The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-06-03
Care q the Teeth.

20 Care q the Teeth.
Two duties ,devolye upon those who
wish to possess sound teeth Tor many
years. First, cleanse the spaces between
the adjacent teeth and the depressions
in which bread is apt to lodge every day
before the sugar in the food can ferment,
and generate s0urness strong enough to
act upon the dental lime and impair its
strength. Secondly, rinse the mouth
well after each meal with borax water
or soda water-a teaspOonful to pint.
No doubt the best way of proceeding is
to cleanse the spaces between the teeth
by picking out after each meal the bits
Of bread that have been deposited, and
then rinse the mouth with bOrax or soda
water. Either wash will remove the
sourness that may have been formed,
and lessen the action upon the teeth.
All acid drinks act upon the teeth more
or less. Even vinegar acts upon the
teeth enough to be used for purposes of
cleansing them. especially when q crust
or rust has formed upon their surface.
Vinegar and water, half and hall, may be
safely used once week. The mouth
should be cleansed with water or soda at
once after taking acid drinks or medi-
cine. The muriated tincture of iron may
be useful medicine, but does the teeth
q large amount of harm if the mouth is
not cleansed at once on its coming in
contact with the teeth. Hardly any COM
pound is so effective and harmless as
cleansing mixture for the mouth and
teeth as q teaspoon of the bicarbonate
of sodapr of pulverized borax and two
teaspoons camphor water mixed III q
pint of water. Keeping bottle of it
upon the washstand and rolling tea
spoon of it about the mouth after each
meal will do vast deal toward pre-
venting and checking decay. Borax is
an effective disinfectant and may be
safely and daily used to remove acidity
Of the mouth and also to disinfect the
odor of the breath that arises from de.
caying teeth and liberated gums. In
brushing or cleansing the teeth with any
wash or powder care should be used
lest the teeth be brushed SO much and
harshly as to wear the enamel of the
teeth and thus do irreparable harm
Too much pains can not be taken to re-
tain the strength and integrity of this
covering. 1t can hardly be necessary
to say that they who wish to preserve
their teeth must avoid breaking hard
bodies with them, as cracking nuts. The
enamel is very susceptible to the influ-
ence of temperature in rapid changes, so
that bringing hot and cold water in close
and sudden contact with the enamel is
very sure to induce great harm to their
structure. We have seen ladies drink
hot tea and follow it at once by ice wa
ter, a process that they had reason to
regret in after years. '''' -.- -
Another cause of decaying teeth is the
deposite made upon the outer surface of
the teeth and near the gums. Dentists
may easily scale this off and prevent the
harm its presence would do the outer
membrane of the teeth. The chief
cause of decaying teeth in these modern
days is the peculiar food on which chill
dren live. We refer chiefly to the meals
so generally consumed that have been
deprived of the elements that 90 to con-
struct the enamel, the most valuable
part of the teeth. The teeth need the
phosphate of lime. If these elements are
uO6 1Ouuu III Guc AVOOS ouu ~ III Gu0
blood, the several tissues they form are
deficient in growth and strength. For
many years now children have been fed
on food that contains very little phos-
phate of lime. The result is that chill
dren fed on such food have no means of
promoting the growth, strength and en-
durance Of the enamel. Hence, we now
hear a great deal said about decay of
teeth in early life, and parents are more
than ever urged to resort to all reasona-
BILE ways Of preserving the teeth of the
rising generation. The value of these
organs depends not only upon the de.
formity their. loss occasions, but largely
upon the important position they hold
among the digestive organs. Always
keep the teeth clean even in the early
days of childhood, as soon as they ap-
pear above the surface of the gums. "A
soft toothbrush and clean toilet soap or
borax water are usually sufficient to
keep the dentals clean. Avoid chalk
and charcoal. Tooth-picks should be
made of wood. Consult dentist as
soon as decay begins.-Prairie Farmer.