Dear Ann Landers,
First, let it be known to one and all that I am neither endorsing nor am I bum-rapping gum chewing. Some den-tists claim it's not the best thing in the world for the teeth. On the other hand, some psychologists say it's a good way to release tension. Each individual must decide for himself it it's more im-portant to soothe his jangled nerves or protect the enamel. Rule Number One: Gum should never be seen. Chewers who talk and display the wad while so doing commit a grievous social blunder. Rule Number Two: Gum should never be heard. Snap, crackle and pop are fine for breakfast cereals, but sound effects with chewing gum are verboten. Gum cracking is particularly annoy-ing to office workers. I read recently where a gum popper in an insurance office was clobbered with a 9-pound weight by a fellow employe who said he had been "pushed to the brink." (I was not surprised and must admit I was faintly sympathetic.) Rule Number Three: Once gum is chewed it should be disposed of per-manently. Sticking the wad on a piece of paper or on a dinner plate for later is out. Also, don't put gum behind the ear (don't laugh, I've seen it done). The song entitled, "Does the Spear-mint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" gave many people the mistaken notion that stashing gum for future chewing is socially acceptable. Rule Number Four: It is impolite to take a stick of gum for oneself without offering it to others. If you happen to have only one stick, offer to split it. If there are several people in the group, wait until you are alone. Gum sneaks (those who pop gum into their mouths furtively) are in the same category as cigaret or candy-mint sneaks. One minute you look at them and they are doing nothing. The next minute they have a cigaret, a mint, or a piece of chewing gum going. I have always thought that I would not care to play cards with people who are such experts at sleight of hand. Rule Number Five: Disposing of gum is an art. It is also an index to a person's character and upbringing. A considerate, well-bred person wouldn't think of spitting out gum on the sidewalk where unwary pedestrians are bound to step in it. Nor would they dream of sticking gum under a theater seat, or, heaven forbid, under a dining room chair or a table. The proper way to dispose of chew-ing gum is to wrap it in a piece of paper and deposit it in a trash con-tainer-or in your purse or pocket, if no container is handy. Unsightly Teeth We do not know of a time in history when people did not use mirrors. The first mirrors were polished stones. Then came metal. Glass was invented in the fifteenth century. One's reflection always causes a reaction either pleasant or unpleasant. Concepts of beauty have varied from race to race and time to time. But to be pretty or handsome, by whatever standards, has always been important to youth. In modem American these standards have become related to perfection in the body and especially the face. It is a rare young person whose self-esteem is not damaged if he has an unsightly problem. With modem technology there is little that cannot be corrected or at least improved. Unsightly teeth disturb teenagers even more than acne. With acne they have lots of company. Not so with defective teeth. Talking makes the teeth appear and disappear and therefore they are more noticeable. Teeth that pro-trade or are crooked, discolored, decayed, broken or absent-as well as swollen or infected gums-come into view as one speaks. Efforts to cover do not work well and the affected person becomes shy and withdrawn. Teenagers have a natural inclination to become depressed because of the loss of childhood. They worry about the future. Unsightly teeth may increase that depression to a state of severity. With basically healthy personalities they can accept what cannot be changed, but they feel angry if told, "It doesn't look so bad" (not true to them) or, "We can't afford it," when they are stuck with a defect that can be corrected. What to do about it? First one must appreciate the importance of looks to young people. Parents sometimes forget how they felt when they were young. They must be willing to give the situation some priority for whatever funds there are. Consult a general dentist for referral to the appropriate specialist. This might be an orthodontist, who straightens teeth, a prosthodontist who caps and replaces teeth, a periodontist who takes care of gums and other struc-tures around the teeth, or an oral surgeon. The work will be expensive but in most cases will cost far less than many of the large items you already own, for example, your car. Check your medical insurance. It may cover part of the cost. Most dental specialists will arrange manageable terms. If one will not, try another. If your income does not permit putting out the price of private care, your dentist can refer you to a dental school or hospital clinic where excellent work will be done. It is a good bet that your teenager will be more than happy to help to ease the financial burden by working to earn part of the cost. Your concern for their feelings will be evident in later years and you will be gratified to see the outgoing personality that emerges. credit: Marita D. Kenna, M.D., Child Psychiatrist, Assistant Professor, Univer-sity of Pittsburgh. Teeth usually begin to erupt between six and eight months of age. However, there is an extremely wide variation in the time of initiation of teething. It may normally be delayed until as late as twelve to fifteen months, or begin very early in life. In fact, occasionally an infant is bom with one or two teeth already erupted. (Ann Landers was bom with two teeth. Her twin sister,

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