Disorders of the Teeth

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Teething

Symptoms

Teeth-cutting generally begins between the ages of 5 and 7 months. There may be no unusual symptoms, but it is common to get some of the following temporary disturbances: pain; the child puts his fingers in his mouth and screams when attempts are made to look at his teeth; incessant flow of saliva; increased movements of the bowels (diarrhoea); bronchitis; fretfulness, and loss of sleep.

Diagnosis

The most important conditions which may be confused with teething are early pneumonia and inflammation in the ears. It is particularly important therefore that the child's chest and ears should be examined by a doctor if there is any consider-able constitutional disturbance.

Treatment

A most effective remedy is 100 milligrammes of soluble aspirin given every four to six hours.

Defective Dental Development

Delayed dentition of the milk teeth and subsequent defects of development are usually due to improper feeding during the first three years of life. A deficiency of vitamins A and D and of vitamin C is a common cause of this condition. Sufficient vitamin A is necessary for the normal formation of the enamel, vitamin C for the normal formation of the dentine, and vitamin D for the process of calcification or hardening. Defective development and decay of the temporary teeth commonly cause derange-ment of their permanent successors. It is -therefore very important that the temporary teeth should be properly preserved until they are shed in the usual way.

Caries or Decay of the Teeth

Dental caries always begins in the spaces in and around the teeth where food is liable to collect. When the food contains a large amount of sticky sweet carbohydrates, con-sisting largely of starch and sugar, it tends to adhere to the teeth and leads to excessive bacterial fermentation with the production of acids. The enamel is destroyed by the acid, and calcium is dissolved out of the dentine. The remaining tissues in the teeth are then softened, leading to the formation of a cavity. The pulp of the tooth is thus exposed to infection, and suppuration may ensue, lead-ing to an abscess. The abscess may per-forate the bone of the jaw and form the familiar 'gum boil', or it may affect the cheek or neck.

The general health of the child may thus be affected by poisons which pass into the blood stream. The removal of septic teeth often leads t&,61 "Improvement in nutrition so that the child begins to put on weight.