The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-06-27
Dental Hygiene.
BY w. w. ALLPORT.


That clean and healthy teeth are of great
Importance, whether regarded in their relation
to the hea tn or to personal beauty, few intel
ligent persons will question. Yet many, who
take sensible view of most other mai tiers,
are sadly at fault in their theory and practice
as to the best method of preserving these i'm
portant organs.
No principle is more plainly taught in den
tai science, or clearly demonstrated to the
dentist by his everyday experience, than that
the decay OF the teeth is the result of external
agents, corroding and dissolvng out the limy
portion of their structure. In other words,
the decay of the teeth is from chemical causes,
acting from without, and not from any disease
from within, as many suppose. With this
view, we desire to ask all sensible persons
what, in their judgment, would be the most
efficient means of preserving the teeth from
decay?
Clearly 1--WE answer for the reader positive
and unqualified cleanliness of the parts, is the
rational means to be adopted. To accomplish
this, thorough and careful use Of the tooth
brush and toothpicll after each meal, or, at
least, once each day, is indispensable. No
other agents can be made as efficient. The
friction of the brush removes all deleterious
matter from under the free edges of the gums
and from the exposed surfaces of the teeth,
whilst the toothpick Zone made from a com
mon gOosequill is always the besD can be read
lily lnslnuated between the teeth to. remove
any particles Of food remaining, which, if left,
will dccompose and generate an acid which
unites with the lime Of the tooth, and breaks
down its structure.
But, says one, know person, sixty years
old, who seldom, if ever, brushes his teeth, and
yet they are perfectly sound. Very likely what
you say may be true. We have seen similar
cases, but whenever they occur, they are found
III individuals who have remarkably firm ana
well organized teeth and the secretions Of
whose mouths are normal not Onv free from
destructive accents N a 10 cd IN
re whatever acids may be generated by the
decomposition of food lodged between and
around the teeth.
The granite for years bears its front to the
waves, and deties the passing tempest without
appreciable effect, while the Sandstone is easily
washed away, and its change is observed by
each passing mariner. Therearc few person
with constitutions strong enough to defy vices
and bad habits, and live to old age while the
many are so constituted that they are obliged
to pay careful attention TO the laws OF hygiene,
IN order ~ secure good health; so there are
few teeth of structure so firm and compact thai
they will resist the action of agents which will
readilydissolve and break down those ola more
porous and delicate organization, as the firm
and polished marble resiSts, without injury,
agents which readily act upon and dissolve the
porous and fr.able chalk
IL is often asked at how early an age ought
the teeth to be cleansed? You might with as
much propuety, ask the physician how soon the
oltI4 I puSlI 70 De CARED IOf III ordef 10 insure
good health. We answer, as soon as they are
exposed to the action of external influences,
whichis as soon as they make their appearance.
II parents would pay attention to this simple
but highly important practice of frequent and
thorough cleansing of their children's teeth,
ana would accusJom them to the habit OF
cleansing them for themselves, as soon a. they
are old enough, as carefully as they do to the
habit of keeping their faces and hands clean,
much unnecessary suffering would be prevent
ed, and their bills with the dentist would be
much smaller.-PeopIe'S Dental Journal.