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••••••• ••••
• . • •• • - : * *. :••• •••• • ••*.
•.• . • ••• •
NEW-WORLD HEALTH READERS
Edited by John W. Ritchie
A CHILD'S
BOOK OF THE TEETH
BY
Harrison Wader Ferguson, D.D.S.
Illustrated by
the Author
1922
World Book Company
Yonkers-on-Hudson
New York
• • • t.
-• • •
WORLD BOOK COMPANY r>f ^
THE HOUSE OF APPLIED KNOWLEDGE ^
Established, 1905, by Caspar W. Hodgson *
yonkers-on-hudson, new york
2126 Prairie Avenue, Chicago
^ .1 »^^— . , — .. i _■ ■■— .
^ .i ^ ^^— . , — .. i _■ ■■— .
It is the purpose of this house to assist in
applying the knowledge gained through the
researches of specialists to the needs and
problems of mankind. Editor and publisher
take pleasure, therefore, in offering A Child? 8
Book of the Teeth as the first of a series
of New- World Health Readers for use in
the elementary grades
Bid them wash their faces
and keep their teeth clean.
Shakespeare's Coriolanus
nwhr: fcbt-7
Copyright, 1918, by World Book Company
Copyright in Great Britain
All rights reserved
/
* - - * * ■» „
.* - - « - J .-
PUEEAGE.
THe medical profession at large recognizes the fact that
the condition of the mouth has a most important influence
on the health of the child, and in public dental clinics and
in schools where the subject of mouth hygiene has been
introduced it is being demonstrated that sound teeth are
one of the greatest protections against disease.
By the work so far accomplished, it has been shown that
a clean mouth benefits a child's health, increases his pride in
his personal appearance, and makes him quicker to learn.
Everyday experience has taught us, moreover, that the ner-
vousness caused by an ailing tooth prevents concentration
on school work. Oral hygiene is as important, therefore,
as any subject taught in our schools.
^yv' v We are all agreed on the importance of preserving the
J teeth of our children ; how to do this is the problem that
we must solve.
The author's experience with children, both in private
practice and in public dental clinics, has convinced him that
a right attitude of mind and pleasant associations are neces-
sary to make the proper care of the mouth a habit of daily
-I life. Unless the child has a knowledge of at least the simplest
facts regarding his teeth and has learned the importance of
keeping the teeth clean, he takes little or no interest in caring
for them. The mere repetition of an act through compul-
sion does not fix a habit unless the act is interesting, and it
is only by giving the child a knowledge of his teeth and by
making their care attractive and interesting that we shall
fix the habit of cleanliness in him.
By teaching prevention we must do away with the child's
[3]
506374
« •
• * * «
• • • •.
tooth troubles .and .thereby remove, its fear of the dentist.
How often havfc^the'teeth^beett tafglected because the child's
fear caused a visit to the dentist to be postponed ! Yet the
greater part of dental decay can be prevented by the proper
care of the mouth and teeth, and if the dentist is used in
the right way — if he is allowed to prevent trouble instead
of being asked to remedy it — there is no pain associated
with his work and the children regard him as a friend.
It is these considerations that have led to the preparation
of this little book, which is meant to appeal directly to the
child and to stimulate his interest in caring for his teeth.
The author has tried to set forth a few facts of a scientific
subject in a simple, interesting manner, that the book may be
attractive to the child and be understood by him. He asks
the cooperation of teachers, that the work already started
in the schools may be furthered, and of parents, that it may
be taken up in the homes. The dental profession is con-
tributing generously of its time to the cause, and deserves
encouragement .
May this little book help the children of our generation
grow to maturity with clean mouths and sound teeth,
and may they spread the gospel of mouth cleanliness to the
generations that are to come.
[4]
CONTENTS :
» » * V ' » J • • •
* * • j * » » > a ••#• • • •
What Teeth Abe 7
Why You Need Teeth 10
How Your Teeth Do Their Work . • . .16
Your First or Baby Teeth 18
Why You Should Take Good Care op Your Baby Teeth 20
How and Why You Lose Your Baby Teeth . . 24
Your Six-Year Molars 26
Your Second or Permanent Teeth .... 80
Your Wisdom Teeth 82
Why You Ought to Keep Your Mouth and Teeth Clean 34
The Right Way to Brush Your Teeth ... 86
A Toothbrush Drill . . . .. . .44
How to Take Care op Your Toothbrush ... 46
Tooth Powders, Pastes, and Mouth Washes . . 48
How to Keep a Record of Your Teeth and Stop Tooth
Troubles 50
How a Hole or Cavity Forms in a Tooth ... 52
Why a Tooth Aches 56
Why Some Teeth Are Crooked 58
Nicknames That Teeth Have 60
Some Things to Remember • 62
[5]
(To the tune of "Yankee Doodle")
Grinder men are marching on
Well armed with paste and powder,
To brush the realm of toothland clean
And sound the warning louder.
Grinder men are marching on.
Oh, heed their words of warning !
Be a soldier for the cause,
Brush noon and night and morning.
[6]
WHAT TEETH ARE . ..,....].
Your teeth are hard, white, bonelike bodies placed
in your upper and lower jaws.
They cut and grind your food.
They help you to talk.
They give form to your face.
