Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
CARE OF BABIES TEETH.
Daily Cleansing Of First Set Makes
Second Ones Strong and Good Shape.

daily cleansing OF E1rSt Set Makes
Second Ones Strong and Good Shape.
If more mothers took the proper care Of
the first teeth of their children ugly mouths
would be less common. Nothing so disfig-
ures man or woman as teeth that, through
dental treatment and. alas! sometimes the
lack Of even that. show carelessness or neg
lect in former years. .
Only under extraordinary conditions of
health can a person have sound, pretty
teeth when grown unless the first set is
| taken care Of This error adults frequently
make with children. the idea prevailing that
the first teeth do not matter" They mat
ter most positively. however. for they nour-
ish the second set during all the time of the
latters formation. and. as in everything
else, unless the nutriment Is Of the right
sort the result will not be good.
1t Is remarkable how often the teeth of
children. otherwise well cared for, show
neglect In the simplest cleaning. This Is the
only explanation of black spots and black
lines then These lines and spots literally
cannot be II the teeth are cleaned daily and
II child Is not brought up to this ha bit the
mother is seriously to be blamed. BY the
time the small boy or girl realizes the i'm
portance for himself or herself of doing It
nently injured.
From the time the first tooth appears in a
Daby's mouth 1t must be taken care of. It
Is well not to use brush until the child
has ten or twelve teeth. Up to that time a
soft cloth should be dipped into a solution
OF boric acid. and the mouth wiped certainly
three times a day. and preferably more.
Ten teeth need q brush. and they need
gentle use of 1t, too. There is positively no
reason for "scrubbing" an Infants teeth.
Indeed, strenuousness is harmful for n can
cause the gums to recede.
The brush used for babies should be soft
and only the purest preparations be used in
cleansing. The boric acid solution may be
put on the brush, or precip.tated chalk is
good. Excellent also is a powder made of
one-half ounce of gum camphor, two and
one-half ounces of precipitated chalk and
one and half ounces of pulverized orris
root. Mix thoroughly.
A child should be taught not only to rub
across the teeth with brush. but also up
ana down, to remove particles between
them 1t may also early be instilled into
youngsters that the teeth might be brushed
as often as the hands are washed. 1 don't
think any child will do it as often, but the
two habits could be developed at the same
child might come near to brushing it's teeth
often enough just as 1t comes more or less
near to keeping its hands clean.
1t Is not over powders, however, that a
mother should spend the most time lit
tie thought in regard to the child's food viii
more than be repaid by the excellence Of the
teeth. A little one needs to use its teeth,
Just as a puppy does puppy is given a
his teeth are strong and white.
. You can't give a child a bone. certainly
not IN the same way, but You can and
should give 1t food that the teeth must
cheW. That Is one reason why old-fash-
Toned gT1ts or cereals are so good for chill
dren. Given the original product, they
must be chewed. There are of course.
"steam-cooked' cereals that undoubtedly
are wholesome. but are too soft to chew.
Cracked wheat Is excellent for chfldren's
teeth. So, too. Is gluten bread, and / hap
pen to know that it is also good for the
Any mother knows that sweets are bad
for the teeth. but all the same any child
must have them The use Of lime water. or
even soda water, will largely correct any
injury If the wash. for such It Is, Is used
at once after eating.
Lime water should be on every toilet
stand where there are children. and It's use
Is splendid, too. for grown persons. It may
be bought, or made at home by putting a
teacup Of unslacked lime into two quarts of
water and stirring until the preparation Is
milky. Let 1t stand until the water clears.
then pour or carefully.
Pour over the lime another three pints of
water, stir and let stand again. This Is the
water that is used. The first is thrown
away.
Pour OF this second water carefully after
1t has stood on the lime long enough to be
clear. then bottle.
Use by simply rinsing the mouth.
This will neutralize the effect Of acidity of
the stomach and 1t is well for small folk or
grownups always to rinse the mouth before
retiring. as well as after brushing the teeth
on arising. Soda water Is made by putting
a teaspoonful Of bicarbonate Of soda to q
glass of water. Rinse the mouth
Careful attention to the first teeth Of chill
dren will delay the coming out of the first
set, and the second ones viii be the stronger
for it. By keeping In the first teeth and
having them strong and sound the second
teeth are better nourished. and are stronger
when they make their way through the
gums. After this they must depend upon
their own roots and the care that IL given
by developing food and cleanliness.