The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-03-25
ADVICE ABOUT Teeth
CONCERNING THEIR STRUCTURE
AND CARE NECESSARY FOR
PRESERVATION.
AN ANTlsEPTIc POWDER.
Tooth Living Structure-Decay Due
to Micro Organisms in the Mouth
Tartar Causes Gums to Recede-
Cleaning of the Teeth-Use of Salt
Tooth Powders and Breath Per-
fumes

Tooth Powders and Breath Per-
fumes.
BY OLIVE C. sMITHsON. M. d.
Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery
Copyright, 1904. by Joseph B. Bowles)
Many people have the idea that a
tooth is a solid bone without life. On
the contrary, it is living structure
one of the bone tissues of the body
and requires nutritious and varying
food for it's healthy growth and life.
The cause of the decay of teeth is in
directly due to heterogeneous, bac-
terra which are always present in the
mouth You may dislike this idea, but
hey are there, nevertheless, in count
less numbers and varieties. They have
for their food that part of our food
which clings to the teeth. Some OF the
tiny organisms have the power to
cause these food particles and films to
ferment, and form acids. These acids
in contact with the enamel cause it to
be broken down and destroyed. The
dentine is not nearly SO resistant as
the enamel, and when bacteria have
once gained entrance to this substance
their work goes on much more rapid
ly In explaining this process of the
decay of teeth, we have also explained
the necessity for keeping the teeth
clean and free from food particles.
The presence of tartar on the teeth
causes a recession of the gums. Tar
tar is composed chiefly of irritating
salts, derived from the secretions of
the mouth. Klebs. high authority
on the subject, found with the micro
scope that it is full of bacteria. which
may be injurious to the teeth, and
particularly to the gums
In cleaning the teeth, no matter
with what you may clean them,
whether an instrument or a cleansing
substance, remember that they should
be cleaned inside as well as outside.
The deposit of tartar is apt to be much
greater inside the teeth.
The teeth should be brushed up and
down, as well as across their surfaces.
A vertical movement of the brush re-
moves many particles of food from
between the teeth which could not
otherwise be gotten rid of. A piece of
silk twist pushed between the teeth
will remove shreds of food which can
not be reached with the brush. In
using the brush, the circulation of the
gums should be gently stimulated by
friction, and for this reason it is best
always to use a moderately stiff brush.
Red, spongy gums, which bleed read
lily, are the symptoms of some consti-
tutiOnal disease, about which one
should consult the dentist and ply
stefan.
There is a simple practice that has
long been followed by the Irish, that
anyone can adopt with benefit. 1t is to
clean the teeth and gums occasionally
with common salt. rubbed gently into
the gums above and below with a piece
of soft muslin. This is valuable in
destroying both heterogeneous and
other injurious deposits. Pulverized
purifying, is rather too harsh sub
stance, even in the finely divided
state, to be used habitually on the
teeth.
Tooth powders and tooth pastes seek
to combine the polishing effect of fine
ly-divided substances with antiseptic
qualities. Tooth washes are simply
for antiseptic purposes, and for rem
dering the mouth and breath fragrant.
There are many varieties of dentifrice
some Of which are good, while others
are extremely injurious to The sub
stance teeth. 1t is always best to use
only those preparations recommended
by ones dentist. The following pre-
scription makes simple and effective
tooth powder, recommended for gen.
eral use by an eminent French dentist:
English prepared chalk. ounce
Grounu Otis roOl--. ounce
Oil of roses. ...................-.......1 drop
Brush the teeth with a moderately
stiff brush, dipped in this, which will
cleanse and whiten the teeth.
In conclusion, let me say just word
about the use of the so-called breath
perfumes" which are on the market.
This practice is an extremely vulgar
one, indeed. An unpleasant odor of
the breath, in the absence of decayed
or unclean teeth, is usually Cue to
some digestive disturbances. 1t may
also be one of the symptoms of grave
diseases of the lungs or upper cir mas