Figure 2 shows the shape of a lower molar or back
tooth.
A tooth has three parts, as you see in the picture.
The crown is that part of the tooth seen in the mouth.
It is covered with white enamel.
The root is that part of the tooth, underneath the
gums, which holds the tooth in the jaw.
The neck is the line where the crown and the root
meet, at the edge of the gums.
m
Figure 3
Figure 3 is the same tooth cut in half to show how
it is formed.
The enamel covers the crown of the tooth, and under
the enamel is the body of the tooth.
The body of the tooth is made of a material called
dentine.
The dentine has a canal or hole running through
it.
The canal holds the tooth pulp.
In the tooth pulp are blood vessels that bring nourish-
ment to the tooth.
It also has in it nerves through which you feel when
. you have a toothache.
The root has a thin covering of a bonelike material
called cementum.
There is a little hole in the end of the root where the
nerves and the blood vessels enter the tooth.
[8]
" /?j]SgBG£B£BSB5ES
Figure 4. Enamel prisms
The enamel which
covers and protects
the crown of the tooth
is a hard, white, brit-
tle substance made
up of small six-sided
prisms. It is brittle
like glass.
If you bite into very
hard candy or crack
nuts with your teeth, you may crush some of these
little prisms.
The little hole left by the broken prisms will hold
food and cause the tooth to decay if it is not cleaned
out and filled by a dentist.
Dentine is a dense white substance softer than the
enamel.
When exposed to the fluids of the mouth, dentine
decays more easily than
does enamel.
Dentine is very much
like the ivory of an ele-
phant's tusk. The ele-
phant's tusks keep on
growing like finger nails;
but if the enamel and
dentine on your teeth
are once destroyed, they
are never replaced.
[»]
WHY YOU NEED TEETH
Did you ever hear a person talk who had lost all his
teeth ? Could you understand what he said ?
How important the teeth are in helping you to talk !
How did you like the way that person looked with
his face sunken in ?
Should you like to have your face look like this ?
Your teeth help to form your face.
They make you look young or old.
People who lose them look old.
How should you eat if you did not have any teeth ?
[10]
Think of that the next time you are good and hungry.
You must have food with which to nourish your body.
Your food is both solid and liquid.
You must have something with which to cut and
grind the solid part before it enters your stomach.
Your teeth are for that purpose 1 '
Your teeth are to cut your food.
See how different the old gentleman looks with teeth.
Figure 7
Be sure to chew your food before you swallow it.
Man and animals eat many kinds of foods. They
need different kinds of teeth with which to chew
them.
in]
Figure 8 shows the
sharp, pointed teeth of
the dog.
Even his back teeth
or molars are pointed.
His jaws work up and
down like a pair of
His teeth tear apart his food and crack bones.
There are fluids in his stomach which dissolve his
food.
Figure 10 shows the long, sharp teeth of the tiger.
Figure 9
[12]
The tiger's jaws work
up and down like the
dog's.
The tiger lives on the
flesh of animals and needs
only to tear his food apart
and crack up bones.
The tiger's long, sharp
front teeth, and his claws,
are used to catch and kill
other animals.
Figure 11
[18]
Figure 12 shows a molar or back tooth
of a horse. You see that it is very large
and strong.
The horse's food is made up of grains,
grass, and hay.
These foods have to be crushed and
ground up fine.
The horse's jaws work from side to
side.
Figure 18
The horse's front
teeth act like a mow-
ing machine and cut
down the grass and
His big back teeth
grind the grass up
fine so that he can
swallow it.
The broad, fiat sur-
faces of his teeth glide
over each other as he
grinds his food.
His teeth work like
millstones when they
grind up wheat into
flour.
Figure 14 shows a broad,
flat molar tooth of an ele-
phant.
The elephant also lives on
leaves, hay, and fruit.
This kind of food has to be
crushed and ground.
Your food is both animal Figure u
and vegetable, and so you need
both kinds of teeth with which to cut and grind it.
Don't you think your teeth ahe worth taking
CAHE OF ?
Figure 15
[15]
HOW YOUR TEETH DO THEIR WORK
Figure 16
Figure 17
Each tooth has its own work to do in the cutting
and grinding of the food.
Each tooth is so shaped that it can do its work.
That is why your teeth are of
different shapes and sizes.
Your front or incisor teeth have
thin biting edges (Fig. 16).
When your upper and lower teeth
come together, they cut off the
food.
They cut much as a pair of scissors
cuts.
The squirrels have very sharp front
teeth so that they can cut open
the hard shells of nuts.
The beavers can cut down trees with their front
teeth.
When the teeth of these little animals wear
down, they keep on growing like finger nails.
Your cuspid teeth are at the corners of your
mouth (Fig. 18).
They act as guides and prevent your jaws
from going too far to the side when you chew.
They also help to separate the food into
shreds.
These are the teeth that grow into the long
tusks of a dog or tiger.
[16]
Figure 18
Your side or bicuspid teeth have
double-pointed ends (Fig. 10).
They tear apart the food and
crack up hard, brittle food.
They work much the same as
a nutcracker.
Your back or molar teeth have
broad, biting, crushing sur-
Figure 19 faces (Fig. 21).
They are the grinders. Figure «o
They crush and grind your
food.
