OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 52

OUR BABIES.

By Htgbia. Published under trie auspices el viie Royal New Zealand Society tar the Health a! Women and Children. "It Is wiser to put tip a fence at the top ol a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom."

SCHOOL DENTAL EDUCATION. Mb Milneb's Aeticle. (Concluded). The Dutz of Teachers. Teachers should make their pupils thoroughly realise tho necessity of oral hygiene. Dental caries is entirely duo to outside agents. Tho mouth is an ideal hatching chamber for bacterial growth. Professor Miller has separated out over 100 different forms of micro-organisms which flourish in the mouth, and it has been estimated that of these we have on 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 'which batten on them. The resultant acid of decay attacks and decalcifies the minute rods of which the enamel of the teeth is composed. As the hard lime salts melt away before the acid, it penetrates into the dentine below, liquefying and discolouring it, and continuing its baneful work until the pulp cavity is reached 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 stago of septic infection in children as evidenced by foetid breath, sallow complexion, and general debility. A hideous train of disaster is the direct result of infection of tho pulp chamber. The pus which collects there, owing to the pressure of fermentation, must find an outlet along the_ line of least resistance. Hence, after diffusion into the tooth socket, it discharges through the gum into the mouth as a gum boil. This septic infection then mixes with the saliva and is swallowed, and may cause severe intestinal trouble, including appendicitis. An iMroHTANT Phase. One point of importance that should not bo forgotten is 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 ai-e allowed to become hopelessly decayed before advice is sought. Then, again, the growth of permanent teeth is often directed wrongly through the retention of temporary teeth. If the first set of teeth are kept from decay, nature provides for the absorption of their roots at thG proper time, but if their pulp cavities become infected their roots are not absorbed and the teeth remain to obstruct tho growth of their permanent successors. Again, as tho permanent canines are set very deep down in thoir crypts in tho jaw it ia neceesavy for the temporary canines to be retained for their due time, otherwise the space for their successors is not kept open, and the bicuspids then foros the permanent canines out obliquely through the gums. This lack of alignment often causes _ a hideous tusk-like disfigurement. Education on tliese points can do a lot to safeguard children's teeth. Rigid Cleanliness Ihvkeative.

Abovo all tho necessity of rigid cleanliness must bo insisted upon. There is no reason why primarv school children should not bo taught a tooth-brush, drill. Tho children must grasp tho necessity of having clean mouths. 'The tooth should bo carefully cleaned after each moat, and especially just before going- to bod. If only ono application of the brush a day can be secured, let that bo the last thing of the dav before retirement to bed. If such a germicide as

Kolynos cannot bo afforded, some preclpf. fated chalk will be found a cheap and effective dentifrice. The rating of chocolate, sweets, soft or indeed any farinaceous food just before bed-time, unless followed by rigorous application of the toothbrush, is fatal. On the other hand, apples exercise a wonderfully cleans in g effect. In the actual brushing care must- be taken that every surface of the teeth receives attention. Effective work can be done only if the brush is swept from 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, say once a week. This requires so:ne digital dexterity for its manipulation, but will be found to renay the trouble handsomely. Any teacher who makes it his duty to ins : ?st on the dental cleanliness of his pupils will confer On the young generation lasting physical advantages, sweeten thr; atmosphere of his classroom, reduce nervous irritability, and by his example help towards the establishment of proper dental inspection and the institution of proper dental clinics for our schools.