Milford chronicle., 1920-04-23
TEETH AND HEALTH
By r. ALLEN GRIFFITH. D. D. S.
IRREGULAR TEETH

Within the last decade a new spec
ialty has developed in dentistry.
deals only with the regularizing o
irregular teeth" it IS called "ortho
dOntia"
To many this is deemed small ant
unimportant part of the profession
and most people seem to think tina
Strengthening the teeth aims only t
improve the appearance Of the teetl
and the facial expression.
This is an erroneous idea, for ir-
regular teeth have a direct bearing
on the general health, and the treat
ment of this condition has a direct
bearing on the prevention of diseases
Nature has a definite arrangement
for the teeth, and when this arrange
ment is not interfered with from some
cause or other, the result is pleasing
TO the eye and an efficient grinding ap-
paratus.
When the teeth are irregular, the
individual loses a share of the comeli-
ness and the efficiency of the teeth and
jaws as a masticating machine is inn
paired.
1t is possible for one upper front
tooth slanting inward to so lock the
jaws when closed than only an up
and-doWn motion Of the Jaws can be
made, thus destroying every grinding
motion upon which masticatiOn de-
pends, and having a very slight effect
upon that appearance.
Perfect physical and mental devel-
opment cannot result without perfect
of all the organs OF the
body The relation of each organ Is
so dependent upon the proper func-
tiOning of the others that the impair
ment of one is promptly reflected in
the others.
This is called vicious circle" in
which a definite cause produces SER
les of effects which, in turn, aggra-
Vate the primary cause.
Irregular teeth in the developing
child from a vicious circle" as fol-
lows:
Insufficient chewing of food and an
quantity of saliva that Is
for digestion overwork, the /
stomach and intestines, resulting IN /
Door digestion, and consequently there 1
S an insufficient amount of bone and |
nucle building material to meet the .
demands of growth. There is a gen.
.ral lowering of the tone and develop
nent of the entire body, the bones
md muscles of the face and body suf-
er with the rest, and the teeth become
more irregular.
1t is practically impossible to keep
teeth clean, they decay more
eadily than regular teeth and the
'roblem of repair and replacement is
much harder for the dentist and un-
to the Datient
Because they cannot be kept clean,
regular teeth are more liable to be
ttacked by pyorrhea than regular
eeth are. Pyorrhea, cavities filled
nth germ and dead teeth are con-
tantly sending a food of micro-or-
anism into the stomach and blood
tream to cause diseases Of the heart
idneys, gall bladder, stomach, skin,
yes, etc. There is a very intimate
elation between the mouth and the
ones of the face and the air passages.
ny disturbance of growth or func-
on of one is almost alway accompan-
ID by some disturbance in the other.
he bones Of the face contain hollow
PAGES called "sinuses." Irregular
eth tend 70 narrow the air passages
the nose and contract the sinuses.
arrowed air passages causes mouth
'eathing and the result is that the
r enters the lungs, the lungs remain
and the blood is not sup
led with sufficient oxygen.
The chest is fiat. the shoulders are
unded and faulty positions in sit
lg and standing result in spinal cur
lures. AS we have seen, lack of
causes indigestion and
llnutrition, the micro-organisms and
cir poisons add to the impoverish-
ent of the blood. Lack of oxygen re-
ces the blood still farther. The i'm
verished blood stream now fails TO
rry away the pus germs Of the py-
rhea, as rapidly as formerly and an
ler and deadly vicious circle" is
'med, due to irregular teeth