Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-05-03
EASY LESSONS IN
BABY RAISING
Teething--.Care of the Teeth

need not be alarmed if her baby does
not follow the average as above
stated, but if the baby has no teeth
at the end of the first year it can
hardly be said to be developing
properly. Probably the diet is at
fault, or some disease is retarding
the growth of the baby in general.
In such a case the doctor should be
consulted.
This set of teeth is replaced by the
permanent set, beginning about the
sixth year. A child should be taken
to the dentist at this time, if, as
sometimes happens, the milk teeth
are so firm that they do not fall out,
but, remaining in the Jaws, crowd
back the second set and cause them
to come in misshappen and irregular.
Growth.-During the second year
the baby should have more or less
dry hard foods on which to chew.
There is sometimes a tendency to
keep a baby too long on an exclusive
, ly soft diet for fear that sold food
will upset him, but it is important to
the development of strong healthy
teeth that they shall have exercise
in biting and chewing. Begin by CIV
ing the baby of about a year of age
some dry. hard crust or toast, or
hard crackers, at the end of regu-
lar meal During the second year,
other kinds of food requiring chew
ing may be gradually added to the
| diet list and taken as part of the
regular meals.
that much of the health of the Sec
! ha ho
is given to the first set. AS soon as
the molars make their appearance
they should be gently cleaned each
day with a soft brush. AS the baby
grows into childhood he should be
taught the daily care of his own
teeth.
Ailments of teething -Although
teething is a natural process and is
not alone responsible for all the ILL
ness attributed to it, nevertheless
there is no doubt that many babies
suffer severely while cutting their
teeth When the gums are red and
swollen it sometimes affords relief
if they are lanced, and it may be we'll
to have a doctor examine the baby's
mouth to see if the operation is need
ed. The process of teething is occa-
/
turbances. The number of stools
may increase and vomiting may Oc-
cur. The baby may be restless and
fretful and try continually to bite on
something. In all these cases the
quantity and strength of the food
should be reduced and drinking
intervals. No teething lotions nor
,ads ntv NO of 1T r.
given for the relief of the pain of
teething. If they do relieve 1t, It is
probably because they contain opium
in some form or other narcotic
drugs.
There is a dangerous tendency to
attribute to teething many ailments
which are due to other causes. The
teeth begin 20 appear at about The
same time that the baby is oeing
weaned and new foods are being
tried. Disturbances of the digestive
tract are very likely to occur for
these reasons. If the baby cuts his
teeth in the summer his illness may
be due to excessive heat. to improper
feeding or uverieeding, and to the
pain of cutting the teeth, and It
would be difficult to say which fac
toi 10 ShlNi's any
case careful feeding is of the utmost
Importance.
The baby should be expected to
gain in weight during these periods
of painful eruption of the teeth but
the weight may remain stationary
for two or three weeks without
harm. The baby should not be urged
to eat when he has no appetite. mere
ly for the sake of the desired in
crease in weight. After the distur-
bance has passed he will be hungry
and will soon regain the lost ground.
On the other hand. if the baby is
coaxed to take more food than he
wants, his digestion is sure to be up
set. and this, added to the pain of
tcetniDe, may result in serious i'll
ness. The second summer" has
gained reputation for being the
most critical period of the baby's life.
but. as matter of fact, statistics
show that the first summer is a much
more hazardous time. and if properly
fed and cared for healthy baby
should be brought through the sec
ond summer in perfect condition.