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Dental Health Guide This article is the text, in part, of a pamph- let published by the Canadian Dental Assoâ€" ciation. 234 Sr. George 51., Toronto, for free distribution. Good teeth are important for four reasons: They are necessary for good health. Good looking teeth are an asset to good appearance. They are necessary for mastication. They assist in speech. Foundation Teeth Nature has given Us two sets of teeth, foundation (or baby) teeth, and secondary teeth. There are twenty-foundation teeth. They are partly formed before the child is born. They begin to appear when the baby is about six months old, and usually are erupted at two and one-half years. Normally, they are all lost by the age of twelve Because the founda- tion teeth have important duties to perform during the first twelve years of life, they should have the best attention and care. They should not be considered as temporary teeth but as foundation teeth; and the last four molars to erupt, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw are perhaps the most important teeth of this set, as they guide and hold the four “6th year molars" to their proper posiâ€" tion in the mouth. The foundation teeth should be preserVed in health until the secondary teeth are ready to erupt: For thorough chewing of food; to help guide the secondary teeth into position; to aid in normal gnaw development; to pre- vent irregularity of the secondary teeth. Secondary Teeth Normally, there are thirtyâ€"two secondary teeth The earliest of the secondary teeth to erupt are the first so-called permanent molars. They usually appear between the fifth and seventh year. Hence, they are frequently called the “Sixth-year molars.” They erupt immediately behind the last baby teeth and frequently are mistaken for baby teeth. These four “six-year molars," two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw are exceedingly valu- able and very often neglected. The loss of even one of the earliest sec- ondary or “sixth-year molars” may cause the other teeth to shift their positions; which may destroy the natural form of the face and even the good appearance of the child. The first 30 secondary molars should be examined by a dentist just as soon as they erupt in“. Ihe mouth, and they, as well as all of the ,vhm soâ€"called permanent teeth, should be prCsIut'ed throughout life, if proper care is taken. Early and Regular Care The child should be taken to the d- N soon after all the baby teeth have app, id. at about the age of two and one-half or CC years, and thereafter at least twice :1 ye or more often, for dental examination. ll . ,t is found early, the dentist can remove it it} little or no pain and fill the cavity while 1, small, and thus preserve the tooth. If treatment is delayed, decay prog, .‘ toward the pulp (nerve) in the centre 0 [- tooth, causing more pain and later leadn 0 an abscess and sometimes illness. The mouth is an ideal place for the g . ing of disease germs as it has the temr .A ture, moisture and food material needtal -r their growth. The cleaner the surfaces Oi , teeth can be kept, the less inviting they at i germs. The grooves on the chewing suri of the teeth. the surfaces between the l and also the surfaces near the gum mu . require special brushing, because food 1 germs are easily retained in these places. cay usually begins there. The teeth should be thoroughly bro i after each meal, or at least every night fore going to bed and every morning breakfast, and the mouth should be thorou rinsed with warm water. Children should a small toothbrush and adults should use of medium size. The cleansing agents ‘. may be tooth powder, tooth paste, pulveri salt or salt water, baking soda or water, recommended by your dentist. Dentitr should not contain harmful or objections ingredients. Take the child to the dentist before comforting operations are necessary. T will prevent fear of the dental office and ens: the dentist to make friends with the child Decay, or Caries Dental caries is the technical term for to: decay. The actual causes of dental decay as yet unknown. Mest studies on this subjt seem to indicate that decay of the enamel a. dentin is caused by the action of mm germs (bacteria) upon certain foods, prif pally sweets, when left on the teeth. This t tion produces acids which destroy the eman- and dentin of the teeth and, if continued wit out interference, will cause the death of ll' pulp (nerve). Poisons from the infected pu may cause an abscess to form at the end the tooth root. (Continued on page 35) HOME AND COUNTF’I'