OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 74

OUR BABIES.

Br Hvgeia.

Published under the auspices of Society for the Health of Women Children. ** It ia wiser to put up a fence at top of a precipice than to maintain ambulanco at the bottom.” th© and tb« an

LONDON, October 13. CHILDREN’S TEETH. (Continued.) Lost week I supplied a summary of some of the papers and demonstrations given at the Dental Section of the great International Medical Congress in London by distinguished dental authorities, showing how decayed tooth give rise to Consumption, Rheumatic Fever, and other grave diseases. It was agreed on all hands that even tho fringe of the great national problem of saving the teeth could not be satisfactorily dealt with until a HEALTH CONSCIENCE was aroused, and observance of tho simple rules of healthy living becomes general, especially in regard to the roaring of children. What national bad teeth means is well conveyed in the following Pall Mail Gazette summary of an address to Dr Sim Wallace, a leading authority on the subject: STARTLING FIGURES. Dental Diseases and the Public Health. A discussion of far-reaching importance that was down for this morning (August 9) was that of the relation of dental diseases to public health. Tho exhaustive report that was prepared under this heading by Dr J. Sim Wallace, honorary dental surgeon to the West .End Hospital for nervous diseases, contained startling figures: Number of teeth decayed or lost among 40,000,000 inhabitants of these islands, between 250,009,000 and 500,000,000. Estimating the value of a sound tooth compared with a diseased one at £l, the loss to tho nation from carious teeth alone is represented by hundreds of millions of pounds. Dr Sim Wallace helped us also to realise tho connection between diseased teeth and other and more serious diseases. "Dreadful!” lie described tho condition that has been revealed by the inspection of school children’s teeth, and, when con--sidered in relation to concomitant and consequent disease, it fills us, he said, with amazement immediate and strenuous efforts are not being made to remedy tho existing state of affairs. The following important short rules for the prevention of decay in teeth were suggested : For children up to two and a-half years of ago ail starchy or sugary food, except milk, should be given in a firm or fibrous form to stimulate mastication and promote the healthy growth of the jaws. Bread and rusks should never be soaked in milk. Bread with crust (and butter) and toasted bread (and butter) should form a considerable part of the meals. . . . If soft, starchy, or sugary food has been eaten, tho mouth and tooth can be cleansed by food of a detergent nature. Thus, fresh fruit shouffi be eaten after milk puddings, bread and jam, etc. Three meals a day are to be preferred to any greater number, as the longer tho interval the more hygienic is tho state of the mouth and stomach. Sweets, chocolate, or biscuit and milk should never bo taken between meals or before going to bed. Dr Harold Williams, an American delegate, described the method by which Boston hopes to cope with the problem through the ministrations of a dental infirmary which is now being built at a cost of £500,000. The institution will educate parents, nurses, and children in the importance of preserving the teeth, and the best means of preventing dental caries. THE SOCIETY’S RULES. Tho following rules are taken from tho ’Society’s book, “Feeding and Caro of Baby,” the now edition of which has just been issued in London by Macmillan and Company:— CARE OF TEETH,, The care of tho teeth is of supreme importance, and the following rules should be strictly attended to: 1. Do everything to maintain good health. (See “ What Every Baby Needs,” page 1.) Teeth are built out of blood. 2. To ensure good, sound wcllonamollod, lasting teeth, tho food and tho means of feeding must bo such as to compel ample exorcise for mouth and jaws throughout babyhood and childhood. “ Bring up a child in tho way ho should go, and when ho is old lie will not depart from it.” Tho habit of slow chewing once firmly established will tend to be maintained for life. 3. Tho composition of tho food must bo suitable—that is, adapted to the perfect building up of tho structures of tho body. 4. Avoid the use of long-tube feeder and dummy, and make sure that baby “works for his living.” 5. Give baby a bono to munch from six months onwards. This serves to promote tho development and growth of tho jaws and tcoth, and helps tho eruption of tho latter. After nine months give tough crusts, toast, etc. In tho second year a,nd omvaids a fair proportion of tho food should bo dry, firm, hard, or tough—e.g., crusts, crisped-broad, toast, and raw, ripe apple. (Soo “Tho Apple Rule,” page 143.) Later (when the child has been trained to masticate thoroughly), oat-cake, etc., may be given. (See “Farreaching Effects of Masticatory Exorcise,” page 146.) Tho exercise develops the jaws and teeth, and thus tends to prevent decay, overcrowding, and irregularity. 6. Teach hahy to chew his food vigorously and thoroughly, taking sufficient time over his meals. Don’t allow him to bolt any of his food, whether solid or liquid, but, on the other hand, don’t encourage mere dawdling. At the end of a well-chowed meal the jaws should bo comfortably tired, tho flow of saliva should be ceasing, and thex - o should bo a feeling of healthy satisfaction. This constitutes the normal chock against overeating, and ensures tho nutritive results from tho food tahen, while at the same time developing jaws and tcoth for future work. 7. Hard or tough food, if well chewed, helps to mako good teeth and to keep them sound; it also helps to cleanse thorn. This applies especially to raw, ripe apple,

and to all kina's of firm, fibrous fruits, and vegetables. 8. Soft foods cling to the teeth and tend to cause decay; therefore cakes, sweets, ordinary biscuits, chocolates, etc., should be avoided habitually and should on no account be given at bedtime. All decay commences on the outside of the teeth, never from within; it starts in crevices in the crowns, or between two teeth 9 The tongue is not primarily for “talking,” but is a “masticatory organ,” and should do a largo proportion of the work in eating—squeezing the moistened food put between the teeth and forcibly crushing it against the hard, roughened roof of the mouth. Further, it is practically a kind of tooth-brush which, if properly exercised and developed, does much to cleanse the mouth. A clean mouth ensures sweetness of breath. 10. The teeth should always bo brushed night and morning, all the surfaces being carefully "cleansed. The first, or temporary, teeth, as well as the permanent ones, should bo brushed and carefully watched for signs of decay. In any case, the child should bo taken to the dentist periodically if possible. If the first teeth* decay early there is poor chance for the second ones; but they may be saved by unremitting care and attention.