The Washington herald., 1912-02-25

Of the greatest factors in the develop
ment or the face. II has been found. in
the examination of a large number of
skulls in the Army Medical Museum. that
irresularity OF the teeth is invariably
! accompanied by faulty DEVELOPMENT of
| the nose. Dental writers all tell us that
loss Of the first teeth in the growing
| child or any condition which interferes
with their normal growth has a dele
| terious effect ON the internal structure
Of the face.
! It will be readily seen. then. from tn.
! foregoing that proper nasal respiration
/ and proper growth and use OF the teeth
as the child develops are essential to the
production OF Il normal individual
Mouth breathing occurs when, for any
reason. breathing through the nose il
Obstructed. From the foregoing state
ments 1t can be seen that the factors
which aid development are lost
| Besides, a force that directly opposer
development is produced. When the lower
jaw hangs down. as II does in the mouth
, breather. the facial structures. by
! being stretched downward, prese inward
upon the outer surface OF the upper Jaw
bones. thereby retarding the outward
growth OF the palate process. Also. with
loss Of air through the nose, the natural
stimulus to growth OF all the nasal struc-
lures is interrupted with, with a conse-
quent loss to development, following the
natural law OF shrinkage In any part Of
| the body from disuse.
It is an undoubted fact that adenoid
tissue is the most frequent cause Of OBJ
structed nasal respiration In the child.
1t Is especially in very young children
that enlarged adenoids so close the nasal
chamber that mouth breathing results
There is a bOny and gristly partition that
divides the nose into two halves. This
partition. called the septum, frequently
-.
faulty development as to entirely close
up one side OF the nasal chamber and
the resultant irritation SO acts on the
other side as to close It also. These
septal changes do not usually occur be-
fore from five 10 seven years; they are
the result Of faulty development
To fully enumerate the effects of mouth
breathing would take all the space per
mitted TO this article. The changes are
always degenerative. The final results are
physical. mental. and moral degeneration
In mouth breathing. the lung expansion
is never so great as when normal nasal
respiration is present. This may affect
bodily development. The healthy body be-
gets the healthy mind, the healthy mind :
healthy morals. The way to degeneration
Is easy and insidiOus. In the early life
Of a child. in infancy and childhood in
the time when the greatest rapidity OF
development occurs too much attention
cannot be given TO the nasal structures
that their proper growth and develop
ment may preserve the way for proper
respiration.
child must be taught 10 breathe
through its nose by keeping Il clean and
learning TO blow It when catarrh is pres
ent The mucous is easily blown out II
a child is made TO play or run for a few
minutes while the parent watches 10 pre-
vent opening OF the mouth until nasal
Incomes
When the jaw falls during sleep #
should be gently closed and kept up by
a pad or a punched up corner Of the
blanket for few minutes. IN old stand
ing or obstinate cases, q bandage may
be needed
dant. they must br removed. but an
operation Is OF far more value when the
parent co-operates afterward by training
the child 10 keep the mouth closed eI-
cept for eating and articulation.
A badly dsviated nasal septum may re-
quire Strengthening, or the bone IN the
chamber may have to be Clipped out, but
in the less severe cases exercise for deep
breathing and the prevention Of cold and
congestion by fresh air and proper food,
should widen the passage considerably.
In the proper care and development Of
the teeth. We may safeguard the diges-
ton. To develop them. a child must be
TO COnfine himself 10 soft pappy sub
stances. The country boy has better
teeth and stronger taws because he eats
coarser food.
In watching both. We may DO much
that has in the past been only too greatly
neglected. toward making the individual
that will be benefit to his fellow-men
rather than a drag upon the community.
Next week-The Nose; the Gateway OF
Dtath.