The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-03-13
order of their eruption:

1t must be remembered that the eruption of
the second teeth begins while the first set is yet
in the mouth. If the child has never had any
teeth extracted, these teeth are supposed by the
parents to belong to the first set; and SO, if de-
cayed shortly after their eruption, no attention
is paid to them, because it is thought they will
soon have to make room for their successors,
and before the mistake is discovered, the mis-
chief is irreparable.
Usually between the seventeenth and twen-
ty-frst year the third Inolars, or wisdom teeth,
are erupted. There is generally but little in
convenience attending their appearance, but
occasionally, when the jaws are crowded and
there is not sufficient loom for them, there is
considerable swelling and pain, and sometimes
sore throat, difficulty OF swallowing and severe
constitutional disturbance. Under these cir
cumstances, lancing the gums and constitution
al treatment may be necessary, and in extreme
cases, even the extraction of the tooth.
The deposit, called tarter, which collects
more or less about tie teeth of all persons,
differs very much in appearance, quantity and
character. In different individuals, it is black,
brown, green, yellow, or nearly white. Its
presence is more or less hurtful, according to
its character and quantity. In some cases its'
influence is exceeding pernicious, causing the
gums to become swollen, inhamed and spongy 5
suppuration occurring about their margins,
followed by their recession from the necks OF
the teeth. The gums become so sensitive that
the use of toothbrush is exceeding painful,
and on this account there is no effort made to
keep the mouth clean. The tarter accumulates
rapidly, and the result is the destruction, more
or less speedily, of the alveolar processes, and
the loosening of the teeth until they drop out.
These, however, are not the only results: the
breath becomes feted, the secretions of the
mouth are vitiated; Indigestion, loss of appe-
tite, affections of the eyes, pains in the ears,
headache, neuralgia, and general arrangement
of the health follow. That arrangement of the
digestive functions, and consequent impairment
of the whole economy, may result from dis
eased condition of the mouth, is too well estab-
lished to require an argument. The presence
of decayed teeth and roots, liberated or suppl
rating gums, accumulations of tarter, etc., must
necessarily vitiate the secretions Of the mouth,
and cause irritation, mere or less severe, of the
mucous membranes of she stomach. The ex-
halations from mouth 80 diseased may, and
no doubt often do, produce an injurious effect
upon the bronchial tubes and lungs, and may
even be the exciting cause of consumption.
These being facts, it is wonderful that SO
many otherwise intelligent people neglect their
teeth, paying no attention to the condition OF
them, until an exposed nerve speaks with a
voice that will not be silenced, announcing the
mischief which has bsen allowed to proceed
unchecked. If, then, we add the probable
preservation and usefrlness of the teeth for
speech and mastication till advanced life, the
favorable impression made upon the general
health by the ability thoroughly to masticate
the food, the comfort of a pure breath and
wholesome saliva, and the agreeable effect pro-
duced upon others by the exhibition of clean
and healthy mouth, surely we have enumerated
enough reasons to induce all to pay that atten-
ton to them, upon which their appearance,
preservation and usefulness depend.
w. G. B.