Williston graphic., 1916-08-10
Farm Department
Clean Sound Teeth
For the Children
DR.. L. Van Es in The Dakota
Farmer

For the Children
DIR. L. Van Es in The Dakota
Farmer
While, no doubt, there is still a
large number of people who rejoice
in the possession of beautiful, sound
teeth merely because they look good,
it must not be forgotten that this IS
really only a minor reason--whlch
should compel a persistent effort to
keep them so.
After all, the real value Of good
teeth is associated with their func-
ton Of chewing the food. The pro-
per utilization of the food enables the
body to grow and develop and to
make up for the wear and tear in
cidental to its functions. Before this
can take place it is, in most foods,
necessary that they be divided or
ground before they can we'll be acted
upon by the various substances which
bring about their digestion.
This is not possible or only parti-
ally so when the grinding machinery
the teeth-are damaged or imper-
feet. Such defects are exceedingly
common among the civilized white
races in whom the teeth are by no
means made of as good material as
the ones used in those of the average
or barbarian tribes.
It is only by special care that we
can hope for maintaining a good
working set of teeth during consid-
cradle portion of our life time. When
this is persistently practiced, the
teeth may be preserved for their legiti
mate function and as an indirect con-
sequence the body may more readily
profit by it's food, while the digestive
organs escape the damaging influence
of imperfectly masticated morsels.
There is, however, still another rea-
son for tooth care or tooth preserva-
ton and that is that damaged tooth
with it's cavities and it's exposed soft
parts not uncommonly serves as a
biding place for disease producing
bacteria such as those of tuberculosis,
,diptheria, pneumonia and others.
Among the latter we must mention
especially certain pus-producing or
ganisms which through defects of the
teeth may manage to find entrance
to the body, there to become respon.
:sible for large number OF diseased
conditions. In late years physicians
have for instance come to recognize
in bad teeth (and diseased tonsils
also) the starting point of which we
are apt to designate under the name
of rheumatism. -
Should Learn Care of Teeth
Many of the defects of teeth begin
early in life and for this reason alone
it is so necessary that children be
instructed in the care Of their teeth
and be compelled to put what is
learned into practice. Another rea.
son why children should be 50 drilled
is because it is far easier to cultivate
the habit of mouth cleanliness in the
young than in adults. Once the habit
of tooth care is thoroughly fastened
on the child, the practice will auto
matically maintain itself. For so fa1
as the child is concerned, the prin.
cipal part of tooth care consists OF
the practice of cleanliness of the
mouth. 1t is the most important fac
tor in the prevention of tooth decay
Tooth decay or carries is the main
factor of mischief and for the large
part is caused by the undisturbed
presence of certain bacteria, which by
their power of giving rise to the for
nation of acids bring about the slow
erosion of the protecting enamel with
which our teeth are covered. Those
bacteria grow especially in small
remnants of food which cling to the
teeth after eating or are packed IN
between the teeth during the meal. 1t
is obvious thus that the cleaner the
teeth are kept the less liable they are
to decay.
How To Clean Them
There are two methods by which
this cleanliness is promoted; one, the
thorough chewing Of the harder foods,
and the other the use Of the tooth
brush. The latter is the most indis-
pensible and it's use should be as much
a part of the child's education as the
daily spelling lesson. 1t matters lit
tile whether this be taught at home
,or at school, or still better at both
places, Just so that it is taught. =,
For the best results the teeth should
be brushed after each meal, but in
cases where this is asking too much
or where for other reasons this fire.
uuent brushing is impracticable, the
children should be forced to do SO
at least once day.
Each child in the family should be
provided with it's own tooth brush
This should be composed of bristles
not rigid enough to injure the gums
and the child should be shown how to
use it in order to remove all the food
particles.
PARIS GREEN POISONING
Several cases of Paris Green poison
20