Morris tribune., 1880-05-20
Care Of the Teeth.

DR.. White, editor OF the Dental
Cosmos, gives excellent advice to par
ents as to the care of the teeth OF chill
dren. The following suggestions may
prove useful to thousands OF our read
erS:
DIR. White mentions that earache is
often associated with and dependent
ON the difficult emergence of one or
more teeth.
Apart from the aggravation of the
fever and the increased liability to con-
WILSON'S incident to this added anguish,
there is also the possibility of loss of
hearing (of course entailing in young
children loss of speedy from the re-
sultant congestion and Inflammation.
He advises parents to count their
children's teeth occasionally after the
fifth year, and when more than five are
found on either side of either jaw they
may know that the sixth or last one be-
longs to the second or permanent set,
and if lost will never be replaced.
If found decayed, however, shortly
after their appearance, as is frequently
the case, they must be removed at
once, but they should never be allowed
to decay if the mischief can be avoided.
The attention ON the part of the par
emit or guardian should consist, not on
ly in directing the habitual thorough
cleansing of the teeth by the child, but
should include personal supervision
| of the operation, in order that serious
omissions as to time or manner may
not occur.
In addition, systematic examination
of the mouth by competant dentist
should be made at frequent intervals.
It will not do to wait until the child
makes complaint of toothache, or un'
til the ravages of decay make themselves
visible to the unprofessional eye.
In chapter on the hygiene of the
mouth, DIR. White points out how much
mischief is wrought by the use of un.
suitable brushes and injudicious scrub.
bing-by the resort to tooth powders
and mouth washes.
There is no agent, for instance, more
commonly employed for cleansing the
teeth, or more deserving of utter con
domination, than powdered charcoal.
Again, the large majority of persons
err in choosing brushes which are toe
stiff and too large, and in applyingthem
too vigorously.
A very moderate application of a soft
brush, with gentle frictional powder
such as precipitated chalk, is sufficient
for the external surfaces of the teeth
it is quite unnecessary to use the
powder oftener than once q day, the
best time for such purpose before JUS
before retiring.
The morning cleansing may be prop
erly performed with the aid of little
pure, mild soap, like white CASTLE; and
for rinsing the mouth after meals ht
recommends tepid water, to which ha
been added few drops Of spirits of am
monia or lime water.
The use of quill toothpick ate
meals to dislodge particles of foot
from between the teeth is advisable, a
is also the use of strand of waxe(
floss silk, passed between them at leas
once daily.
Perhaps 40 single article is NOR
useful as a wash. in various disor
dered conditions of the mouth, thai
phe11Ol sodiQue, a preparation mad
from tar.
According to our author, it unites tn
properties of an anti-acid, an astringent
sedative, stypti", an antiseptic, ant
a disinfectant.
Provided there are no local, exciting
mechanical causes, it will be found Ell
fective also in that class of cases of soft
spongy, swollen gums, which bleed a
the slightest touch.
This preparation may be used diluI
ed, more or less, according to the vary
ing indications, from half teaspoonfu
to tablespoonful being mixed with
tumblerful of water.