They work like millstones.
Chew tour food thorough-
ly. Your teeth were made
FOR USE.
The more you use your teeth
Figure u m . dewing the stronger they Iigm u
will become, but
Don't use tour teeth for a nutcracker.
Figure 23. How your teeth come together to cut and grind your food
[17]
YOUR FIRST OR BABY TEETH
LUWfcK
Figure 24
[18]
THEIR NAMES, PLACES IN THE MOUTH, AND
WHEN THEY APPEAR
The first or baby teeth are twenty in number, ten
in the upper jaw and ten in the lower jaw.
In Figure 24 each kind of tooth has a number on it.
The names of these kinds of teeth are as follows :
1. Central incisors.
2. Lateral incisors.
3. Cuspids.
4. First molars.
5. Second molars.
These teeth appear in the following order :
The four central incisors between the 5th and 8th
months. >
The four lateral incisors between the 6th and 10 th
months.
The four first molars be-
tween the 11th and 16th
months.
The four cuspids between the
14th and 20th months.
The four second molars be-
tween the 20th and 36th
months.
The lower teeth usually ap-
pear a few weeks earlier than
the corresponding upper teeth.
[19]
Figure 25. First arrivals
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE GOOD CARE OF
YOUR BABY TEETH
You have twenty little baby teeth. These will chew
your food until you grow big enough for your larger
or permanent teeth.
The baby teeth act as pathfinders for your perma-
nent teeth. They form a roadway for your permanent
teeth, and guide them into their proper places.
The permanent teeth form at the roots of the baby
teeth and grow into their places.
The baby teeth ought to be kept until they loosen
naturally and are pushed out of your gums by the per-
manent ones.
To keep your baby teeth until it is time for them to
come out, you must give them the best of care.
They ought to be brushed after each meal and before
you go to bed at night
You ought to be taken to the dentist every three months 9
even before all your baby teeth have come in.
The dentist can stop any decay that starts and can
see that the baby teeth come in their proper places.
All this is very important, for this care will prevent
any tooth troubles.
You need then have no fear of the dentist, for what
LITTLE WORK HE MAY HAVE TO DO WILL NOT HURT YOU !
By brushing your teeth and keeping them clean, and
by having the dentist clean them and care for them
often, you will keep holes from forming.
[20]
By preventing your tooth troubles in this way, you also
avoid a greater expense in having your teeth filled later.
You will escape toothache, and you will have strong,
sound second teeth.
Your mouth will be clean, and you can chew
your food as it ought to be chewed.
' It is a bad thing to lose any of your baby teeth be-
fore the proper time, because then your big permanent
teeth will not have room to come through the gums
into their proper places.
When a little tooth is taken out, the jaw shrinks
and tries to close up the space that is left.
Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 26 shows the space that is left when a front
baby tooth has been taken out.
Figure 27 shows what happens later.
See how the jaw shrinks and tries to close the space.
This narrows the jaw, and when the large permanent
teeth which are forming in the jaw above try to come
down into their proper places, they do not have room
enough. Then one or more of them are crowded out
of line and become "crooked teeth."
It is most important of all to keep your baby molars
until your six-year molars are in their proper places.
[21]
The six-year molars are the first teeth of the second
or permanent teeth to come through the gums.
Their proper place is just behind your baby molars.
If you lose your baby molars too early, (he six-year
molars will push forward into the space left by the baby
molars.
This will crowd some of your other permanent teeth
out of line when they come through the gums.
Figure 28 shows a lower baby cuspid and a molar
tooth in their proper places. It also shows the space
left by the second baby molar that has been lost.
The six-year molar has come through the gums.
See how the six-year molar has pushed forward into
the space left by the baby molar instead of coming
up straight into its proper place between the dotted
lines.
Now it does not leave enough space for the other
permanent teeth that come through in front of it.
[22]
Figure 29 shows one result
of losing the baby molar.
The second bicuspid did not
have room enough and has
been pushed out of its proper Figure 29
place.
Figure 30 shows another result of losing the baby
molar.
The bicuspid teeth were pushed forward by the six-year
molar into the space where the cuspid tooth should come in.
There was then no place for the cuspid tooth.
The roots of the teeth underneath it were in its path,
and it was forced to come in out of line.
Sometimes one or more baby teeth will remain in the
mouth longer than they should.
If baby teeth are kept in the mouth too long, they
sometimes prevent the second or permanent teeth from
coming through into their proper places.
Go TO YOUR DENTIST EVERT THREE MONTHS, AND
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR BABY TEETH.
[23]
HOW AND WHY YOU LOSE YOUR
BABY TEETH
When you are about three years old, all your baby
teeth are fully formed and in your mouth. Under-
neath your baby teeth other teeth are forming.
These other teeth are called your second or permanent
teeth.
They are the teeth you will use when you grow up.
As you grow older and your jaws become larger,
these second or permanent teeth keep on growing, too.
Soon they start on their journey to take the places left
by your baby teeth when their work is done.
As your second or permanent teeth grow larger,
your baby teeth must give way to make room for them.
So the roots of your baby teeth start to melt away as
ice melts into water.
When all the roots have
melted away, the baby teeth
become loose. Then they are
soon pushed out of your gums
by the second or permanent
teeth. These come through the
gums and take the places of the
baby teeth.
