The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-14

serious matter. OF all causes Of decay
Uncleanness is perhaps the most fertile.
/ The clean tooth may decay-the neglect
ed tooth must decay. 1t has lost its
chance of self-defense.
We want children instructed in the
care of the mouth and teeth, in cleansing
the whole mouth. including the tongue,
and the sooner this is done the sooner will
the many evils arising from the present
neglect be stayed. Children must be
taught some system of oral hygiene. See
that school children receive thorough in
struction as 10 the utility OF good teeth.
| These same children will soon be the par
ents of the community in their turn, and
they would have the advantage not only
OF better mouths of their own, but of be
Ing in position to care for their own
children. Instead OF regarding the teeth
as foes children should be taught to re-
gard them as special friends and devote
TO them their best care.
Systems Susceptible to Disease.
We want 10 remedy the possibilities
of the propagation of disease in public
schools through the present condition of
children's mouths and teeth, and incl
dentalIy che discomfort of parents whose
children have aching teeth, seepless
nights, distorted nervous systems, bad di-
gestion, alveolar assesses, foul and fetid
"a SdNAAs W men CnliuTen are IN THIS oral
condition the whole system Is out of or
der and they are more susceptible to
disease.
We want periodical and systematic
examinations of the teeth of children in
the primary and grammar schools whose
ages range from to Is years, having in
view the prevention of their destruc-
ton.
Teeth Care Pays.
Answering the question why do we
want instruction and inspection to pre-
vent sacrifice of childrens teeth and the
accompanying effects on their health, 1
would say:
Take 1t all in all, care of the teeth
pays in comfort in beauty, in the con-
servation of health from youth TO old
age.
1T has been demonstrated that IS per
cent of children have permanent teeth
decayed. ranging in number from 2 to 16
per child. When one has attained full
growth it may not matter much whether
the food is masticated by natural or arti-
fetal means, provided 1t is properly done;
but with children it is a different mat
ter, and the state Of our children's teeth
is question of national importance.
Relatively few children have teeth
filled. and those under 10 years of age
rarely have the dentists care except for
THE teeth and mouths of many chill
dren are in an unhealthy and disgusting
condition, which not only Injuries their
own health, but also the health of the
| teachers and other children who are com
PEELED 10 sit with them; 1t may be in
overcrowded or ill-ventiated rooms.
"A source of danger from decayed teeth
is the possible introduction of parasites
into the tissues with which the teeth are
| connected. 1t is very difficult to prevent
small particles of food from lodging in
| the cavities of carious teeth and there I'M
| dergoing decomposition. 1t Is not impossi
| bic that by such means, especially If the
| cavity is the root channel of the dead
| tooth, a parasite might enter the soft
| tissues
There is also another source of danger
| to the younger children who exchange
| pencils and chewing gum, which, after
being in mouths mixed with pus, are plac-
ed in the mouths of other innocent and
| unsuspecting children. These practices
may be democratic but they vicious.
LAS to girls whose teeth are defective
in a few years they will be the mothers
of the next generation. What about the
| claims of their children unless we now
do our duty by the future mothers and
| give them a chance to grow up healthy
women?
LAS no portion of the human body Is OF
/ SuCI COfDpleA STRUCTURE as tne H1OulH, ana
no other has such diversified functions to
! perform, have textbooks on physiology
used in schools include a chapter or two
on dental hygiene written from a dental
! point of view.
Have cultured dentists address teach
| ers meetings and public schools, espec-
tally normal schools, the advantages
and desirability Of absolute cleanliness
of the mouth.
I'm cities containing dental schools
utilize the graduating classes in the
animation of the teeth of school children
under the direction of practicing dentists.
IF the mouths of the children In our
public schools could be examined by COM
petent persons. carious diseased teeth
treated removed and instructions given
or enforced with regard to the intelligent
use of brushes and antiseptic solutions, II
is believed that the death rate of the coun-
try would be very materially lessened, the
percentage of illness much reduced and a
stronger and more vigorous race result in
consequence of the prophylactic meas
ures."