the
permanent and before the error is discov.
cred it may be too late to save the teeth
Although, as already stated, the teeth are
fully formed before they appear through
the gums, the enamel has not acquired the
compactness and hardness which after.
wards characterize it. 1t does not attain
its maximum density for months and some
times years; therefore decay makes greater
ravages during this period than at any
subsequent time This fact shows the i'm.
portance of extra care and prompt atten
tion to any evidence of decay during this
period, for if they can be preserved until
the enamel has become thoroughly solidt
fed, they will be less liable to decay, and
the chances of retaining them through life
are greatly increased. The Importance Of
proper attention to the
CLEANLINESS OF THE TEETH
Cannot be oyerestimated, yet few, even
those who pride themselves upon the care
which they bestow upon these organs, give
to them the time and labor which their
value would Justify 1t is wonderful that
80 many persons fail to appreciate the i'm,
portance OF taking care OF their teeth, un.
til an exposed nerve speaks with voice
that viii not De silenced; and then Their
chief thought seems TO be not how to pre-
vent further mischief and retain wha, are
left OF their dental organs, but how cheap
ly relief can be secured, and as though
there were no gradations in skill or in ma
terials used, making no account Of tn,
time required for faithful service, they
think only Of the cost and congratulate
themselves when they succeed in finding {
cheap dentist. This is the worst possibl,
economy; judgment and proficiency are tn,
results of time and labor and they should
command a remuneration equivalent I,
their worth. Decay is not the only
ENEMY TO THE TEETH
Many persons lose their teeth by the de
struction Of the means Of their support
the absorption of the gums and sockets
caused by the accumulation of tartar. TIL,
liability of loss from this cause, though no
absolutely confined to those whose teeth
are neglected, is yet a danger which al
ways specially threatens those who pay to'
little attention to the hygiene of the teeth
The teeth should be brushed the frs
thing in the morning and before retiring