Among those who regularly use the toothbrush, instinct, comfort, or display is the ruling motive, while a small percentage have evolved to the anti-nuisance stage, where the æsthetic standard of their group forbids any member to neglect his teeth. The anti-slum and pro-slum motives for mouth cleanliness and dental sanitation have been awakened in but one or two places. A significant pro-slum activity is the dental clinic organized by forty volunteer dentists, acting for an industrial school maintained by the New York Children's Aid Society.
[Illustration: NEW YORK CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY'S DENTAL CLINIC FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN]
Here 550 children have been examined, 447 teeth extracted, 284 teeth filled, 200 teeth treated for diseased pulp (and only 24 sets cleaned), 40 dentists taking turns in giving time to this work. The equipment cost but $239; cards and stationery, $72; incidentals, $33. The principal attends the clinic, because in her presence no child is willing to confess fear or unwillingness. To supplement this work, the dentists have prepared for free distribution a leaflet which tells in short, clear sentences how to care for the teeth.
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | A DENTAL CATECHISM =When should they be cleansed?= | | | | =What are the teeth for?= Immediately after the morning and | | noonday meals and before going to | | To masticate food; that is, bed. | | grind it into fine particles, | | mix it with saliva, and so =By what means should they be | | begin its digestion; also to cleansed?= | | aid in speaking and singing. | | By a moderately stiff brush, | | =How long should they last?= water, and floss silk. | | | | To the very end of life. =How should these be used?= | | | | =How do we lose them?= The brush should be first used in | | a general way, high up on the | | By decay, by loosening, and by gums length-wise of the jaws, to | | accident. remove large particles and | | stimulate the gums, then the | | =What causes teeth to decay?= brush and the teeth should be | | carefully rinsed with water. The | | Particles of food decaying in brush should next be used with a | | contact with them. rolling or circular motion, so | | that the bristles will follow the | | =Where does food lodge?= lines of all the grooves and | | spaces in which the particles of | | All along the edges of the gums, food have lodged, and so brush | | in the spaces between the teeth, them out. Then again the mouth | | and in the crevices of their should be rinsed with water. | | grinding surfaces. | | =Should the gums be brushed?= | | =Can we prevent this loss?= | | Yes, moderate friction helps to | | Yes, to a large extent. keep them healthy. | | | | =How can we do it?= =How can the spaces between the | | teeth be reached?= | | By using the teeth properly and | | by keeping them clean and the By dental floss silk passed | | gums healthy. between the teeth, drawn | | carefully back and forth till it | | =What does using them properly reaches the gum, pressed firmly | | mean?= against the side of each tooth in | | turn and drawn out towards the | | 1. Using sufficient hard or grinding end of the tooth, and | | fibrous food to give the teeth this repeated several times in | | and gums full exercise. each space. | | | | 2. Taking time enough to =Should tooth powder or paste be | | masticate food thoroughly before used?= | | swallowing. | | Usually once a day. | | =How often should teeth be | | cleansed?= | | | | As often as they are used. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+