St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-04-08
The Care Of Children's 5
Teeth

Teeth, the hardest portion Of the
body, should be the last to decay
and die. They are generally the
FIRST. They are absolutely necessary
to maintain bodily health. Disease
Of teeth or their surroundings
means pain, misery, possible perma-
nent physical disturbance, partial
or total loss of sight, smell, taste,
hearing, health, good looks, en-
joyment Of life.
Teeth are given us to chew with,
aud no one has greater need of per-
feet teeth than the child. for il is in
childhood that he is building up
the body to Withstand the stress Of
the years to come, and not only his
physical but his mental vigor de-
pends upon the food he can digest
and assimilatc.
A child with sore and sensitive
teeth does not chew his food we'll.
He can't. As the result, he swal-
lows his food only partially masti-
Gated, therefore, he suffers from In.
digestion and other disorders that
arise therefrom. His body does
not receive that nourishment II
should receive, and his whole or
ganism suffers In consequence.
A child is like tree or a plant.
In its earlier years II Is not only
growing, but building up what we
term its constitution.
II we are to be strong and vigor.
Gus at maturity, we must have
health and vigor in childhood, and
this we cannot have unless we
have teeth to properly masticate our
food before II goes into the alimen.
tary tract.
The child quickly forms habits.
II his teeth are sore, he bolts his
food. II he continues this for
short time he forms the habit of
bolting. This he carries through
life, with the certainty Of the dis
comforts Of indigestion and It's at
tendant evils.
Sore teeth are diseased teeth.
Decayed spots become the nesting
place OF germs, some harmless,
some deadly. The saliva, which
constantly bathes these diseased
teeth, carries bacteria to the stom.
ach, and thus the whole alimentary
tract Is subjected to constant con.
tact with diseased germs.
II the system Is in a weakened
condition. illness results. Conta-
gious diseases are more apt to find
q resting place there than they
would u the little body was strong
and healthy.
Teeth where Assesses are formed
aud allowed to continue. not only
poison the alimcntary tract. but are
often the exciting cause Of eye and
ear trouble.
Specialists. who are not given to
exaggcration, attribute many Of
the serious disorders which follow
Us later Ia life to the bad teeth Of
We have the assertion Of a promi-
nent authority. that "if the teeth Of
children were properly cared for,
the death rate Of this country |
would be materially lowered aud a
more vigorous race result"
Ninety per cent OF the bacteria in
the mouth can be removed by reg
ular. proper cleaning.
l think ! am safe In saying there
10 not one child in fifty who takes
proper care Of his teeth. The par
rnts say: II wonder why Willie's
teeth decay SO rapidlyf They are
Just like chalk. I believe there Is
not enough lime In the water"
My good reader. how can you ex-
pect anything else. when little
Willie feeds ON sweet things from
morn till night. and don't know a
ooth-brush from a pickax.
Teeth brushing should be as reg
liar a habit as eating and sleeping.
Teach the child the gospel OF the
ooth-brush and mouth bath and
here will he less cause for COM
'laint and the dental bill will be
materially decreased.