The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-22

stitutional weakness or the use of strong
acids as medicine.
If one earnestly wishes fine, beautiful,
white teeth, uncea>ing daily attention
must be bestowed upon them. This care
must begin in childhood, just as soon as
the little baby teeth have pushed their
way through the rosy gums. All chill
dren hate having their teeth brushed,
just as they deteSt having their hair
yanked and pulled in order to remove
the snarls, or having to sit up, in stiff
white pinaforc, in the best parlor when
company comes. Who does not remember
the days OF childhood and girlhood, when
al sorts Of subterfuges were resorted to
TO escape cleaning the teeth? No matter
how many threats were held out, or how
much lmplorlng done Oh the parts of our
blessed mothers, we just wouldn't listen,
put went our way unruffled and blissful-
~ unconscious of the misery we Were.
laying up for ourselves later ON.
Food must be of the proper sort and
thoroughly masticated it one does not
wish the teeth to degenerate Teeth were
not fully accomplished, they will become
weak through lack of work, and the
stomach, then being compelled to finish
their work, will give out also
IL Is an erroneous idea that the first
tceth, because temporary, need little or
no care. They should be as regularly
washed and cleaned as those that como
later, and when the little one reaches thc
age OF years bit of dental floss shoull
pc drawn between the teeth every night
just before bedtime
Inns IS the time, too, when the teeth
should receive their most thorough
cleansing, for it is at night that fermenta-
ton takes place, and all the mischief is
wrought. The most assiduous brushing
= hn
tie avail as far as allaying decay IS con-
cerned if this little duty has been neglect
ed the night before.
Certain 1t is that women treat their
teeth to inexcusablc abuses, and when
one sees a woman crack nuts with her
teeth, or bite thread, or make of her ivor-
les an unpatented corkscrew, the express
seem a bit overdrawn.
There is not the slightest danger of
brushing the teeth too often. l make
this statement advisedly, for I do NOT
think it at all likely that you will cease
all other occupations ana start in upon
one of eternal scrubbings, or that the
most Jealous will give her teeth more
than three scrubbings a day, which is
not bit too much: Let your brush be
moderately, stiff and not too large The
small brush, slightly concave, with I'M
even bristles, is the most etticaciou
The teeth should be brushed inside as
well as outside, the motion being not
only across the teeth, but up and down
also. Tepid water is best, as either hot
or cold water is apt to occasion a shock
to the enamel which may result in crack
ing it.
DO not use toothpicks to any great
extent. and all dentrifces containing grit
ty substances must be tabooed. Diluted
llstcrlne makes an excellent wash, and
the mouth should be rinsed with it the
first thing upon arising in the morning.
Then brush the teeth well. using a pure
powder, the ingredients of which you
know, says the San Francisco Call.
When the gums are tender and liable
to bleed, a few drops of tincture of
myrrh in a glass of water makes an as
tringent and hardening wash.
Never use lemon juice on the teeth.
If they assume yelowish tinge, little
peroxide of hydrogen brushed over them
will whiten and cannot possibly injure
them.
Once every six months the dentist
should be visited, the teeth thoroughly
examined and small cavities filled This
will save tear wringing seances in the
dentist chair, when the creyiccs have be-
come so agonizing, that one doesn't care
if tidal waves swallow us up or what
happens.