Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-06-12
HEALTH COLUMN.
Teeth.
BY DIR. j. A. DUNLAP.


We offer no apology for crossing the
! line &C demarkation between Medicine
and the collateral science of Dentistry.
We have the right to point out the
causes of disease in all parts of the human
system.
That the teeth are too much neglected
is fact that cannot be denied Every
physician aud dentist will agree with us
on this point. The people, however, are
progressing some il this respect. They
take more care of their teeth than they did
few years ago; but there is still room
for great improvement.
Why they should disregard these i'm
portant organs until they are so bad
ly decayed as to justify their extraction,
is question that we cannot satisfactorily
answer.
There are many who are very scrupu-
lous about every thing pertaining to their
health and personal appearance except
bAAO eSCeh. IlOltICluG
ally and apply it externally for all their
ailments, battle, powder their face, comb
their hair, dress in the height of the fash
ion, yet never clean their teeth nor exam
Inc them, unless one should happen to
ache right smart" as they say in Indi-
ana. This state of affairs should not con-
tinue. People can never have good
health, nor make desirable comrades, so
long as they permit their mouths to re-
main in such horrible condition. Hor-
rible, we call it, but even that does not ex-
press the state in some individuals.
OF all stenches, ! n offensive breath is
the most intolelable, and least excusable.
1t may, however, proceed from other
causes than carries of the teeth.
| Though person is possessed of the
symmetry of Phryne, the most beautiful
woman of Athens, and attired in the
grandest costume; yet, if they have foul
breath these charms sink into insigniti-
canoe, and they are rendered an object of
/ disgust to all with whom they associate.
Many young lady has estranged her
lover-and many doubtless will vet, if
they are not carefully being possessed
OF the imperfection named. Unfortunate
indeed is the individual who is thus
made IA target for unfeeling iests
1t is duty to yourselves and to society
to use every resource in your power to
remedy the defect.
But fetld breath is not the only bad
result. Vitiated secfetions of the mouth,
indigestion, loss OF appetite, affections of
the eyes, pains in the ears, headache,
neuralgia, particularly of the face, dis
ease oft the bronchial tubes and lungs in
GLIDING consumption, and general derange-
ment of the health are common seouel;p
of decayed teeth
These being facts, it is wonderful that
SO many otherwise intelligent people neg
lect the seth of their children, allowing
them to grow up without having acquir
the habit of keeping the mouth clean
paying no attention to the condition of
the teeth until an exposed nerve speaks
with voice that will not be silenced an.
nouncing the mischief which has been
permitted to proceed unchecked. Still
more singular is it, that so many fail to
appreciate the importance of taking care
of their own teeth, until decay, and con-
sequent suffering, impel them.
| Decay, however, is not the only enemy
of the teeth. Many persons lose their
teeth by the destruction of the means of
their support, the absorption of the gums
and sockets caused by the presence Of tar
tar This is a danger which ALWAYS
threatens those who pay too little atten.
tion to the cleanliness of their mouth
and might. in the majority of cases, be
prevented by proper care.
To insure the preservation of the teeth
till advanced life, they should be brushed
on rising in the morning, before each
meal, and before retiring
A good tooth powder should be used
at least once daily, preferably in the
morning, and detergent wash the re-
mainder of the time. Only such prepara
tions should be used however. as are
recommended by an intelligent practi-
tioner. A tooth pick, made from a ouil]
should be used after eating, and all mar.
ticles of food carefully picked from be.
tween the teeth. With the observance Of
these precautions. and visit to a good
dentist every three months, SO that the
first evidence of disease may be comhated
there is no reason why the majority OF
persons should not preserve their teeth
till old age.