St. Landry democrat., 1886-02-27
NUMBER 7.
Tht. ssrist~5Iial of Hum nifty
"HAI CIVILIZATION DID FOR OCI1
TEErH.-ADvICE TO CHEW
EVERYrHISG
Chicago Herald.


One "f the best. known dentists OF
the city was in communicative mood
the other day when reporter was hav-
ing :; little tooth carpentering done.
Naturally the subject turned upon the
preservation of the teeth, and the DOC
| tor was easily induced 70 express h.,
views. which he did about as follows:
W hen primitive man dined On
tough meat in raw or half cooked
condl1lon, tearing The flesh with his
teeth, and snawins the bones like a
lion little need had he to look after tho
state "t his grist-mill, for the vigorous
action, 'he firm pressure of the gums.
the l"1=ii friction against bone and
of the whole mouth kept his mills in
perfect condition Our primitive friend
lived to a ripe old age, and then died
with It moutbful of sound teeth.
- But, alas! with the glories and
amenities of civilization came the rev
process of cock ing and changes of diet,
much less favorable to the health OF
our eiist-miis. Meats were made ten
der by thorough exposure to heat:
vegetables we're reduced to soft pape-
Scelcc vt the same agency. and fine
white bread became the staff Of life, sts
thar the teeth had little or nothing tt,
DO, ~" hard work to keep them clean
ana strong or to make the gums firm
and healthy. To make matters still
worse, having little on nothing to chew,
". lo>1 the enod old habit of chewing.
and even opr soft foods We're swallowed
without the little mastication that they
needed, This lack of use produced
feeble, nutrition and lessened power Of
resistance, and soon organic acids, de-
composed food etc, wrought havnc
upon five tooth tissue, erodipg and cat
ing away the enamel and dentine till
one line day sharp pain sternly called
attention to the fact that civilized hah-
ITS are not compatible with sound
grinders.
II, the causes of decay given above
means which it is necessary to adopt in
order tn preserve the teeth that is,
cleanliness and use. Use your teeth in
chewing your food !; chew everythin.
You put in your mouth vigorously ant
thoroughly, whether it is jelly Of
pigeons brains or leathery beetsteab.
If you do this, and let nothing pass the
portals of your mouth without having
first given the teeth some vigorous
exercise upon it, not only will the teetl,
be former and stronger, but the wholt.
moufl. will be healthier and the diges-
ton improved. To further this object
avoid cutting the meat into such micros-
copi" bits that it can be, or is likely te
be, swallowed whole, and avoid undue
haste ia eating.
This proper use of the teeth should
be supplemented with vigorous uses
Of the toothbrush upon the teeth aud
gums. especially the latter. Vigorous
}n,< aY,hc fnkx 60
that before spoken of as being so benefi-
cial to our primitive friend when hs
gnawcd bones and chewed gristle. It
en.en,lers AL increased flow of blood to
the gums, stimulates them and improves
their nutrition Brush them eyerv tIav
till they bleed, and it only makes them
firm + and healthier, until finally nu
amount of brushing Will make them
bleed. Next comes cleanliness. BY
means OF toothpicks and rinsine the
moutIt with water after each meal keep
the itterstices OF the month free from
PARTICLES of food.
~ popular error that should be cor
rert.ti. and by whom better than by
he isetors is the idea that the first or
milk teeth should be pulled out as soon
rs th't are decayea or show signs of
|nosenrss. Let it be remembered that
Nh':n lie milk teeth are extracted be-
fore th. proper time n narrow and con
tr:lcr.d or more seriously deformed jaw
results The rapid growing jaw Of the
hoy nr girl closes in upon the space
left vacant by the lost tooth, absorption
Vi tlr'' aiveolar process takes place, so
reforming the jaw that when the sec
md ',.th come they find no room and
",cn,ue crooked and irregular. I'm
short. and irremediable error has been
made