Sharp County record., 1891-01-15
CONCERNING THE TEETH.
Their Formation and Growth and How {,
Take Care of Them.

Their Formation and Growth and How to
Take Care of Them.
In recent lecture on dentistry
noted lady dentist OF this city set forth
the following facts concern ng the
teeth:
She said most truthfully that perfect
teeth contributed much to the beauty
Of the face. They set off the features,
and when white and perfect are most
attractive. But the mere question OF
beauty is OF little consequence COM
pared to the care of the teeth in con-
nection with the health. The incisors
act like scissors, cutting the food; the
pointed eye-teeth tear it while the bi.
cuspids and molars finish the work, like
the grinding OF millstones
1t is through the joint action of all
the teeth, she resumed, that the food is
ground up, ready to be attacked by the
digestive organs. If swallowed in large
pieces it leads to the breaking down of
the digestion. Dyspepsia can be avoid
cd by properly chewing the food.
The tooth consists of the root and
crown. The crown only is visible, the
root being buried in the Jaw She
pointed to a print Of an incisor, giving
the front and side view, that she might
be clearly understood. Then she went
on to explain that the crown is COM
posed of a substance called dentine,
which resembles bone, and this is COW
cred with enamel as protection. The
cavity is fl led with nerve pulp and
when the enamel is thin or decayed it
is exposed, causing the old familiar pain
called toothache.
At birth the teeth exist undeveloped,
IN the jaw. The eruption-she did not
say cutting of the first or temporary
set occur at the age of or months,
the teeth appearing in pairs. When the
eruption takes place in July or August
it is usually attended by disturbance
Of the health. But it is mistake to
attribute all child's ailments at the
time to cutting teeth; it might have
cold or bad food might have upset the
stomach. Cutting teeth alone, is not a
cause OF disease and it is bad policy to
let child GO attr!buting its illness to
this one cause. The temporary teeth
do not last long, but should be cared
for carefully from the time they appear.
The child's mouth should be carefully
washed, and as soon as he is old enough
to care for his teeth he should be
taught to clean them himself with a
soft brush and some simple dentfrce,
and they should be examined regularly
by dentist A great deal of mischief
is done by permitting them to be re-
moved too soon, or to remain in too
long. 1t causes deformity in the per-
manent teeth, which come in behind or
in front OF the arch of the jaw il they
are crowded out Of place by the tempo
rary teeth.
In the permanent teeth two sources of
disease aFee ataSS qS qESbfsSts fa around hs
tooth near the gums, which then become
sensitive and spongy. In aggravated
cases 1t causes liberation at the root,
which necessitates the removal Of the
tooth. Tartar can be remedied by
keeping the mouth scrupulously clean,
Decay is caused by part cles Of food
lodging between the teeth, or in the
pits and assures of the molars This
decays, forming an acid which destroys
the enamel, and betare are developed,
which eat deeper and deeper into the
cavity. In cases OF this sort filling was
prescr bed. Dead teeth cause disease
OF the home and affect distant organs
like the eye and ear,
Constant care, constant cleansing and
occasional visits to the dentist arc the
best remedies for all tooth troubles, the
best means Of improving teeth that are
imperfect and keeping them in good
condition where nature has been gen.
erous in supplying those that may be
accepted as models. Chicago Inter
Ocean.