The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-28
The Toeth-How to uso and Preserve Them.

The Teeth-How to use and Preserve Them.
Every one should DO familiar with the
fact that the decay of the teeth always
commences externally, or, in other words, |
decay always shows itselfupon the enamel, l
or boDy structure Of the teeth, and never |
Internally, a. was at one time supposed to
cases, tue result Of chemical action, pro-
duced by the decomposition of particles
that collect or lodge in the interstices OF
depressions Of the teeth while eating.
Every one will therefore readily zee how
necessary it is to prevent all particles OF
sufficient time to produce decomposition.
All food in o state Of decomposition gem
crates acid. From experiments by an en-
fnent professor, it was found that "acetic
and nitric acid SO corroded the enamel In
forty-eight hours that it could readily be
removed with the finger nail" Acetic
acid, or common vinegar. is one OF our
principal condiments, and he says, Is
formed in the mouth whenever substances
liable to fermentation are suffered to re.
main for any considerable length OF time"
| Citric acid, or lemon Juice, of which
| many, especially young females, are so
| fond, readily acts upon the lime of which
| the teeth are composed. when brought into
contact with them. Malic acid, OF the
also acts promptly also muriatic, sulphu-
ted. And here lot us caution all persons
against using any preparation TO whltSn
their teeth for AZ the teeth are mostly
composed Of phosphate and carbonate Of
their material, and will ultimately serious.
| " iDjure or destroy them. Keep the teeth
clean, and they are as white as Nature IN.
| tended. The same professor also found
that " raisins 80 cdrroded the enamel IN
forty eight hours that It's surface presented
the appearance and consistency Of chalk.
/ The condition of the saliva is also at
times acidulous. In view Of what We have
above stated, it will be seen how careful
every one should be, for selfor for children
TO thoroughly cleanse the teeth from all
! substances that come in contact will
them.
Preparations for cleansing and purifyint
the mouth, should be free from all acids
and contain as one Of the principle ingre
dents an alkali (such as 10 contained II
soapl, to neutralise the acid, and to destro.
are secrered by the fluids. The mouths o
persons who have been in the habit OF us
! ing soap freely as @ dentifrice, are com
preparation, then, should contain this sub
a stance. But soap alone is not sufiioien
properly to cleanse the mouth and keep /
In q healthy condition. Some su6stanc
], should be combined with 1t that will pro
q duce q gentle friction, sufficient to Great
II gums, and remove from the surface of tn
" enamel any extraneous accumulation tina
o would otherwise disdgure it.. Prepare
u chalk and little orfis-foot to favour, Wit
CASTLE ESQ; SOAP %eke d smRs anu
Q sufficient to answer the purpose for whic
% tooth powder should be used. By n
y means use powdered charcoal as denti
q frice. This substance is the same that
used to polish the surface of iron or steel
srcn lrN1 nd arrIh nAGnr
= that, no matter how fine You may red9c
II it. its little black grains will not only in
}, sinuate themselves between the neck {
. the tooth and the gum, causing an lrrita
Q ton on the parts, which, in the end, ma
destroy the investing membrane OF To
J. tooth, but it scratches the surface of til
n enamel. Net long since, the four uppe
. incisors of young lady who had been In tn
: habit of using charcoal as q dentifrice ma
y to be removed, because their surfaces wer
@ scanned over with minute black lines tha
l. could not be erased, and the teeth loosen
!, ed, and the gums abraded and irritate
from its constant use. It would be we
q for every one, before using tooth pow
4 der, to see If 1t will scratch glass, moisten
d will produce the same SeHect upon tf
glossy, glass-like surf&ee with which 60
has covered the teeth. The use of tooth
. powder 10 to keep the teeth, clean, and nc
q to change their natursi color. If the teet
arc Oh u u1IA VI y0AV" uuO9 eASJ A0ss
q can be made white, except at the expene
g Of the material Of which they are composed
70 any powder, then, that whitens such teetl
2 is only acting chemically, and therefor
!: ipjuriously, upon their structure.
- The same care and attention require
n for the preservation of the permanent teet
I'd Is necessary for the fret set Of teeth. Ma
be tnre never intended that the teeth of Chi
h. dren should be lost or removed by decay
al but that they should remain to fulfill thei
l. offices until she should hang out her signs
at for their removal by causing them to be
n come loose, and give way for the permar
ts emit set by the absorption of their root
.ts If nature had. her course, we should Sc
b. dom witness case of irregular or defor q
IL ed teeth or mouth, now 30 common. Til
sir principal reason of this deformity is, tha
in one or more Of the temporary teeth hay
m been removed, on account of pain and d.
If cay, before the time, in consequence
be- which the space that Nature had reserve
eft for the permanent tooth becomes so contrac
of ed that when it does appear it is crowde