The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-01-27
IPEQPLEs .EQRQN

No doubt d close perusal OF lie Is
port published In the local papers,
covering The recent trial inspection Of
school children would be d revelation
! to the parents Or guardians q many
|of the children examined. The most
stsstling Of these figures Is the high
percentage OF defective teeth, l722)
more than twicesthe percentage OF any
other defect. 81, * q
II Is certainly a edeplorable fact
that In the majority OF these cases,
the dental defects are extant through
the ignorance on; the. part OF parents,
not only Of the existence OF such de.
fects but Of the gravity OF such a con.
fdition in the mouths OF the children.
The average parent does not real.
lie that the temporary teeth require
, at least the same scrupulous atten.
ton as do the permanent ones. Be;
tween the ages Of Ave and twelve
years Tor the time in which the child
depends upon the temporary teeth for
mastication) Is the period OF most rap.
!, Id growth. This Is the period In which
the child should have every possible
advantage OF nourlshment in order to
meet the heavy demand for construc.
tive tissue for the growing body.
Should even one or two teeth be de.
.fective; sensitive or liberated. It can
be readily seen how dangerously the
organs Of mastication are impaired,
III the child finds that chewing upon
a certain molar causes pain. 1t is only
a natural result that the child soon
learns to avoid using that side OF the
mouth upon which the painful molar
is located. Thus one-haIf Of the teeth
are forced to perform double work
while the other half are unused. This
is detrimental to both sides, for while
;one.half are rapidly broken down from
overwork, the other half soon deterio.
rate from disuse. as will any other or.
gan of the body from which normal
exercise Is withdrawn.
Should these exist a sensitive molar
on each side. Of the mouth. the child
soon ceases to attempt mastication
at all and bolts the food, thus placing
upon the stomach the burden Of mas.
tication as well as digestion. In a
short time the over.taxed digestive ap.
paratus rebels or. breaks down under
this unjust arrangement and we have
established a firm foundation for FL.
'ture stomach and intestinal disorders,
such as dyspepsia, gastric catarrh, Jul.
Ger, tumor or cancer. These are a
few of the many body disorders which
are easily traced directly to FAULTY
mastication, because Of neglected
teeth. re \ NIX ~ 8 E; 35,'
NOW We come to another sequence
of decayed teeth. which is even less
generally recognized by parents. AS
any physician will tell you, the hui.
man mouth is at all times inhabited
by a%veritable menagerle OF bacteria
or disease germs OF many classes, l,av.
ing been deposited there from the air
we breathe. the food we cat or the
liquids we drink. Should the teeth
and surrounding tissues be in a state
of perfect health or repair, these stray
germs find no place of Judgment and
are soon eliminated by the execre.
tons or digestion. On the other hand,
should there bea cavity In one OF. the
teeth, filled with fermenting and de.
composing food, It serves as an excel:
lent field in which, these stray germs
find Judgment and soon establish a
formidable colony Of disease produc.
ing and health destroying organisms.
Aided by the heat Of the mouth with
the secretions and fermentlng matter
upon which to feed, these colonies
multiply very rapidly until dlslodged
by mastication and they are then
swept into the stomach where they
have an unhindered opportunity for
their work. Of destruction.
Thus we can see how very often
cases Of contagious disease, especial.
I y typhoid or scarlet fever, measles,
| ETC., would be, prevented were the
teeth and surrounding tissues kept in
healthy condition.
In addition to the question of health,
we must consider the teeth as regards
the important part they play In ones
personal appearance. There is no sin.
gle feature of the human countenance
which can add or detract SO much from
the personal charm as can the teeth.
| NO matter haw plain the features may
be, one Is never unattractlve If they
possess strong, symetrical and we'll,
Kept set of teeth. On the other hand,
no combination Of beauty in features
can Ohlitnrnto tho