The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-03-02

advance in professional work. 1t il
more important for health to keep tn,
teeth and gums clean than to keep th'
hands and face clean. There is stron1
reason to believe that many diseases o
the nervous system, respiratory organ
and alimentary canal, may be due tt
the fact that the masticatory organs
have been neglected.
The only proper course to pursue in
dealing with the question is by per
sistently and intelligently educating
the minds of the. public to Its ex
act status. The school is the one force
that can unity all conditions of society
Here we have the children of all classes
in their entirety and we can if we will
teach them that soundness of teeth II
In itself one of the best evidences oil
soundness of body. That the prevent.
ion Of dental carries and diseased gums
depends first of all on strict cleanliness
of the mouth, the Importance OF which
cannot possibly be over estimated.
OF all causes OF decay of teeth and
unhealthy gums, uncleanness Is per-
| haps the most fertile. The clean tooth
may decay, the neglected tooth must
decay. Children must be instructed
in tie care of the mouth, teeth, gums
and tongue, and the sooner this is done,
the sooner will the many evils arising
from the present neglect be stayed.
We must see to 1t that school children
receive thorough instruction as to the
utility of good teeth. The teaching
which a growing child imbibes in
school sticks fastest in its memory. In
stead OF regarding teeth as foes, chill
dren should be taught to regard them
us special friends, and devote to them
their best care. We must by all means
remove the possibilities for the propa-
cation of disease in the public schools
through the present condition OF chill
dren's mouths, teeth especially, and in
cldentally the discomfort of parents
whose children have aching teeth,
sleepless nights, distorted nervous sys-
TENS, bad digestion, alvealor abscess
and foul breath. When children are
In this condition the whole system Is
oat of order and they are mora suscep-
tlble to disease. Take it all in all,
care of the teeth pays in comfort, in
beauty and in conservation of health
from youth to old age.
The teeth and mouths of many chill
dren are In an unhealthy and disgust
ing condition, which not only sinjures
their own health but also the health of
teachers and other children who are
compelled to sit with them in lll-venti-
lated rooms.
With this presentation of facts, some
quoted from the highest sources of au-
thority, proclaiming unquestloned evil
dence of the hurtful effects of neglect
ed conditions of mouths, with the evil
results, following who can q nestion the
essential necessity for watchful care,
and more systematic daily cleansing of
teeth and tongue for the prevention of
disease, and tor the preservation of
normal healthy state of mouth, and the
general system? 1t must be plain to
the mind of any one that thoughtful
consideration must be given to the
SUBJECT, and all must, in the interest of
health, and for freedom from the Of
fensive results of an unkept mouth,
realize that the frequent use of the
tooth brush as the chief health factor
must be more universally and freely
INDUCED.
ITO be concluded next week.