Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-04-25
The Care of a chiId's Teeth.

rev persons understand how much the
health of child depends upon the con-
dition OF its teeth. Watch closely child
that is nervous, undersized and far from
strong, and see what it eats and how it
eats it. Often il will be found that the
teeth are painful, and that therefore the
child avoids chewing. Food swallowed
before il is properly masticated not only
fails TO nouriSh the child, but is frequently
the cause OF acute indigestion.
Sometimes a careful examination of the
mouth will reveal one or more broken
down teeth and Inflammation OF the gum;
and although there may be no pain in
eating, it is probable that the Child is ab-
sorbing poison in sufficient quantity 10
affect its digestion and even retard its
growth.
Cases are common in which the pain
caused by diseased tooth is not in the
tooth itself. II may manifest itself as
facial neuralgia, or it may be felt in one
of the ears. Ear specialists recognize
the teeth as the cause OF many earaches.
Less frequently the eyes are disturbed by
diseased tooth, and relief does not
come until the cause is found and the
tooth is extracted or treated
The germs OF many contagious diseases
find their way into the mouth. AS re-
suit, the school drinking cup is frequently
responsible for the spread of contagion.
If the teeth are sound and are kept clean,
the chance for germs to develop is greatly
reduced.
Bacteria play an active part in Destroy
ing teeth. If starchy food and sweets
are allowed to remain in the mouth, GER
tain forms of bacteria that act on this
food will develop an acid and cause de-
cay. Ii is wise, therefore, to brush the
teeth after eating. If il is impossible to
have child S teeth brushed after every
meal, insist upon thorough cleansing
after breakfast and before going TO bed.
Children and adults often complain that it
takes too much time to brush the teeth,
but any one who will consult a watch
will find that very careful and thorough
cleansing can be accomplished in less
than two minutes. Five minutes a day
honestly devoted to the care of the teeth
will prevent very large part OF all tooth
decay, and will also do much to preserve
the health of the child and TO prevent the
spread OF disease.
The habit of caring for the teeth should
begin at an early age. If possible, begin
at the age OF two and half, when the
twenty teeth that comprise the temporary
set have usually all come through. If
the child is to keep well and grow prop
erly, these teeth must be kept free from
pain and sound enough TO chew with.
A fine powder used once day is help
in keeping teeth clean, and if economy is
sought, a few cents worth OF precipitate
of chalk will be found most satisfactory.
Very few serious cases OF toothache in
the first teeth will ever occur if the di-
rectionS given are honestly followed; but
if pain occurs, the child should be taken
to the dentist. During the period that
may occur before the dentist can be
reached, it is often possible TO quiet the
pain by first washing out the cavity in
the tooth with warm water, and then
placing in the cavity pellet OF cotton
wet with a drop OF oil of cloves. The
surplus oil should be squeezed out of the
cotton; otherwise it will cause an un-
pleasant burning sensation in the mouth.
A drop of chloroform used in the same
way will often stop the pain. A wise
precaution is to have the dentist see the
child every three or four months. Ser
ious trouble will be then avoided.