The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-08-15
For the Opelonsas Journal
REMARKS ON TIE loss OF THE FE|AN
TEETEE, AED IT'S G0NsEaUEtCEs.
: BY pR.sA. L. FLuUGU, DENTIST.

BY DessA-b ELfCHt-' H''AiSi
Mr.. EDITOR, The loss of the teeth, ply
steal or otherwise considered, is a serious
matter; but IN young people, the loss of the
teeth is still more serious and legretful than
IN adults. because while the body IS forming
and developing itself it should retain all its
vigor to facilitate mastication. The teeth
as a whole supply the desiderat"m of the
masticatory powers of man, and by that
power and process, mastlcation Is made
complete. Hence, if the teeth are corrupt,
ed, decayed, and wanting at an carly period
of mans life it is then that mastication be-
comes impaired, as all solid substances taken
into the mouth have to be we'll divided be-
fore they are taken into the stomach so as
to insure a healthy digestion.
But if all the teeth or a portion of them
are lost at an early period of mans life. in
the first place it produce premature cid
age, as the features soon begin to change
for the worse he cannot clearly ar.icnlate
the t. ngue begins to flag in the mouth; the
voice becomes thick and indistinc', and in
the second place, he cannot prepare the
clements proper for the reception OF the
stomach, but is compelled to move them
through the mouth, finally has to swallow
them in parts not At all prepared for the
natural process Of nature. That process is
called digestion.
In the third place, we would here notice
a remarkable fact, that is, that the saliva us
n luid assists much the process Of mast!ca-
ton, and this is one of the wise provisions
of nature, that the greater quantity of teeth
in the mouth, the greater will be the flow
of the saliva. it is also the saliva that assists
and much facilitates mastication, and OF
course helps the operation of taking the
food into the stomach, so that without the
assistance of this fluid 1.-THE s4liva) mastica-
ton would be necessarily very imperfect.
Now, if this a!l-important operation OF
mastication is not properly performed by
sound teeth and healthy mouth if the pro-
cess OF digestion is'thereby Interrupted and
impaired for the want of sound and healthy
teeth. there must then newt bly, take place
a discord and arrangement in natures law,
as nothing will or eau be digested unless it
is properly prepared. by the assistance of
the teeth, and the salivary glands.
Who can say that they have not expert
enced the lingering pain and misery of In
Who can say they have not
suffered the pangS and ills Of Dyspepsia ?
and all other ills and miseries of a deranged
sto zach nine eases out of ten will certainly
happen where the above affliction occurs,
and will always to a certainty occur when
the teeth ar corrupted, decayed and want
Jag. Thus we see how far the loss of our
teeth affects the general health, and the
animal economy well considered, is certain
ly well worthy of our attention, while the
harmonious and divine arrangements ola
fine and sound set of teeth In human life
to be considered one Of the greatest
blessings in life. Therefore the decay of
teeth in young persons is especially to
what We woll.d call the attention ofthe
public to the present matter. 3zt
The bad condition of those organs (tbe
teeth) so essential then 70 our happiness and
has become SO universal, that it is
rare that we find an individual arrive at
or seventeen years of age without
suffered from the influence of bad
teeth The suffering disease, and even
heath, which his bean caused hy ~cariouS
teeth and a i.tny, corrupted mouth, should
lead every n to avoid such consequences.
The celebrated DIR. Ktfsh has often spoken
in his lectures and writings on the physical
tisorganizatiol and of the many causes of
diseased constitution from diseased and de-
teeth, has advised persons to pay
great attention to the preservation and clean
lne>s Of their teeth. IL, he said, that a con-
ed breath oectsioned by foul and
teeth, is the cause of a bad breath,
rise % foul and ~unwholesome secre-
ions, and by its poisonous properties causes
he arrangement Of the whole animal econ
Ill., rye, H.. 4. gr-- H.s
Any one that will carefully examine the
Physiology and Pathology of the. human
eeth, will find that there is a close con-
le ton between these organs of mastication
ind the general constitution Of man while
he teeth hen partake o the body, and have.
influence in health and disease, /
would most earnestly recommend all per
.ons, and tl,etyoung in particular, to guard
heir teeth from the ravases of decay, by an
preservation. e I'LL.