The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-02

quiliSt WIlli6 lle WOOL DICKS SHoulu De avoided on account of their leaving sliv- CTS under the gums. The best method, however, of cleaning between the teeth, is the use of dental floss silk, which may be obtained from either the druggists or dental dealers It is furnished in suit able holders which may be conveniently 1 carried in the pocket, and should be used after each meal Care should be exer- cised not to injnre the gums by cutting them with the thread in carrying 1t be- l tween the teeth. If floss silk catches upon any rough edge between the teeth. l 1t Is an indication that something Is wrong, and that point should be exam l ined.
 l Where 1t Is not convenient to brush the teeth after eating, the habit of rinsing
 the mouth with clear water is very ben eficial if properly done; but it must be l done foreibly and plenty of water used
 to accomplish any good.
 In selecting a dentifrice one need not
 be welded to any particular formula or
 make, for none have any special virtue
 which will. in itself prevent decay; but are useful in making the cleaning more 1 thorough There are many delightful preparations on the market which are the
 products of the highest pharmaceutical l skill and may be used with perfect safe l ty, but it is always we'll to ask the ad- vice of your dentist before making a se- 1 lection.
 To keep the teeth polished and free
 from stains it is necessary to use a pow
 der three or four times a week, but not oftener than once a day. The finest pre-
 ciptated chalk Is good; also any of the
 manufactured powders that do not con-
 tain grit and these are preferred by
 many on account of their agreeable taste. ] This is an advantage in the case of chill
 dren.
 Where the saliva seems to be of an acid
 nature, which is shown by the teeth
 being unnaturally sensitive, with ten-
 dency to rapid decay, prepared chalk will | be found useful in correcting this condi- l tion. The chalk in the form of a paste
 should be rubbed into the spaces between
 the teeth just before retiring, where 1t
 will neltralize any acid secretIons dur ! Ing the night, when, as above stated,
 most of the harm is done. Acid saliva, however, is sure to be due to some sys- l temic Arrangement, and the general i health should be improved by exercise in
 fresh air, proper diet, and copious draughts of water.
 Especially in sickness should the great est care be given the teeth, for like any other organ in the body they suffer from l the general effects of disease and i'm paired nutrition The fluids of the mouth i are also unhealthy during sickness and are likely to injure the teeth by contact ; this must be enumerated by extra v'gi- lance in caring for them. Much of the harm that teeth suffer from the effects of long illness is usually attributed to 1 the strong medicines used, but it is very l largely due to neglect at that time. If the patient be too sick to permit the use I of a brush, the mouth should be ire | quently rinsed with water; or some of | for ha purpose will impart delightful fresh ness to the mouth. Should any medicine | of an acid nature be used an alkaline wash. such as lime water, used before and after each dose, will be effective in preventing bad results from the action
 of the acid on the enamel.
 The gums are subject to various dis- eases. and probably as many teeth are lost from this cause as from decay I sound teeth must be often extracted be- l cause the sockets which should hold them in place, have been wasted away i by disease. This disease often progresses so painlessly that the individual is not aware that there is anything seriously amiss until the teeth are beyond saliva tion Whenever the gums have an in- famed appearance around their margins or bleed upon brushing, they should be examined at once; for very probably a 1 little tartar has accumulated. which, if left, may cause serious trouble. It Is not well to attempt to "harden" them
 by use of wash until after you have
 consulted a dentist and had the cause removed.
 The foregoing remarks are intended | more for people who have learned to appreciate the value of their teeth from
 experiences; but how often does the real
 ization of this come too late. The respon- sibilty therefore lies with mouthers to
 1otr ohi imn0rfanCR
 good teeth, and to have them early form the habit of keeping them clean and 1 healthy It is during childhood that the teeth are most liable to decay; and if it can be prevented then, good teeth are practically insured for life.
 The importance of saving the baby 1 teeth is as great as 1t is little under stood. Besides the desirability of saving 1 the little one unnecessary suffering, the | temporary teeth should be kept sound 1 so that the food may be properly pre- pared for digestion. Indeed it Is most important that the child should have 1 teeth necessary for performing well the first part of the digestive process, for, | if a child of years old. for example, be deprived of few teeth, and if it be allowed solid food that 1t cannot masti- cate, 1t is inevitable that by the greater excitablity of it's nervous system in early life it's delicate digestive apparatus ! SnOulu De uefduBeu anu SeIiohS COASc- l quences result.
 1 No doubt much of the sickness and loss of life among children are largely due | to the use of improper food which the l child cannot properly prepare for diges- 1 ton because of defective teeth, or the spaces caused by their loss.
 When allowed to remain healthy, tho | rotts of the ''baby" teeth are absorbed l by nature and the teeth fall from the mouth without having caused the child a moments pain. But should they be al- lowed to decay until the nerve. or pulp | which supplies vitality to the tooth, be- 1 comes exposed and dies, the absorption | of the roots ceases at once. If allowed ro remain in this condition, suppuration will take place and an abcess Will De formed which will injure the growing germs of l the permanent teeth. The tooth. then, 1 will have to be extracted which is all | ways painful on account of the spreading 1 shape of the roots, and the child thus forms a dread of the dentist which con- tinues through life.
 Another reason why the temporary teeth should not be allowed to decay Is the effect their premature extraction has on the space to be occupied by the per- manent teeth. The teeth naturally suI,- port one another In the arch; and where a tooth is extracted the teeth on either side of the space thus formed yield to the lateral pressure from the others, and are crowded over until sometimes the space is entirely closed. Where this occurs several times in the mouth the encroachment upon the room which should be preserved for the second teeth cannot fail to cause their irregularity.