The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-04-24
The Teeth.
now TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY.
CuILDREN's TEETH.

The lecturer traced the formation O
: the teeth, from the primary or milk
teeth to the secondary teeth. He de
claimed against the idea that it is not
worth while to save the child's teeth
since they are soon to be replaced by
others. If a child's.too be extracted
long before it is really to fall out, that
l part of the jaw whence it is taken,
shrinks-the neighboring teeth ap.
, proach each other, and perhaps the
permanent tooth never arrives at
eruption, but remains hidden in the
jaw. "e i -.
DENTAL DECAY
does not start from the inside of the
tooth, rs some suppose, but it starts
from the outside and proceeds inward.
Bluish-white transparent teeth are
much more liable to early decay than
yellow ones which are thickly invested
with enamel. But this quality of dura-
bilIty is acquired at an earlier period
than many suppose, being gained dur
ing the first eighteen months of life,
and while the child is being nourislled
by its mothers milk. Hence tile con-
dition of health and the chemical con-
stitution of the mothers blood has a
great influence upon the durability of
teeth. 1t the foundation then laid is
frail the future structure will soon fall.
The deposit Of the enamel for the per-
manent incisors occurs in the eighth
month therefore the child must in
early infancy receive from the breast a
sufficient amount of calcareous nutri-
ment.oi H}'s.ai ~ p;
In the structure of the enamel the
lime predOminates over the acid with
which tits united, and the compound
can only be dissolved by acids.
THE GREAT ENEMIES OF OUR TEETH
are acids. They are sometimes direct
~ introduced to the teeth as an arti-
Gle OF food. Another source Of acid is
the decomposition of sugar in the
mouth which changes to loctic acid.
The saliva Of the mouth in its normal
condition is an alkaline, and is an ex-
ceilent preservative. But in certain
conditions of ill-health it becomes acid.
This condition, fortunately, is of rare
occurrence. If the enamel is smooth II
furnishes no lodging for foreign bodies.
but iii it is rough, foreign matter ac-
cumulates and turns to acid. This.
having eaten through the enamel, pro-
cecds inward with rapid march, and
hollows the tooth out in a sho time
If not arrested. 81 !ia.. lslf.gr 50
The speaker advised that when n
mother or nurse has defective teeth.
she should take, during the. time she
nurses the child, small doses of phos-
phate OF lime, to supply that nourish.
ment to the infant. II + .s
Children should be taught never ,ol
crack nuts with their teeth or pick
their teeth with any metallic sub
stances.
TO PRESERVE TEETH.
Extreme care should be taken that
acids DO not remain in the mouth.
neither should or other substances be
suffered to undergo decomposition {
there. The greatest panacea for Door
.eeth, is cleanliness. The sneaker !
iwelt on the Importance of thorough
brushing of the teeth, not only night !
md morning, but always after eating.
re said an error frequently made in
Using the brush on the teeth is that of
it transeversely across them.
rom ono side of the mouth to the q
'ther- This practice long continued q
Will produce transverse assures which p
lnally become so deep that the teeth C
resent an appearance ofhaving been Ii
led into. This transverse brushing y
lso has the pernicious effect of brush r
ng the mucus into the interstices be. =
ween the teeth. The teeth should he
rushed from above downwards and .
rom below upwards-never from side Z
side. The inner surface should also .
e as carefully cleansed and care should
e taken that no particles of food are
,ft in the interstices. Il
''39i'f ABOUT TOOTH POWDER. "
Dark tooth powder should not be II
sed, because it works mp under the b
ums and discolors the edges. Pure @,
zap is a good dentrifce. A tooth n
ewdor mist, above all things, be al I
aline, and should contain nothing r.
'pable of becoming sour, such as the :,
lgar of milk which is sometimes y
sed. Whenever tooth powder is ~
raised for it's quality of renderirg pl
'e teeth very white, it should be tt
oked on with distrhst; since it is 81
city sure to contain some agent W
lat will attack the enamel. Tooth
'wder should be so fine grained tbat|
hen ribbed between the fingers no m
articles can be felt. n
AS the chief Ingredient of tooth
'wder, there is nothing better than &c,
refnlly prepared oyster shell or
rbonate of magnesia. To favor it. \ al
lall amount of powdered calumns e'
OF may be added, which has good