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BABY TEETH
Should Not Be Neglected—Why?
Issued by
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
R. M. Olin, M. D., Commissioner
Lansing
BABY TEETH
Physicians tell us today that care of
the baby teeth is just as important as of
the permanent ones because bad baby teeth
often cause diseased tonsils, enlarged
glands, earache, a bad heart, kidney or
other trouble that may last through life,
or even shorten life. Infected baby teeth
lower vitality and resistance to disease,
and cause dull listless children, poor
school work, and sometimes failure to
pass grades.
Start taking your child to a good den-
tist at two and one-half or three years of
age. Even four years may be too late, as
frequent abscessed baby teeth at this age
testify.
Do Not *Leave Them. Alone”
Unfortunately, too many dentists do
not like to work for children. They will
not fill baby teeth or extract aching or
abscessed baby teeth, and will tell you to
“leave them alone.”
IBut, if your child had abscesses on the
arms or legs or chest which you had to
bandage, and your doctor said to leave
7.2. St. Cº-
ºr.-, 36
them alone and made no attempt to cure
them, you would hunt up another doctor,
wouldn't you? I)o the same with your
dentist.
Bad baby teeth should either be filled or
extracted. They may be past aching, and
you cannot see the oozing, but it is worse
running down the throat than outside in
a bandage.
Visit Your Dentist Early
Remember, the teeth often come through
with tiny holes in them too small for you
to see, little defects in the enamel which
can be filled so easily in the beginning.
Going to a good dentist early is the
economical thing to do and the only safe
thing to do. It is easy to start a child
when the work is simple. Tell him that
the dentist prevents pain if only given a
chance early enough.
Children showing a marked tendency to
dental decay should have a thorough ex-
amination by a good physician with
special reference to general nutrition.
Diet is Important
Diet is very important in producing
good teeth. Mother's milk is by far the
best food for the baby, but even that may
be lacking in certain necessary qualities if
the mother is not well or is not choosing
the right foods herself. When breast feed-
ing has to be supplemented, or a substi-
tute found, be sure to consult your doctor.
Many “baby foods” or condensed inilk
products are almost entirely lacking in
minerals. They may produce fat babies,
but the bones and teeth will be poorly
formed. Be sure that your baby has the
right food to build good bones and teeth.
The first baby tooth comes in at about
six months and the whole set of twenty is
usually complete at two and one-half to
three years of age. The habit of brushing
the teeth with a small brush after break-
fast and before going to bed should be
formed as soon as the entire baby set has
erupted.
Prevent Facial Deformities
Even the 'permanent teeth may be de-
formed by sickness during the early years
of the child's life. That scarred, rough
and unsightly appearance sometimes seen
in the permanent teeth that come through
at six or eight years of age, was probably
caused by disease during the first few
months or years. The enamel is forming
on the crowns then, and disease may pit
and scar it to show up years later when
the teeth come through. Keep the baby
away from exposure to any communicable
disease.
I}o not allow the baby to have a “paci-
fier,” and stop any habit of thumb or
ſinger sucking as these may permanently
deform the face and teeth.
Remember!
IBaby teeth are important!
I'revent infection by having them ex-
amined early and filled when necessary.
Guard the baby from exposure to com-
municable diseases.
l'revent deforming habits.
Iłuild good teeth with proper food.
("andy spuringly, never between meals.
UNIVERSITY OF MICH
III.iii.
3 9015 | 9
UPPER
Refleced by Permanent teeth
dt following ages-
7-eyrs. —s
37
e-eyes —
Gyr rinolar — <-5-6 yrs.
&nd rºoter tº 4–12–4 yrs
3rd molar (3) (-ſ(e- yrs
wisdown t t
WHICH DO NOT Yºr
REPLACE BABY. Tº ETH APPEARANCE
3rd relar
ot- 6 -
was dorn tool © *: &- | yrs.
2nd relar, $. PE R N1A NENT º *—12-14yrs.
* T E. Erl#
{– 5-6 yrs.
Replaced by Permanent teeth
at above ages-
LOWER
All baby teeth are in by the end of the third year.
The first permanent tooth is the sixth year rnolar