What We Should Know About Milk Teeth

...Important thoughts which mothers would do well to know and to heed. Dr. Ohannes Sarayian, the writer of this article, is a member of the dentists' syndicate.

Milk teeth usually begin to appear in the child's mouth after the sixth month of age; but the formation of these teeth in the jaw begins even months before the child's birth. Hence the mother's responsibility obliges her to drink plenty of milk and to eat foods rich in lime throughout her pregnancy, so as to establish in her unborn child a sturdy bony frame and, consequently, sound teeth.

We do not deny here the importance of heredity in what concerns the strength or weakness of the teeth; but the mother's period of pregnancy has an important effect on the future of the teeth and the measure of their soundness.

Most mothers believe that every cause of fever in a child goes back to "teething," and this is one of the greatest errors current in our women's circles. The doctors say in this regard: natural teething should not be accompanied by high fever, except in certain cases when the temperature rises a little or intestinal disturbances occur. For a high fever, another cause must be sought, other than teething.

The formation of the milk teeth in the child's mouth is complete at the age of three, and their number is twenty. As for the permanent teeth, which take the place of the milk teeth after the shedding, their number is... 32.

The shedding of the milk teeth begins after the sixth year from the child's birth and ends at twelve; and in this period the wise mother should take great care over her child's food, making sure that it is rich in lime, vitamins, and iron — and that the food the children take at this age is not soft, but firm, requiring chewing, to train the teeth and gums in strength and hardness.

And in speaking of the importance of food in the formation of the teeth, we must not overlook the great benefit of nursing. Know, madam, that nothing whatever can secure the soundness of your child's teeth like his taking your own milk in the first year of his life; so do not let some silly excuse of modern civilization

deprive your child of the delight of enjoying your milk, for it is the wondrous elixir that protects his teeth and protects his body in general against many deadly diseases.

Every mother knows by her instinct the importance of nursing, and what this period means for her and for her child together. It is the most sacred hour in a mother's life — an hour in which she gives her child of her heart and of her body, to prepare for him growth and life...

It is a common error among us to neglect the care of our children's milk teeth, and visits to the dentist, on the supposition that these teeth will soon fall out and there is therefore no need for us to treat them...

The truth is that upon the soundness of the teeth depend the quantity of food the child takes, the quality of his digestion, and consequently his general health. The child who complains of toothache cannot take full meals, nor can his stomach properly digest food that is not well chewed because of these pains; therefore treating the child's teeth early is among the mother's most important duties of all.

Then there are the molars that appear at the age of six at the back of the jaw, behind the milk teeth; the special care they require is neglected, on the assumption that they belong to the milk teeth — whereas the truth is that these molars are among the permanent teeth that are never replaced; hence attention must be given to the matter of these molars, watching over them and making sure of their soundness.

And it is very necessary that mothers cooperate with the dentist in what concerns children's teeth. This requires regular visits, the most important of them before the opening of the schools, to make sure the children begin their school life sound of body and sound of teeth, so as to obtain the best results.

Our regular visits — we mothers — to the dentist, our cooperation with him, and our consulting him on everything that befalls our children's teeth — all this is among our most important duties as conscious mothers, who appreciate our responsibilities at their true worth, and who are careful of our children's soundness and happiness.