Milford chronicle., 1920-06-04
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD TEETH

A~--FN-- WIN aAnoAb the acnooA NAAA
iren OF the State. This is not con-
iition peculiar to Delaware. Ii is
one that is met with everywhere.
the percentage Of children
requiring dental attention is some
wha; larger here than in most OF the
other states.
Up TO the present time there has
been very little educational OF cor
rective work done in the line Of mouth
hygiene in Delaware. There are free
clinics established throughout the
state Tor the treatment of practically
every other defect found in children
while clinics for the treatment Of
teeth have so far been neglected. This
is due to a number of causes chief
among which is the lack OF necessary
funds.
Mouth hygiene is a subject about
which much has been written and
said. Few people, however, realize
the Importance of it or know how it
affects a child, mentally, morally and
physically.
No Child can be expected to do the
amount OF brain work OF which he is
capable if he is continually receiving
supply of blood to his brain which
is laden with poisonous material or
toxins. This is what happens when a
case of infection of the gums (Gingiv-
itis) develops. There are little pock-
cts Of pus and bacteria or germs for
med at the roots of the teeth from
which toxic or poisonous material is
constantly taken up by the blood and
carried TO all parts of the body.
These may be deposited in the joints
giving rise to rheumatism, or they
may be deposited in the heart giving
rise to heart diseases. There are only
two OF the places that a secondary in
lection may take place.
What causes Infection of the gums? =?
Tartar is allowed to accumulate on
the teeth. This is hard foreign body
and as such sets up an irritation Of
the gums. There are always bacter-
ia in the mouth. These get into the
irritated raw surface and set up the
infection. Again decayed teeth may
be allowed to 90 untitled. Decay is
caused by bacteria getting into the
tooth thru a broken or abraded ena-
mel Cthe hard outside covering of the
teeth. These bacteria work their
way down through the root of the
tooth and out into the tissue sur
rounding it and Sc. up infection.
How do unclean teeth affect a child
morally? We all know that a child who
is habitually unclean physically is in
most instances a bad child. He has
no pride OF appearance Nothing is
too mean for him to do. Take this
same child and clean him up. Make
him cleaner than his fellows. What
is the result? He develops "a pride Of
appearance. This reflects itself in his
character. He feels that he is too
good to do a mean or low thing. He
becomes a model child. This change
IS even more pronounced when it is
the mouth that is cleaned up. He feels
that his mouth and teeth are much
cleaner and nicer than his comrades.
He will, therefore, come to feel that
he is an example OF what is right and
all his actions will conform themsel-
yes 10 this idea He will be clean
about his body md his clothes. The
cleaner he gets the better satisfied
with himself he is.
We have shown above how it will
benefit him physically.
What is being done in Delaware
about this matter? The United States
Public Health Service has sent its
dental unit to Delaware to demon
strate the need and value Of this work
1t has been in four communities now
and has everywhere succeeded in
arousing an interest in the work that
is most encouraging. 1t has impress
81 oh hn
a clean mouth and has interested them
exceedingly. This unit will continue
its work until the end Of the present
school year.
We hope that money will be avail
able for US to use in establishing this
work permanently in the state. We
hope to have a unit consisting Of three
persons, a dentist and two hygienists
with portable equipment who will
/ travel over the entire state doing this
work which is so essential to the good
health and happiness of our children
We want to begin work as soon as
school opens next fall. This unit will
not of course be able to do all the
actual work necessary in the state, but
I it will be able to do that which is
most urgent and will impress upon the
children the necessity for having all
needed work done Immediately. In
this way, the children will be taught
to have their mouths cared for and
form a habit which will remain witt
them for life How many adults are
there now wearing false teeth, who
do not wish that such service OF
teaching had been given them in theil
younger days? Not one, We venture
to say.
How many children are there il
delaware in need of such treatment
OCT Of the three thousand children
already examined there are approx
mately 63 per cent who have defective
teeth which need immediate atten
ton.
There is one very important feature
in this work which should not be over
looked. That is the financial one
How can this work be of financial ail
TO the state? In one city Of thu
United States 40 per cent Of the
school budget was used for re-educa
ton. That is. 1t was used to educate
children who had failed in a grade
Then mouth hygiene was instituted
All the children were treated. Th
result of this one feature alone wal
than only II per cent of the schoo
budget is used for re-education.
saving OF 80 per cent.
SUSSEX ALMSHOUsE REPORT