BABY’S TEETH

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 3, Issue 1, 1 July 1924, Page 51

BABY’S TEETH

"I'HE advent of baby's first tooth is, of course, an occasion of great excitement and rejoicing— on the part of everyone except Baby! But it should be understood that it is also a little hint on the part of Nature that the time has come for the introduction of certain additions to his hitherto practically exclusively fluid dietary. If his little teeth and jaws are to develop properly, they must have exercise, and if his diet does not give this exercise, Nature has a way of soon enforcing the inevitable penalty of weakly, ill-formed, and often carious teeth. A Valuable Lesson One can learn a great deal about the proper method of securing healthy teeth by studying one's household animals. Why is it that the ordinary dog (who never uses a tooth brush!) has a perfect set of teeth, where his pampered, delicately-reared brother almost invariably is the victim of decayed teeth and pyorrhoea? The reason is that, the former gets hold of a hard bone and thoroughly exercises, scrubs and cleanses his teeth on it in a way that no amount of brushing can accomplish; whereas the latter, with his rich, pappy diet, always has on his teeth a deposit upon which germs can multiply, and quite unhindered bring about the inevitable damage. Regular brushing is necessary, but of far greater importance is it to close each one of baby's meals by the giving of a rusk or some hard toast or fresh fruit, all of which have the same scrubbing action on his teeth. Sweets at the close of, or between meals, are a particular danger, and should on no account be permitted. It is on the sugar that the germs producing decayed teeth thrive best, manufacturing the acid which gradually erodes the enamel and produces the decayed teeth that are such a distressing factor in the lives of many children. If Too Late If you have started this routine too late, and caries has appeared, remember that the tooth affected must be filled just the same as in the case of an adult. Even extraction must be undertaken if the tooth cannot he rendered absolutely comfortable and harmless by filling. It must be admitted that even with care teething may often be accompanied by fretfulness, and even great pain. Under such circumstances carefully selected sedatives may be given—though any of the so-called soothing mixtures containing opium must be avoided like the plague. The best, in my opinion, is antipyrine, which may be given in two-grain doses three times a day. Giving a little less food than usual and ordinary attention to his digestion whilst teething pains are on will soon give you once more a bright and happy little fellow, well on the way to displaying a perfect set of twenty teeth. M.F. ■0 0 o The Importance of Unbroken Sleep Nature has very wisely ordained that the first months of life of a healthy and normal infant should be principally an alternate routine of eating and sleeping. The wise mother sees that this system is carried out religiously. Baby can be trained to wake at regular intervals during the day for his food, and to sleep throughout the night without feeding. To establish this regularity may require a little patience and perseverance, for the baby may at first interpret the system in the opposite way, and deem that lie has only to wake and cry to be fed, a very different proposition from regular feeding followed by sleep. Sleep after feeding is vitally important for every baby, and it should be laid down immediately after food. Do not stay by the child's side, and certainly never.rock it. This good habit should continue for at least eight or nine months. Deep, undisturbed rest must be encouraged during the night. Modern opinion is very definite on the subject of no night feeding. Keep the room perfectly dark, and habit impresses a baby so quickly that the child soon learns that to awake in darkness is not to be associated with food. If at first the lesson is hard for the little one to learn, and it cries, give it a teaspoon of cold boiled water.