The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-02-13
Babies Teeth Important
Should Be Well Cared for
Prompt and Continuous Obser-
walton by Dentists

St. Paul, Feb. 12-Even babies
should have their teeth cared for
because the loss of the first teeth
too early in life interferes with the
growth of the jaw. Often it is the
cause of irregular teeth.
A bulletin by the Minnesota
State Medical Association today
blames many of the diseases of lat
er life to the lack of care to teeth
in childhood. It endorses the
statement of the Federal Child
drens Bureau at Washington that
adenoids, finger sucking, and 9TH
er mouth deformities among chill
dren might be corrected by early
treatment.
The baby's earliest visit to the
dentist should take place as soon
as the primary teeth have all
erupted," says the bulletin. They
should be examined for assures,
tiny imperfections which may have
formed in the enamel of the de-
veloping tooth and which only the
dentist can find. If these assures
are properly treated, decay is pre-
vented. Return visits should be
made every six months for examin-
alton and cleaning until the per-
manent teeth begin to erupt. Each
pair of teeth should be examined
as soon as it appears. 1mperfec,
lions in both the first and the Sec
ond teeth must be treated at once
IF the teeth are to be kept sound
cit is of great Importance to den
tai welfare as we'll as to genera
! bodily health that child breathe
easily and naturally through the
nose. Adenoids, which force mouth
breathing often cause deformities
of the arch, with crowded, irregu
lar teeth as the result. Otter
causes are such habits as thumb Of
finger sucking, the use of the pasi
fer or teething ring, and continue
pressure of the hand against the
cheek while the baby is asleep.
When the child is from 5 to
years old, there comes in both up
per and lower jaws an importan
tooth, often called the keystone O
the dental arch. This Is the sixth
year molar, the sixth tooth from
the front on each side and the frs
permanent tooth. Upon it's preser
walton and care depends to a grea
extent the regularity Of all tn,
second teeth. AS soon as the chew
ing surface has erupted it shoule
be examined for defects by thu
dentist.
ut is probable that there is SOM
circulation in the teeth as in othel
tissues of the body. This suggest!
that resistance to decay in al
erupted tooth can be increased b!
an improvement in diet and health
habits, even though such condition!
as irregularity and the presence o.
assures cannot be affected by thes,
factors.
AS the baby's first teeth appear
brush them after each meal with :
small, soft brush, cleaning the up
per gums and teeth with a down
ward motion and the lower one!
with an upward motion. Brush
the inner as well as the outer sur
faces. A mild tooth paste o.
powder may be used but is not nee
essary. The brush should be kept
where it can be reached by air ani
sunshine and should be frequent!
replaced. Reasonable home care O.
the mouth is important, but ever
hourly brushing cannot keep from
decay teeth which are soft, poorl!
formed; and irregularly placed
"The child's gums should b.
firm, dense, a clear light pink il
color, and should hold the teetl
firmly in place. Any sign of gun
boil should be regarded as a>dang
er signal. The diet apparently not
only affects the teeth directly bu
also has considerable influence up
on the soft tissues of the mouth
There seems to be a definite rela
ton between the condition of tn,
intestines and that of the gums
When the intestine does not fun
ction properly the mouth is I'm
healthy and dirty. A bulky diet
then, in which raw fruits and veg
etables are prominent is an aie
in providing the best environment
for the teeth"