Milford chronicle., 1921-01-14
MOUTH HYGIENE FOR MOTHERS

A very large part of our i'll health
habits originate in the mouth, and ill
health is the most expensive thing in
the world. 1t impoverishes the indi-
vidual, the state and the race.
A famous English physician once
said that decayed teeth caused more
human suffering than whiskey.
Care Of the teeth should begin in
earliest childhood, and whether her
child has a good set of teeth in later
years rest largely with the mother.
Few mothers realize the dangers of
the habit which most children are
like to acquire, unless they are pre-
vented, of sucking the thumb or
fingers. This tends to force the up
per front teeth forward and the lower
front teeth backward. The result is
a deformed mouth and jaw.
1t causes the permanent teeth to
come in crooked and interferes with
the proper development of the face
and skull.
Cases of retarded mental develop
ment have been shown to be due to
deformed jaws caused by sucking the
thumb.
Sucking the lips and the use of the
"pacifier" is dangerous for the same
reason.
Many mothers neglect the baby
teeth and allow them to decay and ul-
cerate because they will be replaced.
This is a great mistake, because the
second teeth coming in contact with
diseased baby teeth will be diseased
also. The baby teeth form the scat
folding of the dental arch and should
remain in the mouth as long as ma
ture intended. If they are allowed to
decay or be pulled out before their
time the jaws fail to expand properly
and the second teeth will be crooked
and the bones of the face will not de-
Velop properly.
A child's mouth should be wiped
out two or three times a day, COM
at birth, and as soon as the
first two baby teeth appear the teeth
should be brushed at least night and
Beginning with the third birthday
the child should be taken to the den
tist at least every six months. The
dentist is then able to lay the foun-
dation for good set of permanent
teeth.
Children whose teeth receive care
full attention are far less liable to the
disease of childhood.
Between the ages of 5 and the
first permanent molars appear. These
teeth come in just back of the baby
teeth and are frequently permitted to
decay, because they are mistaken for
baby teeth and receive no attention.
These 6 years molars are the Iarg-
est and most important teeth in the
mouth.
The necessity for their preservation !
n good condition cannot be emphas- |
lied too strongly if the child is to
nave a regular, healthy set of teeth. |
The influence exerted by the first
permanent molar in securing a reg
liar arrangement of the permanent |
yet is so great that dentists call this
Doth the keystone of the dental
lrch."
II the first permanent molar is lost,
n if it does not come in properly be-
'ause of the premature loss of some
'aby tooth, the entire dental arrange
nent is seriously distorted.
During the change from temporary
o permanent teeth there is a con
siderable period during which the
irst molar is practically the sole
means of chewing.
Thus it is readily seen that chill
ren whose first molars have been al
owed to decay usually have bad di-
,estion, headache and nervousness,
ue to imperfect mastication.
Children should be taught the use
f small tooth brush as soon as they
egin to do things for themselves.
Children should be taught to brush
heir teeth night and morning. Many
nothers make their children brush
heir teeth after every meal. No more
important habit can be taught and it
an best be taught during childhood.