Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-03-04
DENTAL IRREGULARITIES.
Some Hints BY Dentist on the Care OF In
fants' Teeth.


Some Hints BY q Dentist on the Care OF In
fants' Teeth.
A mother, and especially young
mother, is probably the most interested
person when questions affecting the
beauty of her offspring, arise. She
speculates on the shape of its nose, Its
complexion, whether the eyes will re-
main blue. or the ears unduly develop.
She spends hours twisting unnatural
curls in its hair, and tortures it with
soap and sponge, and, having done
these things believes there is nothing
left within her power to enhance or
preserve that portion of beauty when
nature has intended should fall to the
wee toddler.
There is more, however, that the
mother should know-more easily
within the reach of her interference
and of far greater Importance to the
alter beauty of the child than the points
upon which she usually bestows most
solicitude. There is something beyond
the mere appearance of an extreme
dental deformity, which makes 1t
thing to be avoided. To a sensitive
person the consciousness of the defect
is ever present, destroying ease and
self-confdence, and producing an un-
natural movement of the mouth IN
talking, smiling and even eating.
Remedy, of course, is possible in
great many cases. if steps are taken
about or previous to the twenty-second
or twenty-third year. Numerous cases,
however, are presented, which IL is not
possible to correct, and the unfortunate
ones must carry the deformity through
life-a mark, denoting perhaps, care
lessness, or, more probably, ignorance
of proper means of prevention on the
part of parents.
In a great many cases the teeth take
care of themselves-in fact we have
seen plenty of people whose teeth
erupted perfectly without any outside
interference whatever, the temporary
set being cast off naturally, when the
proper time came But this cannot be
depended upon; indeed the majority of
cases absolutely require care OF some
sort to insure perfect evenness.
1t would be difficult thing for the
mother to remember the name of each
tooth and the date of its expected
eruption: but it might be possible for
her to carry a general idea in her mind
that would serve the purpose almost II
not quite as well.
One of the first and simplest rules is
that each temporary or milk tooth
should remain in place until its sue
cessor is on the point of coming
through. This can be ascertained by
feeling the gum both inside and out
side with the finger. The permanent
TOOTH if about to erupt, will be felt as
a hard lump very near the surface.
On the other hand, removal should
not be delayed much beyond the time
of eruption of the permanent tooth, as
the latter requires the space occupied
by its predecessor.
If the temporary teeth begin to decay
previous to this time, have dentist
insert plastic filings, and thus keep
them along until the proper time arrives
for their removal.
Try and keep all the temporary
teeth in place until after the sixth year.
At about that time the first permanent
molar, or grinder" arrives, and pre-
vious removal of teeth anterior to it
may decrease the length of its erup-
ton, thereby causing a shortening OF
the face. The molar is also liable to
come forward slightly, causing a
crowded condition in the region of the
cuspid or eye-tooth. The protrusion of
this tooth against the lip is avery COM
mon and unsightly Disagreement 1t
may be caused by neglec ted removal
of its corresponding temporary tooth
at the age of eleven, or earlier, or by
the coming forward of the teeth be-
hind it previous to its eruption.
Perhaps the most hideous Of all dental
irregularities is that caused by "thum b.
sucking" The upper front teeth, after
the age of seven, are, from this cause,
often pressed outward to remarkable
degree, changing the whole facial ex-
preston. The habit can be best cor
rected by winding about the thumb or
finger small bandage and smeariug
it with soap or other disagrees.ble tast-
ing substance.
One class of Irregularities is, to a
great degree, beyond the mothers con-
troll, viz: Where the child inherits the
small jaw of one parent and the large
teeth of the other In this case crowd
ing results simply from want of room,
and can only be corrected after erup-
ton by extraction and proper mechan-
ical appliances Attempts to regulate
teeth in this ma nner are not always
successful, as u great deal is depend
ent upon the toll france OF patients and
the assistance which is expected OF
them. Ladies' Home Journal.