The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-29 00:00:00

CAUTION TO PERSONS NEGLECT
ING THEIR TEETH AND GUMS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Among the various disorders of the mouth, there
none more destructive than Scurvy, which on first entering the
gums causes them to bleed on the most trifling occasions, and
produces the most offensive and frequently putrid breath. A
soft substance invariably accumulates around the necks of the
Teeth, penetrates into the Gums which gradually waste away,
and the Teeth then become loose, and drop out whole from
their sockets, and it is well known that the loss of Teeth
arises more from this cause than any other ; in short Scurvy in
the Gums affects individuals of all ages and constitutions, and
if not speedily removed, will be the primary cause of Tooth-
Ache and decay.
On this subject a distinguished Lecturer makes the following
observations :—" When the disgusting effects of this aceumu-
, lation are considered, it would appear impossible that any per-
suasion could be necessary to induce persons to obviate so great
a nuisance even on their own account; or if they are too de-
based to procure their own comfort and cleanliness by employ-
ing, a skilful Dentist, they surely have no right to shock the
senses of others, who possess more delicacy and propriety of
feeling than themselves. Yet, so it is; and the sight and the
smell are alike constantly outraged by the filthiness of some
people, who seem to obtrude their faces the closerje proportion
to the disgust which they occasion."—hell's Lectures, p. 199.
Could such persons only see the horrid state of their teeth
and gums, or for a moment catch the odour of their own
breath, they would not hesitate to seek immediate relief. To
professional men, shopkeepers, and tradesmen generally, who
have much intercourse with the refined and fashionable world
a good state of the mouth must be of the greatest importance ,
Besides, is not an offensive breath, which in nineteen cases out
of twenty proceeds from the bad state of the teeth and gums,
very notch calculated to prevent the blessing of matrimony ?
And how often, from inadvertence or neglect, is the happiness of
the marriage state most grievously interrupted by the same cause.
The inconveniences attending the Loss of Teeth are too well
known to require comment ; but to those who have not expe-
rienced the comfort of artificial teeth, Monsieur Le Dray is de-
sirous of showing some of the difficulties more or less endured
by every individual without them. When the Teeth are lost, it
is impossible to make use of solid food ; and if the stomach is then
loaded with pieces without being masticated, the patient is ex-
posed to the most distressing indigestions, the stomach loses its
power of contraction, and becomes weak in proportion as it no
longer digests ; besides, when the Teeth are gone, a great va-
cuum is left in the mouth, which occasions every muscle in the
face to be distorted, and the whole features are completely
drawn from their original position.
To insist on the importance of the teeth, whether in, regard
to the functions of digestion and articulation, to which they are
so essential, or to personal appearance, in which they are so
much concerned, must appear a waste of words, were it net
obvious that there are many persons who never give themselves
the trouble to think upon the subject--who seem scarcely
aware that they possess teeth at all, while their gross and culpa-
ble negligence renders that fact too apparent to their friends
and associates.

Mastication is the first process of digestion, and unless it be
duly performed, the subsequent processes can never go on
properly. It is a mistaken notion, that the mere chopping of
the food is all that is required, and that "patent masticators,"
or any other contrivance, can supply the place of teeth.
By the motion of the maxillary bon s in the communication
of food, the salivary glands are compressed, and the saliva, be-
ing poured forth from the ducts, mingles with the food, which
is turned about by the tongue until every portion of it is duly
incorporated with the saliva. Then, and not till then, is it
properly prepared for deglutition.
So essential is this preparatory process, that the neglect of it
is sufficient to occasion indigestion, a disordered stomach,
nervous debility, depression of spirits, the skin becomes
rough and tinged of a lead colour, the eyes lose their
brilliancy, the lips their vermillion hue, and in a word,
it is no uncommon thing for the whole body to receive
such a shock as to cause relaxation of the whole system ;
which produces an irritable temper, quite foreign to the natural
disposition, whereby we become an annoyance to our friends
and a burthen to ourselves. But I need not dwell upon the
numberless concomitant evils which may thus owe their origin
to imperfect mastication. It is sufficient to know, that Mon-
sieur Le Dray's improvements will be found to be many years
in advance of any system now in Europe, and that artificial
teeth are brought to such perfection, as to perform this function
in a manner equal in every respect to the natural teeth, and
may be used with every comfort. They are so arranged as to
restore the face to its former youthful cast, correcting all
deformities of the mouth, and entirely doing away with the
old system of springs, clasps, and wires. And in all cases a
single application is quite sufficient to enable him to supply
the loss of teeth (on his new system), without any further
trouble to the Patient, or the inconvenience of a second visit.
And he is also happy to state, that after many years of inde-
fatigable assiduity and close application to the mechanical
branch of the profession, he has succeeded in discovering a
method of supplying Teeth to persons residing at any distance
by meat,; of his newly invented preparation, which enables
the Patients to tees.'
an impression of their own mouth with
has been
italiceaagvreenatieensteee;assea, and vsafittehrost,h;,eCaaluosdie7ott slightest pain or
...;:t
received by Mons. Le Dray, he can manufacture from one to
complete set of Teeth, and return them to the parties so con-
structed, that they may be placed in the mouth by the wearer
without the knowledge of .a second person, being arranged
on a principle yet unrivalled, rendering it impossible to dis-
tinguish the Artificial Teeth from the Natural ones ; answering
most satisfactorily all the purposes of the original Teeth in mas-
tication and articulation, imparting to the countenance a
younger and improved appearance, protecting the adjoining
and remaining perfectly secure in their places ; they
may also be taken out and replaced with the greatest facility:
It is respectfully intimated to Country Patients, however dis-
tant, they must please to state the number of Teeth required,
whether back or front, and at the same time enclose a remit-
tance of a Sovereign, when the preparation for taking the model
or measure of the mouth will be immediately forwarded to
their addresses, together with a List of Prices. Letters must
be post-paid—addressed as follow,—(Money Letter) Mons.
Le Dray, Surgeon Dentist, 60, Newman-street, Oxford street,
London.