Be sure that the baby teeth are
in their proper places.
They are the guides for the
permanent teeth.
[24]
Figure 31
/ Figure 8£ shows an upper baby tooth and a second
or permanent bicuspid tooth growing in the jaw above
it.
Figure 88 shows the second or permanent tooth
partly formed ; as it grows larger it comes down toward
the roots of the baby tooth, causing them to melt away.
Figure 34 shows the second or permanent tooth
fully formed, ready to come through the gums. Below
it is the crown of the baby tooth.
With its roots all melted away, the baby tooth is
ready to drop out of the mouth.
In the lower jaw the same thing takes place, except
that the baby tooth is pushed up and out instead of
down and out.
Take good care of your baby teeth. Remember that
each one guides a second tooth into its place.
YOUR SIX-YEAR MOLARS
When you are nearly six years old, watch for your
first permanent molars.
These are the first teeth of the second set.
They are called six-year molars.
On each side of your mouth you will find them right
behind your last baby molars in both the upper and
lower jaws.
Keep the crowns of the
six-year molars perfectly
clean as soon as they
come through the gums.
They decay more easily
than your other teeth.
They have deep grooves Figure SS. Where to find the six-year
on the biting surfaces molare
which are liable to hold food particles.
These particles will cause decay in the tooth if not
brushed away.
Between the ages of six and ten, when the baby
teeth are being lost and the second teeth are coming
into their places, these six-year molars do most of the
work of chewing your food.
Watch for your six-year molars and keep them clean.
They are often thought to be baby teeth and are
allowed to decay.
The six-year molars are the largest and most important
teeth of your second or permanent set.
[26]
On the end of a railroad track we often find what
is called a "bumper."
The bumper keeps the cars from leaving the track.
Your six-year molars act as bumpers for your other
permanent teeth !
They cause the other teeth to stay on the track and
come into their proper places.
Your teeth will come in out of line if you lose your six-
year molars before the permanent teeth are in their proper
places I
This coming in out of line will change the form of your
face.
. Your teeth will not come together properly, and this
will make it harder for you to cut and grind your food.
Be sure to take good care of your baby molars. Try
to KEEP THEM UNTIL YOUR SIX- YEAR MOLARS ARE IN
THEIR PROPER PLACES.
u u — cnr
Figure 36
[27]
Figure 87
Figure 37 shows the result of losing a six-year molar
at an early age.
See how the second molar has tipped forward and
the second bicuspid has tipped backward, nearly filling
the space left by the six-year molar.
This causes the lower front teeth to settle back and
makes the upper front teeth appear to stick out.
Notice that the upper and
lower teeth do not meet as
they should.
This makes it difficult to
chew the food properly.
Figure 38 shows a side view
of the upper and lower front
teeth in proper position, and
the position they will take
if the six-year molars are _._^__
lost. Figure 38
[28]
Figure 89 shows the
profile of a young lady
eighteen years of age.
Her six-year molars
were kept in their proper
place. Her lips close easily
and the expression of her
face is natural.
Figure 30
Figure 40 shows the
result of losing the lower
six-year molars at an
early age.
Note the difference in
the lower part of the
face.
This causes a prominent
upper lip and changes the
expression of the face.
Figure 40
The six-year molars should never be taken out if it
is possible to save them.
Take good care of your six-year molars, or
your teeth will run off the track.
YOUR SECOND OR PERMANENT TEETH
\ \
UJW1SK
Figure 41
[30]
THEIR NAMES, PLACES IN THE MOUTH, AND
WHEN THEY APPEAR
1. Central incisors. 5. Second bicuspids.
2. Lateral incisors. 6. First molars.
3. Cuspids. 7. Second molars.
4. First bicuspids. 8. Third molars.
The second or permanent teeth are thirty-two in num-
ber, sixteen in the upper jaw and sixteen in the lower
jaw. These teeth appear in the following order :
The four first molars between the 5th and 6th years.
The two lower central incisors between the 6th and
7th years.
The two upper central incisors between the 7th and
8th years.
The four lateral incisors between the 7th and 9th
years.
The four first bicuspids between the 9th and 10th
years.
The four second bicuspids between the 10th and
12th years.
The four cuspids between the 11th and 13th years.
The four second molars between the 12th and 16 th
years.
The four third molars between the 17th and 21st
years or later.
The lower teeth usually appear a few months earlier
than the corresponding upper teeth.
[31]
y YOUR WISDOM TEETH
Any time after you are sixteen years old you may
look for your third molars to come through your gums.
These teeth are commonly called urisdom teeth.
They come in after all your other teeth are in your
mouth.
They are the teeth farthest back, right behind your
second molars.
\
Figure 42 shows a wisdom tooth in its proper position.
Sometimes they do not have room to come in prop-
erly and need special treatment by the dentist.
Figure 43 shows a wisdom tooth that did not have
room enough to come in as it should.
See how it has tipped forward and is held in that
position by the second molar.
[88]
Very often teeth of this kind cause pain and sore-
ness of the gums and have to be removed.
When the wisdom teeth do come in their proper
places, they are well worth taking care of and keeping.
Being so far back in your mouth, they are hard to keep
clean, so take extra good cahe of them.
