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Show Dental health week set February 3 to 9 February 3 through 9 is C hildren's Dental Health Week. As part of the observance, this paper, in cooperation with the dental society, give answers to the 15th annual Natsjniil dental health. Is it really worth the effort to keep my own teeth? Aren't artificial dentures just as good ? During the average lifetime, a person consumes some 38 tons of food. That is enough to provide a banquet for a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden and for all the guests at the world's three largest hotels. Most of that food has to be chewed; chewing chew-ing is the chief purpose for which you need teeth. Sound, healthy teeth also are essential to your appearance and for proper speech. 1 While artificial dentures usually us-ually are attractive and function func-tion adequately, they are not just as good as your own teeth, any more than artificial hands are just as good as your own hands. My neighbor told me her dentist says that teeth can last a lifetime. Is this possible pos-sible ? Yes, it is possible. Teeth are designed to last a lifetime. You and your children can keep your own teeth if you conscientiously con-scientiously follow the rules of preventive dentistry. The first thing to be recognized recog-nized is that teeth require daily care if they are to remain in good health. This means eating a balanced diet low in sweets and always brushing your teeth immediately after eating. In addition, it is important im-portant that you visit your dentist regularly so that any dental problems that do develop can be taken care of promptly. Applications of flouride are of value in helping to prevent decay in children from birth. I am 30 years old and have never had any wisdom teeth. Is this unusual? No, it is not too unusual. Twenty-five percent of the people never get their third molars. Incidently, whether or not you have wisdom teeth has nothing to do with how wise you are. The custom of calling the third molars wis-dam wis-dam teeth appearently arose just because the teeth appear late, usually from the 17th to the 22nd year. |