How to have good teeth

Title

Language

English

Year

1939

Subject

Dental health education -- Philippines

Teeth -- Care and hygiene -- Philippines

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[Continued from the May 1939 issue. This article give careful instructions as to the proper method of brushing the teeth.]

Fulltext

214 THE YOUNG CITIZEN lune, 1939 HEALTH AND SAFETY SECTION How to Have Good Teeth* Brush _rour tecfh ta·ice 11 daJ'• Ix the April number and the May number of The Young Citizen an explanation of the growth and structure of the temporary teeth and the permanent teeth was made. The artide in this issue of The Young Citizen will give careful instructions as to th e proper method o f brushing the teeth. If you will follow these instructions all your life, have a dentist examine your teeth once ,every six months, and do what is necessary to put them in good condition, you will always have good teeth. Good teeth will help vou very much to have good health. • Adapted from an article prepared by the Office of the Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Service. (Continued from tlie May number) How to Brush the Teeth Many boys and girlsand adults, too-do not know how to brush their teeth properly. Let us try an •experiment which will show you the proper method of brushing the teeth: Smear a little earth or clay on the finger-nails of all the fingers on y9ur left hand. Then take an old tooth brush to clean the earth off your nails. First, brush across your nails, back and forth. That is the way most people brush their teeth. After brushing you~ nails that way, you will notice that although much of the earth or clay has been brushed off there is still some left alo~g the sides of each nail. When you brush your teeth that way, there are still left some of the food particles, just as some of the earth was left on your nails. When these food particles remain each day, decay -may result. Again brush your nails up and down. You will notice that some of the earth or clay still remains near the root of the nail. In the same way, if you brush your teeth only. up a~d down, food parttdes will remain, and decay may result. Now brush your nails in a rotary manner; that is, keep the brush turningback and forth, up and down, aro~nd and aroundso that you make a sinall circle. It will be found that all the earth or clay will be removed from e<1ch nail. None will be left at the sides or at the roots of the nails. That is the way you should brush your teeth. A rotary (turning) motion is to be recommended in brushing one's teeth upon the surface next to the lips and cheeks. For the inner or tongue sid·e of the teeth one cannot use this· rotary motion. No too!IU1cl1e for him! lune, 1939 Therefore, use the toothbrush in a different way on the inside surface of the teeth. Place the brush· on the gums,.and move it up, that is, toward the tip or chewing surface o f t h •e teeth. Do not push downward with the brush, because in such a way food particles and germs will be pushed beneath the gum margins, and that is one of the things most to be avoided. For brushing the masticating surface of the tooth - that is, the tip or the chewing surface -n pulling and pushing motion bncl<wnrd an d forward is ·recommended. If the gums bleed when the teeth are brushed, something is wrong, and a good dentist should at once be consulted. A healthy gum is not easily injured. After brushing the teeth -using all these three methods according to the part to be brushed-you should rinse the mouth thoroughly in order to remove any· material which has been dislodged by the previous brushing. THE YOUNG CITIZEN Cleaning Between the Teeth Generally, it is not good to use a toothpick, because in using a toothpick many persons injure the delicate gum tissue which extends in a crescent-shaped mass between the teeth. The preservation of this tissue is very desirable. Dental floss (which can Teaching Dl'ntaf Hygiene* be bought ·;t any good drug store) is very good for cleansing the surfaces between the teeth, but care should be taken in its use. It should not be held tight between the fingers and forced through between the teeth. Such a method allows the floss to snap through with much force somewhat like the action of a bowstring when released. If 215 used thus, dental floss will cause serious injury to the gums. To use floss properly and with benefit, draw it carefully through betwee~ the teeth with a pulling motion, and when it is freely movable draw it carefully back and forth over all the surfaces between the teeth, but do not force it beneath the gum margin. Cleansing the Gums The gums may also be cleansed with the brush, but not with as hard usage as when polishing the teeth. Regula,- brushing of the gums will not injure them unless they are diseased. If the gums bleed it 'may be caused by a disease known as pyorrhea which causes inflammation of the gums and loosening of the teeth. This disease will be discussed in a later article. (To be co11ti11ued) • l11farmation f?r securing free a large dental chart for the school room will be furnished ta teachers upon request. Address the Managing Editor of the Younp Citizen.

pages

214-215

Media