Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-09-15
Care Of the Teeth.

if her teeth are not dehcately clean
and whole.
There are many factors which go to
determine the ,oundness Of ones teeth,
but none more potent than that Of use
Good vigorous action is necessary in
order that a supply of blood may be
called to the teeth to nourish them.
Give muscle no exercise and the
veriest novice knows it will get soft.
Give the teeth no work and they be-
come chalky and an easy prey to de-
cay.
Too much cooking of food and the
use of soft prepared dishes have had
too much to do with getting people
out of the habit of chewing. Those
who live on coarse foods requiring
thorough mastication have the perfect
teeth of animals, white and hard and
even. The blood supply is perfect on
account of the stimulation given by
thorough exercise of the jaws.
The higher the civilization the
worse the teeth. For not only do
people eat food which is too greatly
refined to require chewing, or soft and
mushy from over-preparation, but they
also eat sweets and condiments, and
worst of all, perhaps, they Overeat.
"The use of sugar, said a dentist
whose reputation is world wide, "is
bad in two ways. 1t not only pro-
notes fermentation in the mouth, but
it creates a false taste, which will
have to be satisfied with other things
equally detrimental and unneeded.
And they who eat more food than
necessary never can have naturally
cleansed mouth, for the saliva is pro-
vided to dissolve perfectly only the
food the body needs
"For the many who do not regulate
their habits so that their teeth are kept
naturally in good condition, there are
many simple helps which do much to
counteract any bad tendencies. Cleanse
them thoroughly with plain prepa-
ration of chalk and orris root, using
tepid water and stiff brush. This
should be done after every meal. At
least once a day examine them thor
oughly with tn. aid Of mirror to
make sure that they are properly
freed from all food particles. When
you are having dentistry done, be
sure to see that space is left between
the teeth sufficient to allow you to
pass dental floss Common sewing silk
will do) back and forth to dislodge
any food that may get in. A good
dentist should see to this, and also
that there are no Jagged edges to
break and cut the silk and prevent
its free movement. But the mouths
of nine out of every ten people who
have had work done show an opposite
condition of affairs.
THE necessity for clean teeth at
night should be especially borne in
mind. This will prevent the growth
and development Of micro-organisms
in the mouth. These are generated
most rapidly during sleep, while the
person is quiescent. They cause Pu-
trefaction and decay Of the teeth.
"When the teeth require filling they
are often acutely sensitive on account
Of high acidity Of the saliva, and very
great pain results from any work done
on them. This may be largely OBJ
waited by the use of an alkaline wash
in the mouth for two or three weeks
prior to a visit to the dentist. A tiny
pinch of common baking soda, bought
at druggists, to insure purity, is
dissolved in quarter of a glass Of
water and used to rinse the mouth
thoroughly, night and morning"