The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-08-04
DEADLY TOOTHBRUSH.
Doctor Who Would Add This Toilet
Article to the Growing List Of
Forbidden Things.

grows Among these, we now learn
must be numbered the toothbrush
hitherto counted innocuous and eve
recommended for frequent use. But ID
T.. Palier. writing on The Abuse Of thu
Toothbrush" in the Dietetic and Hy
gienic Gazette, tells us that 1t is tn
abode of microbes and Is skillfull.
adapted to introduce these by inocula
ton into the organism with its pene
trating bristle. Says DR.. Palier:
The toothbrush has been In vogu,
for a long time without being suspect
ed of doing any mischief. Nowhere Il
it used with such vigor as it is here, anI
nowhere is the demand for artificial
teeth and their employment as preya
lent as in this country. The toothbrush
in my opinion, is a potent factor in iii
causation of many Ills, and | cosside.
the matter of too great importance t(
be overlooked.
The mouth, as is well known, j.
teeming with microbes; If we eS2ulln,
a drop of sDutum under the microSec.
il will be found to be loaded with laS
terra. Ppeumococei are freqrert
found in the sputun of healthy peopit
and in addition there may lie othe.
%pathogenic heterogeneous from vart
GUS sources. The means of safeguard
ing against infection by these micro-or
ganisms is to Keep the mucous mem
brane intact; wherever there is q bread
of surface, however Insignificant IL maJ
be, infection may take place, especially
if the system be in such a state that tht
resisting power is lessened, such, fol
instance, as extreme fatigue, hunger
etc. | think we can safely say that II
a number of infectious diseases the In.
| lection is introduced through thf
mouth. The local infiammatory aflec,
lions are of course due to some local
infection, but even systemic infectious
diseases, such as diphtheria, searlatina,
etc, are frequently primarily caused
by local infection of the mouth.
Now the toothbrush is first of all
always loaded With micro-organisms; In
order to make II aseptic 1t would have
to be submitted either to strong chem
ical germicides or TO prolonged boiling,
as some microbes are extremely resist
ing, especially the sporulent ones, The
toothbrush is seldom if ever properly
sterilized. 1t is simply rinsed in cold
or hot water which is altogether made
quate. Then, too, the brush is usually
stiff, the hairs get In between the teeth
causing an abrasion of the gums, and
thus n practically inoculates himself
with microbes. If they happen to be
virulent ones they will surely dis
ease. For instance. a nurse attending
a case of diphtheria may have blown
into her mouth some particle of the pa
tents sputum loaded with microbes.
She uses a toothbrush which causes
some |abrasions Of the mucous mem
brane, and thus inoculates herself with
the disease. AnLiseptics for the mouth
will hardly do, and it is practically i'm
possible to sterili2e this cavity on ac-
count of its many hooks and corners
The ordinary mouth washes and pow
ders are hardly strong enough to have
any effect on bacteria. In addition, the
toothbrush frequently causes local irri
tation and painful gums. Such a cast
recently came to my office, the pa
tient complaining of extreme tenderness
of the lower gums, which entirely disap-
peared on discarding the toothbrush.
believe thai the greater prevalence OF
affections of the teeth in this country a.
compared with Europe is due to the
toothbrush, which is more frequently
and vigorously used here than anywhere
else in the world. To see a middle-aged
or even young person in this country
with healthy teeth is a rarity; even
young ladies' Of Is usually expose to
sightone or more artificial teeth made Of
gold" .
But If we are to taboo the brush, how
keep the teeth clean? DR.. Palier assures
US that he has no objections to cleanli-
ness, but he has a substitute for the
brush to recommend. Here it Is:
Il have found that for cleansing the
teeth aseptic absorbent cotton is best. A
piece of cotton, about the size of a wal
nut, should be taken, soaked In fresh
water, and made into a pledget, tooth
powder put on it, and, holding 1t be-
tween the thumb and index fingers, the
teeth thoroughly cleansed. 1t will be a
little awkward, of course, at first, but
with a little experience n may easily
manage it,
"The advantages of this method ara
that a fresh piece of aseptIc cotton may
be taken each time, which is practically
impossible with a toothbrush, and the
is soft and not likely to cause
any abrasion Of the mucous membranes,
does II cause irritation and pain In
the gums. Of course before cleansing
the mouth in this way both hands and
face should be bathed.
"The toothbrush, to be safe, must
be disinfected each time 1t Is used. For
reasons which. are apparent 1t is not
wise to use on 1t strong antiseptics, as
itis taken into the mouth. If n is deter
mined to use the toothbrush it should
be sterllized by boiling 1t for at least
half an hour, and this should be done
frequently. This, however, is apt to