SAVING THE BABIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18629, 26 July 1930, Page 15

SAVING THE BABIES

(By HYGEIA). THE STORY OF THE TEETH. (•Conclusion.) The last point upon which I want to touch with you is the question of decay. It may be easier to understand this matter if we consider one other fact about the structuie and composition of the teeth. The ivory and even the intensely hard enamel of the teeth are made up of two entirely different substances — namely, a kind of gristle on the one hand and salts of lime on the other. This can be shown in a very simple 1 way. If a tooth is placed in a strong fire it becomes perfectly brittle and ; readily breaks down into a powder like lime. If a tooth is placed for some 1 time in vinegar the lime salts will be entirely dissolved out, and a tough structure, identical in form with the tooth, will remain—a soft, indiarubberlike tooth. If the enamelling of the crown of a tooth is thoroughly sound and hard no ordinary acid, acting for a short time, can soften and spoil it by dissolving out the lime salts: but certain microbes, which warm in particles of food kept warm and moist for a considerable time (as is liable to occur where sticky food accumulates between the teeth or in crevices in the back teeth), have the power of forming acid from sugar or starch which is capable of insidiously robbing the enamel of its lime. The soft eiaterial which remains after acid has dissolved the lime out of the enamel of the tooth has no power of resisting inroads of microbes, and once they have been established in a tiny pit or cave they can scarcely be dislodged, and naturally they are kept well supplied with food particles, which would be washed away by the saliva if on any open surface. Once the microbes have made their way through the enamel they swarm along the course of the ivory fibres, continuing to produce acid, and thus the softening process may be comparatively rapid. Other microbes digest the soft tissue which remains, and j thus a growing cavity is formed which j undermines the most resisting shell of j enamel. This is how an innocentlooking black speck, neglected because | it appears to be insignificant may be j found to lead into a spacious cavity j underneath—a cavity which may have j broken into the normal and natural “pulp cavity” of the tooth, and become too far gone to stop before a dentist is consulted. If the process of destruction, decay, and inflammation is allowed to travel down the pulp cavity, the foul material, crowded with microbes, may no longer be able to find a ready enough means of discharge into the mouth ! through the original opening, but will burrow its way down through the socket and appear under the gums as a “gum boil.” All these troubles could be prevented, even where the teeth have been badly formed, by keeping regularly in touch with a good dentist. From the above description it will be realised that only a dentist, having technical knowledge and skill and equipped with the necessary reflectors and probes, can possibly ascertain the presence of every manifestation of decay of the teeth, even though it should be fairly advanced and possibly too far gone for stopping. This is particularly so in the case of molars, which are the most valuable of all the teeth. The saving in money, health, and efficiency would be enormous if people would make it an absolute rule to take their children to the dentist at least every four months. Watch for the Six-year-old Molars. It is most important to realise that the teeth come up behind the last of the baby teeth, at about six years of age, are the first of the permanent set. Every possible care should be taken of these teeth. They are, as it were, the keystones of the permanent arches, and early loss of even one causes more or less' irregularity and falling out of place of all the back teeth on that side. Besides this one has to remember that these four teeth work in pairs as grinders, and if one is lost the grinding power of the corresponding tooth in the other jaw is lost—a grave misfortune and a permanent handicap. The first sign of decay in these teeth should be attended to. Do not allow extraction of these teeth unless they are already so extensively decayed as to be impossible of repair. Cleaning the Teeth. The teeth should be brushed night and morning; but reriiember that the toothbrush may in itself be a menace to health. It should be well rinsed after use, and always hung up and kept dry where it can be reached by

sun and air. Common salt, baking soda, or a fruit acid mouth wash are the best dentifrices for children, and the brushing should be done with an up-and-down stroke as well as along the surfaces and crowns. Just as important as the brushing of the teeth is the rinsing of the mouth with clean water or weak salt and water. Children should early be taught to repeatedly rinse and swish the water through and between the teeth and then spit it out as a routine part of the process of “cleaning the teeth.” At the same time never forget the importance of the diet in the preservation of the teeth and remember the “apple rule.”

Sound, Healthy Teeth Resist Decay Weak, Unhealthy Teeth Invite It.

The body may be pictured as guarded at its entrance by a threshold. All the ills of childhood are waiting outside the door to slip in over the threshold if it is lowered, but they the unable to get in if it is kept high. Poor development of the jaws, decay of the teeth, and other unhealthy mouth conditions are signs that the threshold has been lowered—they let in trouble.

Adequate diet, sunshine and fresh air, steep, exercise, a happy environment, and proper periodcal supervision throughout childhood will keep the protecting threshold so high that, with the occasional help of the dentist, sound teetjh may be assured for our children and last through life.