Sometimes spaces are formed between the teeth when
the teeth are unusually small or the jaws are extra
large, or when one or more teeth have been lost.
When the wisdom teeth come in they push these
separated teeth close together.
This keeps the food from packing down between them.
If food packs between teeth and is not taken out,
it will cause the teeth to decay.
Sometimes when the second molar has been lost by
decay, the wisdom tooth comes forward and takes its
place and does good work for years.
You see these teeth are worth saving.
Be wise and keep yottb wisdom teeth clean !
\
Figure 44
[S3]
WHY YOU OUGHT TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH
AND TEETH CLEAN
Do you like to eat clean food ?
Do you like to eat food from clean dishes ?
Of course you do.
Then see that you put clean food into a clean
mouth.
You would not like to eat anything you knew was
dirty.
But your food becomes dirty the minute you put it into
a mouth that is not kept clean.
Your teeth cut and grind your food into a pulpy
mass.
This mass is mixed with your saliva.
If your teeth are not clean, if your teeth have holes
in them which hold decaying food, or if any of your
teeth are diseased, your saliva will be filled with germs !
Then food mixed with this dirty saliva is taken into
your stomach.
The germs from the teeth and the poisons they pro-
duce enter the blood and are carried through the body.
This is what causes a great deal of sickness !
If you do not keep your teeth in perfect order, or if
you do not brush your teeth after each meal and before
you go to bed at night, the food you swallow will be
dirty.
Do you like to smell a foul breath ?
Of course not.
[34]
Then see that no odor comes from your mouth !
By keeping your mouth and teeth clean,
(1) You save your baby teeth, which protect the
second teeth that are forming underneath them ;
(2) You keep the natural form of your face ;
(8) You keep your health ;
(4) You will have strong, healthy second teeth and
you will be free from toothache !
Remember that your teeth, by grinding your food,
help to nourish your body and make it possible for you
to live.
Brush your teeth after each meal and before you go
to bed at night.
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness !"
Help to make the world pleasanter to live in
by keeping your mouth and teeth clean.
Figure 45
[35]
THE RIGHT WAY TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH
Figure 10
There are spaces between your teeth which must be
kept clean.
Use a toothbrush with a notched edge like a saw.
Use a medium-sized brush with bristles of medium
stiffness.
It is better to have two brushes if possible.
By using one brush one day and the other brush the
next day, you will make your brushes last longer and
do better work.
[36]
Don't use your tooth-
powder BOX LIKE A SALT
SHAKER.
It wastes the powder !
Be sure that you put
THE POWDER ON YOUR
TOOTHBRUSH AND NOT IN
THE WASH BASIN !
You may use a small
amount of tooth paste if
you like that better, but
REMEMBER THAT THEJtfOST
IMPORTANT THING IS THE
BRUSHING !
If you have no paste or
powder, put a little salt in
a half glass of water and
brush your teeth with the
salty water.
[87]
Read carefully this page and the pages following it,
and look at the figures.
You will then know how to brush your teeth the
right way.
First look at Figure 50.
Now place your toothbrush between your cheek
and upper gum on the left side of your mouth.
Put it well back in your mouth with the bristles well
up on the gums, as you see it in Figure 50.
Now partly close the teeth.
With the brush well up on the gums as you see in
the picture, push your brush backward and downward
to the lower gums, then forward and upward, making a
complete circle.
[38]
Repeat this movement several times, and gradually
work around to the front teeth.
Then remove your brush and place it in the right
side of your mouth and repeat the movement.
This cleans the outside surfaces of your teeth and the
spaces between them.
Now brush the inside surfaces of your upper teeth.
So
sh
Be sure to brush the inside surfaces of the back teeth.
Your teeth will not be thoroughly cleaned unless you
brush all the surfaces of each tooth.
[39]
Now brush the inside surfaces of
ilace
Repeat the in-and-out move-
ment on tke lower teeth.
Brush as far back as you
can.
Learn to control your tongue
so that you can brush the in-
side surfaces of your lower '
back teeth.
[40]
Now brush the biting surfaces of your upper teeth,
where you chew your food.
Figure 61
Look at Figure 54 and place your brush in that
position.
Use an in-and-out movement. This cleans out the
pits and grooves.
Now brush the biting surfaces of your lower teeth.
Look at Figure 55 and place your brush in that
position.
Repeat the in-and-out movement.
Figure 5a
(41 1
Always brush your teeth for two minutes by the
clock.
After brushing your teeth thoroughly, take some
waxed dental floss if you have it and draw it carefully
between your teeth so as not to injure the gums.
This will remove any remaining food particles.
Or you may wash out your mouth with the mouth
wash mentioned on page 49.
Force the liquid in and out between your teeth with
your cheek muscles.
Wash out your brush and give it special attention
as explained on page 46.
Remember also that you cannot keep your teeth
PERFECTLY CLEAN UNLESS YOU HAVE THEM CLEANED
OFTEN BY THE DENTIST.
Figure 6ft
[«]
The dentist can remove little spots where decay
might start and can clean surfaces on your teeth that
you cannot reach with your toothbrush.
Here are some other directions :
Do not press too hard on the brush.
Do not brush your teeth crosswise the way you
would play a mouth organ.
