Milford chronicle., 1920-08-27
IRREGULAR TEETH

There are many causes for iTregu
lar teeth, and altho a large numbe
have been definitely determined We
many causes are still imperfectly un
derstOod.
Heredity undoubtedly has a yer.
strong influence. especially in thos
! cases where there is a transmission
: in successive generations of pecu
I liar skull or face form.
/ Probably 90 per cent of children
who have reached the age of p:
years of age, or when the temporary
teeth are in place, have normally de.
vcloped faces and jaws and regula:
teeth.
CopGare this with the large pei
cent OF irregular teeth among adults
estimated at between IS and 95 pei
cent and it wilkabe seen that there is
an age where irregularity starts in
the large majority of individuals.
Many of the determined causes
may exist from the time of birth on,
and some of those will be mentioned
that are controllable by the mothers
fostering care
A child that is fed on a bottle is
deprived at the threshold of life of
its natural food, which contains just
the necessary elements for its sup
port and development.
Only the greatest necessity should
compel the adoption of substitute
food; it is ineXcusable otherwise.
The use of the "pacified" thumb
and tongue sucking cannot be too
strongly condemned for the result in
bending the flexible bones of the
jaws. These and similar habits re-
suit disastrously, and every effort
should be made to break them up at
their first appearance.
The habit of mouth breathing, how
ever, is the most serious of all habits.
For it almost invariable results in
crooked teeth, retracted jaws and IA
cial defOrmity. Mouth breathing has
a direct and powerful action On the
lungs, resulting in loss of bodily
vigor, lowered resistance to the dis
eases of childhood and tuberculosis.
Mouth breathing frequently begins
with a "cold" which obstructs the
nose and is continued after the cold
has disappeared.
a cold is considered of little con-
sequence but its results may lower
the resistance to such a great extent
that its repeated recurrance may re-
suit in death thru one of the infec-
by il.
If child is subject to repeated
colds or develops the mouth breath
ing habits, consult a nose or throat
specialist, as there may be adenoids
present which should be removed,
for mouth breathing retracts the low
er jaw.
As soon as the temporary teeth be-
gin to appear, an infexible routine of
brushing and cleansing should be
started and be religiOusly persisted
in. As soon as the temporary teeth
are all in the child should be taken
to the dentist for the simple opera
tion of cleaning and inspection.
These visits should be continued
regularly so that the dentist may
have an opportunity to do preventive
dentistry and gain the confidence Of
the child. This plan, followed out,
takes the dread and fear of these Wis
its away from the child by its own
experience, and it soon learns to
class the dentist as a friend.
Neglect of the temporary teeth is.
no doubt, the most frequent cause of
irregular teeth. Each tooth preserves
a space for its permanent successor
No child without the full number Of
baby teeth, kept whole thruout their
natural period. can hope to have reg
ular permanent teeth. 1t is of vastly
greater importance for the child from
the standpoint of general health, to
care for and preserve its teeth up to
the age Of sixteen than it is after
ward.
AN improper diet may be the
cause.
Care should be exercised to give a
balanced diet and as soon as the
teeth erupt sufficient coarse food
should be given to exercise the teeth.
The idea of prevention may be ap-
piled to children's teeth by keeping
thea7clean and by regular trips to the
dentist so that the smallest cavity
may receive attention as soon as Il
appears. BY attention to the laws of
bodily hygiene, supplying proper food.
controlling exercise, play, sleep and
fresh air.
Irregularity, once started never
corrects itself, but always tends to
grow worse.