Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-20

49, turncd-up nose
Do you feel that you have to apologize for
him rs he's aif4-aeetts GhaLheA 2ill
look like when ne grows up?
DO YOU wonder how ne came 10 have such
misshapen features. when neither Of his par
cnts have them?
II So watch his facial habits when he is at
rest or at work. and you may get clue 10
how his face came 10 be warped out Of shape.
II it's not warped II he has a normal face.
be doubly critical OF these little habits before
he develops one or more Of these Irregular
features which may seriously interfere with
his chances OF success and happiness In
later life
For the warping of boys or girls teeth,
nose mouth. and Jaw into unsightly distor-
lions is very likely not due 10 chance or
hcrcdty. but may be blamed often entirely.
on childish habits Of thumb sucking, finger
nail chewing, or even sleeping with the hands
under the face and later on pencil biting I'M
proper breathing and so on
This was the theme OF report delivered
recently TO the California Dental Association
by Or Vernon l.. Hunt Of Arcata. California,
who for several years has devoted himself
almost entirely Go a thorough study of these
disturbing facial malformatons and their pre-
ver'ion or correction
Nature should not be blamed, according
10 pr Hunt, for giving children such facial
defects as receding chins. bulldog jaws. or
protruding buck teeth These are often
brought on in large measure by the continued
practice Of some trifling habits muscular
pressures which grow into an alarming force,
permanently altering the child's features and
possibly impairing an otherwise good and
promising start in life
Parents and teachers are often lax about
trying 20 correct such habits. Or. Hunt points
out; they rcprove the child in desutory way
for sucking his thumb or chewing his finger
nails thinking il is merely rather unpretty
nervous habit without realizing the tremen-
dous effect it may have if stringent measures
are not taken.
And often the destructive habit may be
something that seems entirely harmless like
leaning tho chin on the hand or sleeping with
the hands folded under one side of the face.
The malformations usually develop when
the child is between six and ten years old and
tho period which deserves especially TO be
watched Is the time the child is getting his
second teeth.
Bad facial habits practced while the teeth
are coming in often result in the teeth grow
ing at the wrong angle; as the teeth grow. the
maformation becomes set. and 1t is very hard
TO correct it later on in life.
Children with soft otherwise defective
bone material often furnish extreme examples
Of what these little habits can do to the facial
structure But in the normal healthy child,
pressure" habits practiced at the wrong time
also can do plenty of damage
Or Hunt has lantern slides and motion
pictures. made over period of years, graphic
ally illustrating such findings as these
The little boy or girl who Is addicted 20
thumb-suclting may end up with a ridiculously
weak" chin, or unsightly buck teeth, or both.
The thumbs pressure causes displacement Of
the upper teeth when they are coming in and
they grow tilted forward. Due to the inn
proper set Of the teeth, the mouth may hang
open and the lower jaw grow in a receding
position.