Milford chronicle., 1919-11-28
TEETH AND HEALTH
Bv r. ALLEN GRIFFITH, D. D. 5.
rIr 49, pERMlNENT TOOTn

rur FIRST PERMANENT TOOTH
Tbs first permanent tooth comes ing
,o The mouth between the sixth ana
saranfh wears. IL comes i'm just back
.of me baby teeth and is frequently
mistaken for baby tooth because y
does not replace another to0th- 10 d
called the six-year molar, and IS tne
largest and most important tootA I'D
the dental arch.
The six-year moiar is OF greatest
concern 10 dentists Most dentists are
familiar with the troublesome nature
Af this tooth
n drives more children 10 the den
list than all other teeth combined.
II We are TO do the most for children
we must save the six-year molars.
When the six-year molars are eX-
traeted the dental arch is robbed OF
its support. II soon collapses. Inc
teeth in front OF it fall backward and
a space appears between the front
teeth. The beautiful symmetrical
curve of the face is lost and nothing
can restore il.
Every face presents "A center line,
which indicates the center OF the face.
II Is the line between the two front
teeth.
When one of the six-year molars IS
lost the teeth fall backward on that
side. moving the center line on cen
Ter. Where the center line Is DIS
placed the face takes on an unbalanced
expression One side appears fuller
than the other 49,
When the siX-yeal mOlars are lost
in one arch it gives the face a iiatten-
ed expression. The dental arch sup
ports the muscles OF the face and
when this support is lost She muscles
contract
A broken dental arch is sure to inn
pair the beauty of expression OF the
face.
The six-year molars are particularly
valuable because they do most OF the
chewing for a period of five years.
These four teeth take their places
when the child is six years OF age. the
upper biting squarely on the lower.
There are no teeth back OF them
until tho child is twelve years old,
when the second molars come in.
In front OF them are the baby molars
made to chew heavy food
III the baby molars are decayed or
lost thev cannot assist the siX-year
molars tn chewing food. Thus for iVe
wears the four siX-year molars are
compelled 10 chew an the food that
goes 10 nourish the rapidly develop
ing child
The siX-year mOiars also act as "A
prop To hold the jaws apart while the
other permanent teeth are coming in.
The pressure of the jaws falls upon
these four teeth until the other back
teeth come I'm between the ages OF 10
and r.
In case one or two of these first
permanent teeth are lost the jaws are
not held open the correct distance and
the Jaws close upon the other teeth
that are only part way in, forcing them
out and preventing the others from
coming entirely in.
This allows the nose and chin to
come closer together than they should,
giving an expression to the face sim
liar to what we frequently see in old
folks who have lost their teeth.
OF course there is not such mark
ed Disagreement as where all the
teeth are lost. but there Is a marked
coming together of the features, and
an unnatural facial expression.
The only proper way to care for
your ohild's teeth is to place the child
in the care of dentist at 3 years OF
age. He will keep the child's mouth
free from decay if the visits are made
at frequent intervals He will fill
small cavities as soon as they appear
and keep the teeth free from stains
and tartar.
He will tell you how TO keep the
mouth in a clean, healthy condition
II this rule is carefully carried ou
the six-year molars will come into
clean. healthy mouth free from decay
Where they are surrounded by cleal
healthy teeth. there will be no de
structive influence. Keep them fret
from cavities.
If the dentist discovers one, do no
wait. Have It filled at once. The ac
tion of decay is very rapid and the
nerve may be quickly exposed if ne
elected. The filling Of a small cavity
is painless. If quickly done, and vii
prevent future decay. Brush the chill
drens teeth night and morning De
cay works while you sleep, so never
let them 90 to bed dirty.
The tooth brush saves many teeth
Look at your children's teeth every
week
Watch 'afni