If the baby seems to find relief in biting on something hard, provide an ivory ring or toy that can be washed. Never allow the child to put the ring in his mouth after it has been dropped on the floor, or in dust of any sort, until you have cleansed it again. If the gums remain swollen and hard, and if such symptoms as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea persist, have your physician examine the baby’s mouth. If the gums need lancing, this may be done; but do not urge it against the doctor’s better judgment. If the tooth is not close to the surface, the gum will heal over after lancing and form a tough scar more difficult to penetrate than the uncut flesh. If your baby has a convulsion while teething, do not lay this acute attack to the teeth. It probably springs from other causes and should have the attention of the family doctor. Convulsions are not symptoms of teething and they are serious enough to require immediate treatment. As the health of the teeth is dependent upon cleanliness, they should be kept clean from the day the first pearly point forces itself through the gums. Up to this time the gums have been washed daily. Now a small, very soft toothbrush, “baby size,” should be bought, and the teeth and gums should be rubbed gently twice a day. By the time the child is able to seize and guide the brush, he will find both satisfaction and diversion in brushing his own teeth. The average child seems to be born with a desire for self-expression, and the sooner he can be entrusted with the proper care of his own body the better. The child who is washed and has his teeth cleaned by another person, often against his will, is seldom as clean a child as the one who is given to understand that keeping himself clean is a privilege. In brushing these first teeth, it is not necessary to use any powder or paste on the brush; but a mild antiseptic solution, like listerine or glycothymoline, may be added to the water. As the little jaws fill up with teeth, their general condition must be watched closely for two reasons: first, because the condition of the teeth may be a symptom of constitutional disorder; second, because the health of the second or permanent teeth is largely dependent upon the condition and care of the first teeth. The teeth should be brushed up and down as well as from side to side. The gums should be thoroughly cleaned, and the child should be taught to rinse the mouth well. Watch for signs of decay. It is astonishing how soon these appear, especially if the diet is not what the child needs. Decay springs from three causes: uncleanliness, a diet which lacks bone-making properties, and disuse. The tiny brush will keep the teeth clean. If the diet tables given in this book are followed, the bones and the teeth will be properly nourished. The average mother makes the mistake of not giving the teeth enough work to do.