It is a good plan to start brushing on the left side
of your mouth one morning and on the right side the
next morning. You know that when you are brushing
your teeth the powder washes off the brush. So if
you always begin brushing on the left side, the teeth
on that side will get the most powder.
If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, it
shows that the brushing of your teeth has been neg-
lected.
If you will brush them regularly several times a day,
the bleeding will stop and your gums will become hard
and pink.
Do not be afraid to brush your teeth four or five
times a day.
YOU CANNOT KEEP XOUR TEETH TOO CLEAN !
Figure 57
[481
A TOOTHBRUSH DRILL
Two or three children provided with toothbrushes, dentifrice,
cups of water, and a basin should demonstrate this drill before
the class. It is published by courtesy of Dr. Alfred C. Fones,
Bridgeport, Connecticut. This is the standard drill approved
for use in the public schools of New York City.
Attention! (All in line, elbows close to side with
brushes in right hand and cups in left.)
1. Ready — Dip ! * (Wet the toothbrush.)
2. Outside surfaces. (As instructed on page 38.)
Left side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Right side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Front — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
3. Inside surfaces. (See page 39.)
Upper left side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Upper right side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Upper front — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Lower left side — (See page 40.) 1-16 — Dip !
Lower right side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Lower front — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
4. Chewing surfaces. (See page 41.)
Upper left side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Upper right side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Lower left side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
Lower right side — ready — count 1-16 — Dip !
1 We do not recommend the dipping of the toothbrush in a cup of water several
times in the act of cleaning the teeth, but no doubt this is the best method that
can be employed in our schools at the present time. At home running water from
the tap should be used.
[44]
Figure 58
[45]
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR
TOOTHBRUSH
Next to keeping your teeth clean, the most impor-
tant thing is to keep your toothbrush clean.
It is not well to clean your teeth with a dirty brush.
If you do not give your brush careful attention, it
will be dirty !
After you have used the brush it becomes like a
tiny forest filled with queer littlQ things called germs.
Here is a good way to keep your toothbrush clean :
After using the brush, wash it out with warm water.
Have a salt shaker handy and sprinkle common table
salt on the bristles until they are well covered. 1
Hang up the brush.
The salt will soon harden, forming a coat of salt over
the brush.
This coat of salt protects the brush from the dust,
drives out the germs, and toughens the bristles.
Before using the brush again wash off the salt and
apply tooth powder or paste.
The little taste of salt you will get is refreshing and
is good for your mouth.
Figure 59
1 The use of salt in keeping the toothbrush clean was suggested by Dr. Hugh W.
MacMillan.
[46]
Here is another way to keep your brush clean :
Wash out the brush with hot water.
Pour a little mouth wash over it.
Twice a week let the brush stand
in a glass with the bristles covered
with a borax solution.
This is made of a teaspoonful of com-
mon powdered borax in
half a glass of water.
Let your brush stay
in this liquid from the
time you brush your
,gare teeth after breakfast
until you come from school at noontime.
This care will keep your toothbrush
sweet and clean.
Do not hang your brush up near other
brushes.
A screw eye makes a good holder.
Have two brushes if you
can.
Hang your toothbrush
up away from the dust.
Use your brush several times a day.
When the bristles of your brush be-
come separated or matted, get a new
brush.
_ "A NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN."
Figure 62
[«]
TOOTH POWDERS, PASTES, AND MOUTH
WASHES
When you clean your teeth, it is much easier and
more pleasant to use a tooth powder or paste than
to brush them with just plain water.
Tooth powders and pastes help to clean and polish
your teeth and it is well to use them, but don't forget
THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE BRUSHING !
Use a little water with salt in it if you have nothing
else, but brush them !
Do not brush your teeth with charcoal or any gritty
substance.
Do not use a colored tooth powder or paste; it is
better to use a white one.
There are so many good tooth powders sold in the
stores that it hardly pays to make one at home.
If, however, you wish to make one, here is a simple
powder that will help you keep your teeth clean :
Mix together 4 ounces of precipitated chalk, 1 tea-
spoonful of powdered orris root, and 1 teaspoonful of
pure powdered Castile soap.
Put this mixture in a box, add to it 20 drops of the
oil of peppermint, and shake it well for several minutes.
This will make enough powder to last you a long
time.
It is well after you have brushed your teeth, if you
do not use the waxed dental floss, to wash out your
mouth with a mouth wash.
[48]
The wash removes any remaining food particles
present and makes your mouth feel clean and pleasant.
Here is the way to use a mouth wash :
Take a little of the liquid into your mouth.
Force it back and forth between your teeth with the
muscles of the cheeks — the muscles you use when
blowing a horn.
Force the liquid back and forth several times.
Don't try to do it by shak-
ing your head.
Use three mouthfuls of the
wash.
You may buy many good
mouth washes at the stores,
but this simple one will do the
work:
To a pint of boiled water add
1 teaspoonful of common
table salt and
1 tablespoonf ul of limewater.
To flavor this solution you
may add
3 drops of the oil of peppermint,
2 drops of the oil of anise, and
1 grain of saccharin.
Use tooth powders, pastes, and mouth washes if you
have them; but if you have not, clean your teeth
with plain water with a little salt in it.
The important thing is to brush them !
[49]
Figure 63
HOW TO KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR TEETH
AND STOP TOOTH TROUBLES
Your teeth are more likely to decay during your
childhood days than when you grow older.
For this reason they should have careful attention
when you are young.
Keep a record of your teeth.
Every three months take this book to the dentist. 1
He will examine your teeth, do any little work that
may be needed, and mark the chart for you.
This is the way to stop all fear of the dentist and all
your tooth troubles.
Remember that it does not hurt to have your teeth
cleaned and filled when it is done at the right time.
The only way to know the right time is to have your
teeth looked at often by the dentist.
The little holes that may form in a few months' time
can be easily filled.
This prevents further trouble.
If you brush your teeth after each meal and before
going to bed at night, q,nd have a dentist look at them
often, there will be very little work, if any, to be done
on your teeth.
Your visit to the dentist will become a pleasure
and you will always have good teeth.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure!"
1 If you do not own the book, place a piece of thin paper over the opposite page
and make a copy of the chart This copy may then be taken to the dentist.
[50]
\
UPPER TEETH
2FT
[■^Y SIX-YEAR ,(■
\J-J MOLARS C
Name : Age : . . . .
Address : Dale :
(ft Ivromise to brush my teeth four times a day, and
torn to my dentist every three months.
(SltHtB)
Figure 64
[SI]
HOW A HOLE OR CAVITY FORMS IN
A TOOTH
Remember that a cavity or hole will not form in
a clean tooth.
If a cavity does form in a tooth, you may be sure
it was caused by your allowing food or candy to stay
between your teeth after eating, instead of brushing
it away.
Figure 86
Figure 65 shows the space between two back teeth
where the food was not brushed away.
After a few hours the food soured and became
acid.
The acid ate its way into the tooth between the
enamel prisms, forming a little hole.
The saliva carried germs into the tooth, causing the
tooth to decay.
[M]
Figure 66 shows where
the germs of decay have
worked into the tooth.
Now is the time to
have the dentist cleiin
out the bad place and
fill the cavity.
If it is done at this
time, it uoiU not hurt !
Go to your dentist
often so that he may
find and fill these little
places that have started to decay.
Even a little hole no bigger than a pin point may
soon become a large cavity if it is not attended to at
the proper time.
Figure 67 shows the cavity after it has grown larger.
The tooth now begins
to ache !
A cavity has started to
form in the next tooth,
also.
This is caused by the
food that is held in the
large cavity.
Even at this stage a
dentist can save the tooth.
The nerve in the tooth
is Still alive. Figure ar
[S3]
Figure 6
Figure 68 shows the. result of neglecting the tooth.
The top has broken in, leaving a large, ugly hole.
This hole has a rough edge which cuts the tongue.
Perhaps the nerve is now dead.
The tooth does not hurt any more, so you do not
bother about it.
But some day a little bag will
form on the end of one of the /
roots.
In the dead nerve pus-germs are
growing.
Sometimes these little germs force
their way out in a root and form a
little bag of pus at the end of the root.
This little bag will cause a "gum
boil" to form; your face will swell,
and you will look like this —
[Si]
Figure 89
And your tooth may have to be -pulled out !
Do you not think it would be better to take good
care of your teeth in the first place and avoid all this
trouble ?
"A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE !"
Now there's old Jack Nerve a-waitin*
In his house so clean an' white,
Ef you let the sprites get hammerin'
an' bangin' with their might,
He'll get so mad an' angry, he'll tear
an' rave about
For the toothache '11 surely git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
{W ilk apologies to James Whilcomb Riley)
[55]
WHY A TOOTH ACHES
Figure 71
The nerve in a tooth is similar to a
Jack-in-the-box.
While the cover is on, Jack is quiet and
contented; but if you poke at him or
loosen the cover that protects him, he
jumps up and makes a big stir.
In the picture on the opposite page
you can see Mr. Jack Nerve in his tooth
box.
Something must have gone wrong, for he does not
seem very happy.
The sprites of dental decay are after him.
See how they are chipping the enamel roof off his
house !
Other sprites are boring holes and trying to break
through the sides of his house.
This lets the cold air in and it hurts him.
He is used to being shut in tight, away from the cold
and heat.
He soon becomes angry.
He swells up and gets red in the face I
He pounds and hammers on the sides of his house,
trying to scare the sprites away.
This pounding is the toothache I
Guard Mr. Jack Nerve well. Then the dental sprites
cannot destroy his house and you will have no
TOOTHACHE !
[56]
Figure 72
You better scrub an* clean *em
An' mind what you're about,
For the toothache'!! git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
{With apologia to James Whitcomb Riley)
[571
^
WHY SOME TEETH ARE CROOKED
There is a good reason why you should be taken to
the dentist often, even before all your baby teeth are
in place. If he sees you three or four times a year,
he can tell whether your mouth is growing and develop-
ing properly.
It is just as important for your baby teeth to come
in straight and in their proper places as it is for your
second or permanent teeth to do so.
You have seen on page 21 what causes some teeth
to "come in crooked."
Here are some other causes :
(1) Thumb and finger suck-
ing.
This habit narrows the
mouth.
It forces the upper teeth
out and the lower teeth
in.
