St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-07-20
why Do Teeth Decay!

given.
Ist. because we eat sweet things.
Do YOU not remember how the affected
teeth ache when sugar comes in con-
tact with them ?"
End. "Because we eat sour things
acids. We use lemon juice, vinegar
and acids, and destroy the enamel of
the teeth, and then the work of de-
struction goes on"
3rd. because we use very hot and
very cold food and drinks. We take
into our mouths hot coffee, then ice
water, now scalding pudding, then
ice-cream. These extremes crack the
enamel, and thus begins the work of
destruction
have no dOutt that each and all of
these things is bad fer the teeth, but
you may indulge i'll every one of them,
and not lose your teeth, if you will
KEEP THEM CLEAN Clean teeth
don't decay. Look at that mans front
teeth see how white and clean they
are. How long do you think it would
take that front, fiat white surface to
decay if kept as clean as it is now :?
Never, you say. You are right. Now
let me ask you another question. How
long would it take other teeth to decay
if kept equally clean? | answer for
you, they would not decay in hundred
years. | will show you as many white
blackbirds as you will show me clean
white teeth beginning to decay. 1t is,
| think, a physiological impossibility.
All there is of this business is simply
this: Keep your teeth clean and they
TOnt decay!
How shall they be kept clean. OF
course with toothbrush, says some
one. Yes, a toothbrush is good, but Il
toOtI-pick is worth an armful of tooth
brushes. he tooth brush does well
in keeping the fiat sides of the teeth
clean. But on those flat surfaces the
food does not stick, and SO there is but
little tendency to decay.
The mouth is warm place, nearly
hundred degrees 10y the thermometers.
1t is never so warm in the shade in
this climate. And yet in our warmest
weather piece of meat begins to de-
cay i'll twenty four hours. If we eat
meat to-day for dinner, the little pieces
which find their way between our teeth
will, exposed to the heat of the mouth,
begin to decOmpoSe; ought we to be
surprised that the teeth and gums
should suffer am rather astOnished
that they do not take on disease even
earlier.
Now, toothbrush will not go be-
tween the teeth, Especially the double
teeth, where decay begins the earliest, }
and remove those bits of food. The
tooth pick is the great preserUer OF our
teeth. The brush helps the teeth to
look white, but the means of preserva-
between the teeth, and removes the
particles of food which find their way
there when we eat.
DetdiIS.-Ist. On rising from the
table use goose-quin tooth-pick
thoroughly, and, if practicable, rinse
the mouth, so as to remove such parti-
cles as the toOth-pick may have left
behind.
2nd. On lying down at night use q
tooth brush, broad and soft, with pull
verized soap and prepared chalk. DC
the same thing on rising in the morn
ing.
Bird. As often as you discover any
tartar about the necks of your teeth g
to dentist, have the tartar carefully
and thoroughly removed, and theI
scour away with your brush and the
above dentriiice, which, by the way
the nearest druggist will prepare fol
you.
Parents, see that your children at
tend to their teeth. How they viii
mourn over their loss. All, wha
would not | give to restore some whicl
| I h.fArA | hot | tnllIn,
You!
SO complete is the protection afford
ed by cleanliness, that Il cavity in
: tooth, if eXcavated and kept clean
will not decay any further. | one
knew young lady whose front teetl
were badly decayed. Two or three G
them were mere shells. Coming int
possession of IL fortune, her friend
urged attention to her teeth as beft
ting her new surroundings. She had
particular dislike of small points an
masses of gold shining out when sh
! spoke or laughed. She came to consul
me, and | advised the thorough remOv
a al of the decayed matter by dentis
and the use of Il syringe with war;
water after each meal to keep the cav
tiles clean. 1t was more than twent
years ago that this young woman
teeth were excavated by the dentist.
cannot see that in these years the teet
y have changed. | never saw gol
plugging preserve the teeth So perfec
ly. firmly believe if the teeth wei
skinned deprived of their ename
and were kept perfectly clean, eve
the naked bone would not decay.
The dentist is most useful memb,
, of society, and should be visited tr
! quently with reference to the pOssibi
ity of any new points of decay.-lD ID
| lewis