OUR BABIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4898, 18 June 1918, Page 6

OUR BABIES.

(By “Hygelsf.”) “It is wiser to put up a fence at tho top of a precipice' than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” Published under tho auspices of tho Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children SCHOOL DENTAL EDUCATION. Mr Milner’s Article. THE DUTY OF TEACHERS. Teachers should make tlieir pupils- thoroughly realise the necessity of oral hygiene. Dental caries ,is entirely due to outside agents. The moutli is an ideal hatching clamber for bacterial growth. Professor Miller has separated out over 100 different forms of micro-organisms which flourish in th© mouth, and it has been estimated that of these we have cm ..the average five millions each. Particles of starchy food caught in the interstices of the teeth undergo acid fermentation owing to the rapid development of the bacteria wh’ch batten cn them. The resultant acid of decay attacks and decalcifies the minute rods of which the enamel cf the teeth composed. As the hard lime salts melt away before the acid, it penetrates into the dfentine below, liquefying and discolouring it, and continuing its baneful work until the pulp cavity is readied and infected. It must be emphasised that when the pulp cavity is reached the most suitable time for stopping has gone. Any schoolmaster may recognise this stage of septic nfecton in children as evidenced by foetid breath, sallow complexion, and general debility. A hideous train of disaster is the direct result of infection of the pulp chamber. The pus which collects there, owing to the pressure of fermentation must finf]! an outlet along the line of least resistance. Hence after d’ffnsion into the tooth socket, it c! is charges through the gum into" the mouth as a gum boil. This sept-’c infection then mixes with the saliva and is swallowed and may cause severe Intestinal trouble, including appendicitis.

AN IMPORTANT PHASE One point of importance that should not be forgotten that the first permanent molars appear at six years of age before the temporary incisors disappear. These first permanent teeth are frequently mistaken for temporary teeth, and are allowed to become hopelessly decayed beforb advice is sought. Then, again, the growth of wrongly through the detention of temporary teeth. If the first set of teethare kept from decay, nature provides for the absorption of tlieir roots at the proper time, but if their pulp cavities* become infected their roots are not absorbed and the teeth remain to obstruct the growth of their permanent successors. • Again, as the permanent canies are set very deep down in tlieir crypts in the jaw it is necessary for the temporary canines to be retained for tbeid due time, otherwise the space for their s”cc:'ssors is not kept open, and the bicuspids then force tile permanent canines out obliquely through the gums. Tic’s lack of alignment often causes a hideous tusk-like disfigurement. Edducation "on these ponts can do a lot to safeguard children’s teeth. RIGID IMPERATIVE. Above all the necessity of rigid cleanliness must be insisted upon. There is no reason why primary s'hool children should not be taught a. 1 oothbmsli drill. The children, must grasp the necessity of having clean teeth. The teeth should he carefully e’eaned after each meah and especially just before going to hed. If only one application of the brush a days can he secured, let that he the last thing of the day before retirement, tobed. If such am germiicde as Ivolvn n s cannot he afforded. some precip : tated ehaulk will be found a cheap and effective dentifr’ce. The eating of chocolate, sweets, soft b’scirt®, or indeed any farinaceous food just before bed-time, unless followed by rigorous •application of the tooth-brush, is fatal. On the other hand, app’es exercise a wonderfully cleansing effect la the actual brushing care must be taken that every surface nf the teeth receives attention. 'Effective work can bo done only if the brush is swept frfom the gums to the cutting edge of the teeth so as to dislodge all particles of food resting in the interstices. A good additional preventive of decay is the use of a strand of silk about eight or 10 inches long for passing to and fro between the teeth, sav once a week. This requires some digital dexterity for its men mi’ation, but will be found to repay the trouble handsomely. Any -teacher /who makes itviliis duty to insist on -the dental cleanliness of his pupils wll confer on the young generation lasting physical advantages, sweeten the atmosphere of by class-room, reduce nervous irritability, and by hs example help towards the e'taldshment of p"oper dentai inspection e the institution of proper denta] cl'n'cs for our schools.