The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-16

On He keynote Of modern dentistry
is the prevention rather than
the cure Of diseased conditions
Of the mouth and surrounding
tissues The reformation mus;
begin in infancy ard the battle be
ceaselessiy waged from thecradle to the
grave. The parent who has never had
the advantage of 2 college or CONNER
cisl education feels keenly that draw
back during his whole life and for
his children he wishes no such handi-
cap. Such z father would almost beg
gar himself TO afford a son, the apple
Of his eye and the pride Of his old
age, every advantage in life of which
he himself has been deprived. Because
our fathers had such magnificent teeth
and never knew q toOthache, they are
singularly blind to the needs of the
child in this particular regard Only
the man who has suffered the pangs Of
an aching or abscessed tooth and all
the attendant tortures Of neuralgia in
sists upon his child being spared that
agony. The parent who has passed
through life nibblinE on few old
stumps or labOriOusly attempting to
masticate upon ill-fitting plates wishes
his own child more comfort in life and
q more vigorous manhood.
Whether the wretchedly poor teeth Of
to-day are inherited or are the result
OF the present day mode of life, with
its dissipations and neglects, the father
ano mother must grapple with this
most serious problem, and the sooner
the better. Without good teeth the
whole body suffers the effects of i'm
proper masticatiOn and imperfect di-
Restion. which inevitably brings about
haa Hntrfrf h hat
happiness can there be in life2 Does it
not then devolye upon the parent of to-
day 10 guard well the teeth OF the
child if they would have the sturdy.
vigorous manhood Of the morrow? By
universal consent we have given to the
mother the training Of the children
and before the bar Of public opinion
she must sooner or later give an ac-
count Of her stewardship. Is there
mother who would not lay down her
life gladly for her children or suker in
their stead any and all Of the aches
and pain Of childhood What mother
would refuse to relieve the distress Of
her child if she but knew how? The
wise mother is the one who makes a
memorandum Of the things she has
found useful in her life and such a
woman always knows as well what
remedy TO apply in time of sickness as
she does where the shut-off is located
when water pipe bursts in the
house.
The mothers ear is most sensitively
attuned 10 the faintest cry Of her Off
spring and when this practical mother
is aroused from the sleep which ''l1nits
Up the ravel Of the sleeve OF care" she
does not feebly light the gas and Won
der what TO do. She straightway finds
out what to dO-because her notebook.
her adviser in whom there is no Vari-
ance. is in its proper place. She does
not have to rack her brain to remem-
Der the dentists prescription and di-
Tections and have those dreadful
doubts and misgivings as TO whether
she is using the right medicine or the
proper proportions. If we viii but sys-
teTnstize our lives and jOt down the
helpful hints which have stood the
test Of time. we viii always know the
most effective remedy TO allay an ach-
ing tooth. how 10 check a hemorrhage
or Danish the dread visitor of the
nightly Watches-neurslGia 1t IS fool
hardy for a parent to be Indifferent to
the baby teeth, and il is simply GRIM
inal carelessness TO permit neglect after
the sixth year. IL a parent is so short
sighted as 10 ignore the infant teeth as
things Of fieetinG existence and of no
permanency she viii, if there is a bit
Of maternal instinct within her. at
least see that the permanent teeth dc
Just as harmful 10 your child's future
welfare 10 allow him 10 associate with
the riff-rsf Of society and not expect
him TO be contaminated morally as &c
permit good strong young teeth to JIG
in uninterrupted contact with decayed
or liberated ones and expect them Il
suffer 10 harm physically. The parent
should guard against the premature
loss of the baby teeth and a permanent
tooth must never be sacrificed save as
a last resort. The poor teeth Of this
generation are caused in great meas
ure by lack OF cleanliness, indifference
10 the care of the baby teeth, overin-
diligence in sweets and the lack OF
coarse foods, and in many cases to the
use Of powerful tonics, which are TAX
en- TO build up the weakened system
and are allowed TO react upon the
teeth by coming i'm contact with them
The youngster of to-day. and the
mother. too, who knows how to brush
the teeth, is rarity. The brush is oil
primary Importance and must be sc
constructed as to conform to the gen.
ersl contour of the teeth and arch. The
prophylactic-a brush made in adults
and children's sizes, will be found very
satisfactory, as 1t reaches into the
spaces between the teeth and cleans
where decay generally starts. Adults
should use a medium stiff brush. the
child a soft one Brush the teeth
after meals and always before retir-
ing at night. Decay works while we
sleep. Rotate the brush in the hand so
as to clean between the teeth, using
care TO always brush away from the
gums and toward the cutting edges OF
the teeth With mouth open brush
across the grinding surfaces, cleaning
thoroughly one set at a time. 1t is
wise to avoid brushing the gums at
all and use care not to force them
away from the teeth, thereby exposing
the roots and permitting decay to gain
a hold in these softer structures. An
alkaline tooth powder or paste must
be used and one free from gritting
particles likely to scratch the enamel.
Common prepared chalk makes an