Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-04-30
ten AZ IT NAV. When the teeth can

the aid Of a dentrifice or othe
agents, they are not required; 70
if the object can be accomplishe'
by proper care and pure water, witt
the aid of the tooth brush and hos
silk, other preparations are super
fluous; and we are Of the opinion
that the requisite amount Of atten
ton in the care Of the teeth woult
greatly lessen the demand for pow
ders, pastes and washes, very many
of which contain ingredients tina
produce a chemical action, and as ;
matter of course, very injurious
In fact, all tooth washes advertised
as instantaneous in action, having
their alleged merit in their power tc
produce pearly whiteness, should bC
carefully avoided.
Every preparation used on the
teeth for the purpose Of cleansing,
should act mechanically. There
are only two legitimate objects that
should be taken into consideration
in the employment Of tooth prepa-
rations. One is for cleansing pur-
poses, and the other to act medici-
nally upon the surrounding tissues
when in an unhealthy condition
'Tis true some claim to arrest de-
cay by the use of their preparations.
But this we regard as incorrect; at
all events the action cannot be di-
rect. The only method by which
decay, when once established, can
be arrested and the tooth restored
to health, is by carefully and prop
erly filling the cavity. 1t would be
quite difficult matter to give spe-
cific directions as to the proper
treatment for general or local dis
ease that exercise a pernicious in
fluence upon the teeth. The diff
Guilty does not arise so much from
deciding what the remedy should
be in a given case, as from the great
variety of circumstances in which
different cases are involved. But
two or three suggestions may be
made. First. When laboring under
any form or character of disease,
keep the teeth perfectly clean; use
more care, if possible, than when
in the enjoyment of good health.
If the secretions are vitiated, some
thing should be done to correct the
difficulty Special attention should
be given at such times to prevent
disease or detection in the sur
rounding tissues. This is exceed
ingly liable to occur when there has
been a predisposition. The care
of the teeth has been and is too much
during sickness, and it is
perhaps of more Importance to i'm
press this fact than to specify any
particular remedy, for patients and
nurses, if they feel the Importance
and necessity of keeping the teeth
clean during sickness, will devise
some means for its accomplish
nent.
No organ, constantly thrown out
Of its usual duties and use, retains
is normal strength and vigor; and
is this the case with the
;eeth. 1t is highly necessary for
heir welfare that they be used in a
strictly legitimate way; and no
more should be imposed upon the
eeth of one side than upon those
If the other. Many persons have
lcquired a habit of using exclusive
v one side of the mouth for masti-
,ating purposes. This is overtax-
ng the teeth of that side, and injur-
ng those of the other side by non-
Use; because being always idle,
hev are rendered far more liable to
|. cease and decay. Therefore we
rsist upon a fair and impartial di-
'ision Of the labor required by these
'rgans.
We are aware of the fact that
early all the suggestions we have
made are familiar to a large major
ty of persons; but if in this, as in
other cases, they fail to
nut into practical execution their
knowledge, this may serve as re-
hinder, and consequently prove
eneft. We occasionally find indi-
iduals whose teeth retain their
riginal vigor and beauty; and as a
consequence of their good fortune,
nd as an evidence of their inabill-
Y to properly appreciate their hap
v situation, hoot at the idea of
pecial care and attention to
he teeth. Now for every one
nus favored, there are thousands
hose teeth and health are totally
1st by pursuing precisely the same
curse, and criminally indulging in
le same careless neglect What
an be done with impunity and per
sct safety by some, may be attend
i by the most serious results if
tempted by others.
The proper and only safe plan
, adopt is to use the teeth as they
-ere intended by nature to be used.
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