The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-28
TELLS OF TEETH
Attention to ChiIdren's Teeth
Emphasized by DR.. Brown.
Urges Proper Care Be Taken of
MOuth-HeaIth Affected.

The Importance of attention to chill
dren's teeth is emphasized below in
what is the second of a series Of public
health articles being written for The
State Journal by DIR. Earle G. Brown,
city health officer
BY DIR. EARLE G. BROWN.
In the mouth of the child, every
one knows that the temporary set of
teeth number twenty. the eight in
cisors, the four cuspids or stomach
and eye teeth. and the eight pre-
molars. When the teeth erupt thru
the gums, it then becomes the duty of
the parent to see that proper care is
given the teeth and also that the
mouth is kept clean.
Decay of first teeth is often very
rapid. because the greater portion of
the tooth is pulp with only a very thin
bony wall as a ing. Extreme
care should be given the teeth and the
children should be taken to a dentist
regularly.
Affect General Health.
1t is a fact that the teeth of an in
dividual enter largely into the general
health Of a person. In many cases
of sickness, the cause has been traced
back to the teeth. Germs are always
present in the mouth and it is for this
reason that proper care must be taken
OF the mouth and teeth.
Decayed teeth interfere directly
with the digestion and the poison may
be absorbed causing a serious illness
Cavities in the teeth should be given
immediate attention. The poisoning
of the system interferes with both
the physical and mental development
of the child, consequently he cannot
compete in school with those children
who are physically fit.
Children Have Defective Teeth.
a very large number of school chill
dren have defective teeth. perhaps Z 5
per cent. Investigation conducted in
the Macon school, Cleveland, Ohio,
showed that 81 per cent of the school
enrolment had decayed or irregular
teeth. Investigations made under the
auspices of the Russell Sage Founda-
ton, show that more than half of the
school choldren of the nation have bad
teeth.
Children whose mouths and teeth
to become infected with the COM
municable diseases, such as measles,
mumps. diphtheria and scarlet fever.
In the spring of 1911, dentist was
employed to examine and care for the
teeth of the children in st. Vincent's
this time, there had been many cases
of the acute infection. After proper
care was instituted. these diseases
practically disappeared.
Do Not Appreciate Value.
Many teeth are lost because the
people do not appreciate their value,
or the loss upon the general health
There is no part of the human body
that is SO sadly neglected as the teeth.
The most serious part of the neglect of
the teeth is in the individual who has
So-caHed focal infection, which
serves as a basis whereby infection !
may be distributed to any or all parts
of the body. In many of these indi-
Viduals there may be hidden assesses
of the teeth. that as far as the teeth
are concerned. may give no symptoms,
and yet may be the cause of a multi
tude of symptoms. This is especially
50 in acute rheumatism and it is fairly
well determined that a great many of
these acute conditions are due to
neglected teeth.
il should be the practice of all indi-
viduals to have their teeth inspected
by a dentist at least once every year,
prefera bly, every six months. In this
way minor defects may be taken care
Of The Importance of the tooth
brush cannot be emphasized too much.
The teeth should be brushed at least
three times a day and especially at
night, because then the saliva is less
plentiful, and there is an excess of
acid.
In the language of Doctor Osler-
Oral hygiene-the hygiene of the
mouth. There is not one single thing
more important to the publ in the
whole range of hygiene than that"