This gives an unpleasant
look to the face *and the
food cannot be cut with the
front teeth.
Figure 74 is a picture of
the mouth of a thumb-suck-
ing child at the age of twelve
years.
[58]
Figure 73.
One cause of crooked
teeth
See how the upper teeth
stick out over the lower
front teeth. This is the
RESULT OP THUMB OR FIN-
- GER SUCKING !
If you want your face
to have its natural form, Fimire 74
your teeth must come
into their proper places and stay there.
(2) Mouth breathing.
If you breathe through your mouth, the muscles of
your nose are not used enough to develop the upper
part of your face properly.
The face becomes long and narrow, giving it an
unnatural appearance.
The mouth becomes narrow, forcing the front teeth
to extend out and shortening the upper lip.
Mouth breathing is generally caused by growths in
the nose or throat, and these
growths should be removed
as soon as possible.
If you cannot breathe
easily through your nose,
have your doctor examine
you and find out what the
trouble is.
Stop these habits as
Figure 75 SOON AS POSSIBLE !
[59]
NICKNAMES THAT TEETH HAVE
Some teeth have been given nicknames on account
of their places in the mouth ; some on account of their
forms; and others on account of their uses.
Milk teeth. Your first or baby teeth
7"--\""* are called milk teeth. During the time
<s£^js> these teeth are forming and coming into
your mouth, your food consists mostly of
milk.
Eye teeth. The roots on your upper
cuspid teeth are very long and they
point toward your eyes. These teeth
are commonly called eye teeth.
Stomach teeth. Your lower cuspid teeth
also have long roots which point toward
Figure 7a your stomach. These teeth are commonly
called stomach teeth.
Buck teeth. When the cuspid teeth at the corners of
the mouth are forced out of line, they became promi-
nent and are sometimes called buck teeth.
Peg teeth. Sometimes a tooth, instead of being nicely
formed, will come through the
gums like a little pointed peg.
The lateral incisors, which
are next to the centrals, and
the wisdom teeth, are most
likely to be formed in this
Way. Figure 77
[60]
Figure 78
and grooves in them.
These teeth were not prop-
erly nourished at some period
when they were growing.
Crooked teeth. Teeth which have been prevented
from coining into their proper positions and have been
pushed out of line, are commonly called crooked teeth.
False teeth. Teeth that are made by the dentist to'
take the place of the natural teeth when these are lost
are called false teeth. These teeth are made of porce-
lain.
Double teeth. The large molar teeth in the back of
the mouth are sometimes called double teeth.
These are the teeth that grind the
food.
Wisdom teeth. Your upper and
lower third molars which come in
after you are sixteen years old, are
called vrisdom teeth. They appear after
your childhood days have passed, at
which time you are supposed to have
learned wisdom.
Show that you have wisdom by
keeping your mouth and teeth
CLEAN !
Figure 79
[61]
SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER
Remember that you are not to bite into very hard
candy or to crack nuts with your teeth.
Remember that your teeth chew your food, help you
to talk, and help to make and keep the form of your
face.
Remember that your teeth were given you to use.
Chew your food I
Do not chew all your food on one side of your
mouth. Use both sides.
Remember to take good care of your baby teeth.
Watch for your six-year molars, and keep them
perfectly clean.
Go to your dentist often, so that he may see that
your second or permanent teeth come in their proper
places.
Remember that you are to go to your dentist every
three months.
Don't forget to brush your teeth after each meal and
before you go to bed at night.
Brush your teeth at night before you get "too
sleepy."
Don't go to school in the morning without brushing
your teeth.
If you want to be successful in your work and have
people respect you, keep your, teeth clean.
Remember that if ybu want clean food to enter your
stomach, you must keep your mouth and teeth clean.
[62]
Form a circle with your brush when you are brush-
ing your teeth. Do not brush your teeth crosswise.
Remember to keep your toothbrush clean.
Keep a record of your teeth. It will keep you out
of trouble.
Remember that you can prevent holes from forming
in your teeth if you give your teeth proper care.
Don't blame a tooth for aching. That's the way a
tooth has of telling you it has been neglected.
If you want your second or permanent teeth to be
sound and straight, take good care of your baby teeth.
(To the tune of " Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boyt are Marching ")
Scrub ! scrub ! scrub ! are words of warning,
Keep all the Grinders shining bright,
Use your powder, brush, and paste,
There's no time to lose or waste,
Keep them clean by brushing
MOBNING, NOON, AND NIGHT.
Figure 80
[63]
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Health Crusaders
e fight for health must know what germs are, hoi
keep them out of the body, and how to build up the resistanc-
the body against them.
I. Drnroy lit girms that ami from lit bodies if the aik.
1. Take cart of vioumdt, praia your ulf from tiling intern,
aid guar J lie mouth and note.
J. Keep the tody in kiahh a tiat it will tt able It hill
You can learn haw these rule! are to be carried out from a I
called Ritchie's Pithu or Sanitation, which his been studie
millions to their benefit. It is the only limple book of its kind
should be possessed by every Perfect Knight.
The price it $oM postpaid 10 any addrca
WORLD BOOK COMPANY
YONKERS-ON-HUDSON. NEW YORK
2128 Pbairih Avenue, Chicago
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