t were not filled.]

It is wise to have the dentist examine the teeth once or twice every
year and remove a limy substance called tartar collecting at their
base. The dentist can stop the decay in a tooth by cleaning out the
little hole and filling it with gold or some other material. It may
cause a little pain and expense to have the teeth filled, but it will
save a hundred times as much pain and expense later. The six year
molars need special care as they are likely to decay early. Even the
milk teeth often need filling so that they will not be lost too soon.

=Bad Teeth cause Sickness.=--When anything decays, it is full of
germs, and they are always giving off some poison. The poison may hurt
the body and is likely to make parts of the mouth sore and tender so
that other germs of disease can break through into the flesh. Disease
germs can easily lodge in the holes of decaying teeth, grow in
numbers, and finally cause diphtheria, sore throat, or other ailments.

Four out of every five children suffering from diphtheria or other
throat or ear troubles are found to have from one to ten bad teeth.
You must keep good teeth if you wish to be well and strong.

=The Value of Sound Teeth.=--Sound teeth which will do good work in
chewing food are worth more than a foot or an arm. If the foot or arm
is lost, the body is likely to get well and be as healthy as ever.
_The health of the whole body depends upon the work done by the
teeth._ Unless they do their part the stomach cannot get the food
ready for the blood.

A part of badly chewed food is turned into a poison farther down in
the food canal. This is what makes many people feel so tired and
miserable much of the time. Hundreds of men have been refused
admission to our army because they have poor teeth. Soldiers must be
strong and well to take long marches and fight battles. Sound teeth
give strength and health.

PRACTICAL QUESTIONS

1. Why should the mouth be washed out every day?

2. When do the milk teeth appear?

3. When are the milk teeth lost?

4. How many teeth have you?

5. How many show signs of decay?

6. How may toothache be prevented?

7. How may the teeth be kept sound?

8. Why do sweets cause the teeth to decay?

9. How should you brush your teeth?

10. Why should the dentist examine your teeth every year?

11. Why are sound teeth of great worth?

CHAPTER IX

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS