The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-04-13
suve the Little Ones Teeth.

Spve the Little Ones Teeth.
How many parents are there who
think that their children should
have their teeth filed? When
told of the fact that their little ones
teeth are decayed, or that some are
injuring the permanent teeth by re-
naming in the mouth too long, or
crowding others out Of their place,
we are often, too often, met with
the reply that they are only the
baby teeth and that it makes no,
difference. Are you aware Of the
fact that every tooth erupted after
the age of four years is a perma-
nent tooth? Mothers, it mostly de-
wolves upon your care to see that
your children have good teeth-you
who have the children under your
care most of the time. 1t does not
take a dentist to tell you that your
child has the toothache when he is
crying with his finger on the offend
ing tooth, yet when you are told that
others are liable 10 ache soon you
meet the dentist with the argument
that they will soon drop out and
won't need fixing. This is fearful
mistake. They need attention just
las well as your own. The neglect
l.on the part of parents to have their
children's teeth filed il the cause
I.of much expense and pain with
their permanent teeth. If you ask
at what age children's teeth should
he filled, would reply, that they
should be examined at the age of
two years, and in some cases SOON
OK, and II any are found to be decay
ed, have them filed at once, and
every six months after that 60
through with the same routine. l
know many think 1t unnecessary,
but the reason for such precaution
is pain. At the time of the erup-
ton of the baby teeth the perma-
nent ones are not fully developed,
and 1T seen at this time they would
present the appearance Of a tooth
with she enamel all taken off and
with short, imperfect roots. There
Is existing between the temporary
and permanent teeth a set of alb
sorbent'Or nOurishing vessels which
transmit the lime salts to the face
or grinding surface of the perma-
nent teett, which Is the principle
factor in the upbuilding of that
structure. Gfyou have ever noticed
temporary teeth when they were
shed, you have observed but a shell
remaining of the former tooth
which had roots but had been abb
sorbed by the permanent tooth for
its own enaMel structure. Ii the
temporary teeth are decayed the
lime salts thereby being dissolved
by the secretiens of the mouth,
there is not only a nourishment Of
fered the permanent teeth which is
deficient in quantity but defective
in nature. Thus il is that the first
molars which are erupted at five or
six years are often accompanied by
decay. This premature decay often
leads parents to believe these are
temporary teeth. The tooth hav-
ing been built Of defective or diseas-
ed tissue cannot withstand the ac-
ton of the acids of the mouth and
consequently yields and breaks
down. These are the first perma-
nent teeth that decay as a rule.
There is also great danger in ex-
tracing the baby teeth before the
proper time. The lime salts in the
temporary tooth having been with
drawn from the permanent tooth
the result will be defective nouiish-.
ment. This often causes what is
termed erosion and is indicated by
the presence of IA dark brown spot
on the tooth, sometimes chalky
appearance The idea that we hear
often expressed that the baby teeth