The -next point of view in which we are to consider the im-
portance of the Teeth, is that of their conaexion'with the grand
lrerogative-ef man—the gift of speech. The teeth are abso-
utely essential to a perfect articulation, and are mainly con-
cerned in the modulation of the voice. Their preservation is,
therefore, essential to all persons who do not seclude themselves
from society ; for what can be more disagreeable than the
mumbling which renders conversation a task, and robs it of
half its charms; unless, indeed, it be the sputtering in one's
face, which sometimes accompanies the exclusive fervour of a
solo once communication.

To all public speakers, whether in the senate, in the pulpit,
at. the bar, or on the stage, teeth, real or artificial; are a sine
qua non. Without them the graces of eloquence are lost,
ansl the powers of oratory very much diminished.
No person to whom a correct articulation, and a clear im-
pressive delivery, are of consequence, can be ignorant of the
effect which the loss of teeth has upon the powers of voice,
aryl none I conceive will delay to call in the aid of art; but
it would be well if all such persons were impressed with this
fact beforehand, as one of the strongest inducement to bestow
upon their teeth the necessary care.
As an essential point of beauty, the teeth must ever stand
pre-eminent. No regularity of features, no brilliancy of com-
plexion, no sparkling eyes, or silken braids of jetty hair, can
render that lady beautiful, who, when she opens her lips
(though they be of coral), discloses a set of teeth irregular
or discoloured. On the contrary, even homely features and
a sallow complexion are embellished and rendered agreeable
by a good set of teeth. A mouth large and ill-formed will
pass unnoticed, when it contains teeth beautifully white and
even. On the other hand, the effects of decay, the accumu-
lation of tartar, the blackened and denuded fangs, and thy
taint of the breath, which is a common concomitant of bad
teeth, will invariably prove disgusting and loathsome.
Regular teeth, white, and free from all extraneous matter,
are an ornament, equally attractive in either sex. Those per-
sons who do not possess this natural advantage, shJulti endea-
vour. by, extreme care and cleanliness, and a timely resort to
artificial aid, to remedy the imperfections, and supply the deli•
ciencies of nature, in order that their teeth, if nat an agree-
able object, may be prevented, as far as possible, from becom-
ing a repulsive one.
Mo Is. Le Dray respectfully acquaints the nobility, gentry,
clergy, and inhabitants of London and its vicinity, that he con-
tinues to restore Decayed Teeth with his celebrated Mineral
Marmoratum, so universally recommended by the Faculty of
England, France, and throughout the Continent, which sub-
stance he is the sole inventor and possessor of.

This operation is performed without the least pain, heat, or
pressure ; it is placed into the cavity in an almost liquid state,
and in a few seconds hardens into enamel, preventing and cur-
ing the Tooth Ache, forming a whole Tooth out of a stump,
arresting all further progress of decay, al/a)ing in one minute
the most excruciating pain; and rendering the operation of ex-
traction unnecessary. He also fastens Loose Teeth, particular!),
of aged pers"ns, whether arising from neglect, the use of calo-
mel, disease of the gums, or any other cause.
ARTIFICIAL or NATURAL TEETH of surpassing
beauty, to match equal in colour and shape those left in the
mouth, fixed from one to a complete set, without extracting the
roots or giving any pain, at charges reduced to less than one-
half the price of any other Dentist in England.
Mons. Le Dray particularly invites the Faculty to witness
the operation of Filling Decayed Teeth with Mineral Afar-
rnoratur

C. J. LE DRAY, Surgeon Dentist,
60, Newman-street, Oxford-street.
Itir At Home every day from Ten till Six.