Dental Health: How and Why (1950)

[Music] [Music] Whenever you laugh or smile, you show your teeth. Naturally, you want them to look healthy. Don't good-looking teeth add a lot to Dorothy smile? Doesn't Jerry look healthy and happy? And what about Elellanar? Healthy teeth, happy smile. Yes, everyone is thinking about his teeth this morning. The nurse has come to talk about dental health. Not everyone has such healthy teeth. Look at Sam. Sam has never taken very good care of his teeth. Judy's teeth are not growing in right. She needs dental assistance, too. Perhaps a set of braces like Tom's. In a short time, Tom's teeth will be straight, and he can have a good-look smile. He has teeth can be healthy or decayed, clean or stained. But whatever their condition, your teeth need regular care. Did you know there are four different kinds of teeth? There are incizers or cutting teeth to cut food. Next are the cuspids which tear food apart and the bicuspids which crush food. Then there are mullers or grinding teeth. A grown-up has 12 mers. And what does a tooth look like? Here is a lower moler. If we could see inside the tooth, it would look something like this. The hard enamel covers the top part of the tooth. Inside the parts are softer. The dentin and the pulp chamber where there are tiny blood vessels and nerves. The tooth rests in a cushion with blood vessels here too. When you chew, the tooth moves in the cushion, something like this. Chewing your food helps to keep your gums healthy. So now we can see how our teeth work for us and why it's important to keep them well. Jerry knows that there are certain foods we should eat to help keep our bodies healthy and develop healthy teeth. Why this very morning Jerry and his sister Susie started with a good nourishing breakfast. The whole family eats a good breakfast. Because eating the right foods can help you to keep healthy and your teeth will have a better chance to grow and develop. Oranges, in fact, all citrus fruits and many vegetables contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for good health and for good dental health, too. Grown-ups, too, eat plenty of vitamins and minerals to help keep mouths and gums healthy. Even though their teeth are fully developed, the growing body needs a well-balanced diet, including eggs, poultry, fish, or meat. And milk, too. Milk is one of the very best foods for children because it contains calcium and also vitamin D. A well- balanced diet includes butter and fresh fruits and vegetables, too. At lunchtime at school, Jerry drinks milk and eats the right kinds of food. There's a meat sandwich made with whole wheat bread and lettuce. Jerry's having lunch with Sam. But what is Sam eating for lunch? Those sweet, sweet foods full of sugar might easily lead to decay in Sam's teeth. And soda pop is usually full of sugar, too. What has made Sam's teeth decay? Decay may start from a bit of sweet food next to the enamel. An acid is produced that slowly eats into the enamel of the tooth. If the cavity is not filled right away, decay spreads much faster in the softer denton and you may have a toothache. If still neglected, decay gets into the pulp chamber causing an infection and perhaps other serious trouble. Jerry doesn't want his teeth to decay like that. If he were home, Jerry would brush his teeth right after meals. But at school, Jerry cleans his teeth by eating an apple or an orange or a raw carrot right after lunch. Jerry's dentist advised him to do this and to rinse his mouth after meals to help keep his teeth clean. In the evening after supper, in fact, right after meals whenever he can, Jerry always brushes his teeth. He knows it's important to brush out those bits of food. In school, Jerry learned this is the way to clean your teeth. The brush sweeps like a broom away from the gum and along the teeth so the bristles can move between the teeth and push food out. Brush the front teeth. and the back teeth and the chewing surfaces. Brush at least five times on each surface. Jerry uses a tooth powder or paste recommended by his dentist. Brushing the teeth like this after meals may help to reduce tooth decay. What's this? Why, it's a chart for Jerry and Susie to check after they clean their teeth. So Jerry and Susie will be sure to clean their teeth after every meal. Next morning, they've all cleaned their teeth after breakfast. And why? What is Susie looking at? It's the calendar. And today, both Susie and Jerry have an appointment with the dentist. Each one of the family visits the dentist at least twice a year. Well, here's Susie in the dentist chair, ready to have her teeth treated. And Jerry's watching Dr. Wright and his assistant. Dr. Wright has been giving Susie fluoride treatments for some time to help prevent decay in her young teeth. Before the first treatment, Dr. Wright cleaned Suz's teeth very thoroughly, much better than Susie could by brushing them herself. Then he dried the teeth and wet all their surfaces with a fluoride solution, just as he is doing now. For many children, this treatment has reduced tooth decay. Jerry has already had fluoride treatments and he will have another treatment later for the rest of his permanent teeth. But there are many other ways in which your dentist cares for your teeth. If they do become decayed, the dentist can repair your teeth with his fine precision instruments. Probes to help find decayed spots. drills to clean out cavities and brushes and polishers to clean your teeth. Your dentist will help you care for your teeth. Even when your teeth seem all right, you should see your dentist as often as he suggests. Well, now it's Jerry's turn. He's glad to have Dr. Wright look after his teeth. Dr. Wright will clean them and fill any tiny decayed spots before they get serious. and Jerry's teeth will stay sound and healthy and attractive. Now, let's remember what we've learned about dental health. Eat the right foods. More milk and fruits and vegetables and meat, not so much sticky, sweet foods. Keep your teeth clean using the method your dentist recommends. Clean your teeth after every meal. And be sure you see your dentist often. Regular visits to your dentist can help you keep your teeth healthy. You'll want to care for your dental health just the way Jerry and Susie do. Remember, they have sound, healthy teeth, and they want to keep them that way. And remember too that sound healthy teeth help keep the rest of your body healthy. And what's more, don't they look fine? [Music]