HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16876, 25 October 1920, Page 7

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE TEETH. CPnblished under the authority of the Education Department.) It is the object of this article to correct some erroneous opinions prevalent amongst parents concerning children's teeth. Jt rs commonly assumed that the first sot of teeth are of little importance ns they are replaced late.r by the second sot, and also that it is necessary for them to decay in order to make room tor tho permanent set. On the contrary the first wot. aro relatively more important. They aro in use during a period of life when growth is active and the constitution is being built up, when healthy nutrition and adequate mastication in a clean month aro so essential. It is more important to have a complete sound set ot teeth during,this period than at any other in tho life'of the individual. Mature’s method is that each tooth of tho first sot gradually loses its roots, which aro absorbed by tho pressure of the permanent tooth coming up beneath it. The first tooth being left without a root becomes loose and painlessly shells off tho gum. 'When these teeth decay early their roots, not being absorbed in this way, extraction may bo necessary. It is unnatural for tho first teeth to decay. That they do ro is in a largo measure duo to tho errors of diet, which have been set forth in previous articles of this series. When they do decay tlmy should receive careful attention from a dentist. A third error —and one of serious consoqnenco—is that tho four large grinder or molar teeth, which come through at about six years of age, aro temporary tooth, and belong to tho first set. They arc, in consequence, frequently neglect, od and allowed to decay, in tho belief that they will soon Tie replaced hy others. Tho first sot of teeth, ten in each jaw, have all come through hy tho age of two years, or a little later. I’ltoso largo grinders of which wo speak appear one at each side behind tho first sot in each jaw. They do not displace any of tho teeth of the first sot. They come through about tho same time as the front teeth of tho first set are coming out. They take tho brunt “tof tho work of mastication and act as buttresses or outposts in the developing jaw while the teeth of the first sot are being shed and replaced by their successors. The importance of taking every precaution to preserve these sixth year permanent grinders cannot bo over-estimated