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The Teeth: Children

Teeth of Children. - One of the most common causes of trouble with the teeth in after life is the mistaken notion that children's teeth do not require very much attention because they will soon be lost and replaced by others. Children, on the contrary, should be taught to clean their teeth at a very early age, partly because they will thus acquire a habit which it will afterwards be more difficult to teach them, but more especially because the lack of proper development or decay of the milk teeth has a direct effect upon the health of the child, and an indirect effect upon the permanent teeth themselves.

The appearance of the milk teeth about the seventh month is a signal that the child should commence to have solid food and should no longer be fed exclusively on milk and other soft foods. And during the entire period when the milk teeth are coming in, children should be encouraged to eat crackers and dry bread, and not allowed to discard the crusts.

The resistance of coarse food increases the circulation of the blood and gives the necessary exercise to develop the gums and the jaw muscles that are necessary to proper chewing. All of this has a direct influence in improving the quality of the permanent teeth. If the milk teeth show black spots or other evidence of decay, they should be at once treated, and filled, if necessary, with the same care as the permanent teeth. If they are suffered to decay, THE TEETH the permanent teeth coming in their place will be likely to decay also.

Care of the Teeth. There are two cardinal rules in the care of the teeth: keep them clean and consult a good dentist. Few professions have arrived at a degree of proficiency equal to that of modern dentistry.

In fact, the public does not generally realize what dentistry can and ought to do. The notion is far too prevalent that the business of a dentist is to fill decayed teeth, or to pull them, and make false teeth, crowns, or bridges to take their place. A very important part of the duty of a modern dentist is to prevent the teeth from decaying. Hence it is most unwise to postpone visiting a dentist until one's teeth commence to ache.

On the contrary, a dentist should be consulted at least twice a year and oftener if necessary, and children, especially, should be taken to a dentist quite frequently during the period when the milk teeth are being lost and the permanent teeth are coming in.

An honest dentist will make no exorbitant charges or attempt to do work that is unnecessary. On the other hand, by keeping the teeth clean, filling small cavities when they first appear, correcting any malformation of the teeth and giving advice as to suitable mouth washes and other treatment when abnormal conditions are present, a positive saving in future dentist's bills will be effected; toothache and the pain of pulling teeth and other dental work will be avoided, and the teeth themselves will be, as a rule, preserved intact with all of the attendant benefits.