Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
PRESERVE THE TEETH
HEALTHY CONDITION DEPENDS
UPON THEIR DAILY CARE.
Saturate Soda Better Than Too Much
Powder and Brushing Must
be Up and Down.

Teeth must not be neglected. as upon
their condition depends the state of a per-
sons health as well as certain amount or
physical attractiveness. 1t is as essential
to brush ones teeth after eating, on rIs-
ing and before retiring as it is to battle
daily. declares a prominent surgeon den
tiss, and those who are careless in this
matter suffer not only from defective teeth.
but often from Ill health.
Begin the day by scrubbing the teeth,
he says, never forget it Is as necessary
for cleanliness as the tub. Start by rims
ing out the mouth with clear cod water.
Then saturate the brush in fresh 'unnlns
water. add paste and brush the teeth Wig
orously up and down. Don't forget that
the inside of them needs cleansing JUS: as
much as the outer surfaces and be sure 10
brush around the wisdom teeth that are so
far back. Scrub across the tops. too, SO no
stain will cling to the small crevicas. After
this process brush off the teeth with c'ea-
cold water and then rinse the mouth with
solution of bicarbcnate of soda.
Never brush across the teeth, for this
motion not only wears away the enamel,
but is also likely to irritate the gums and
cause them to recede This crosswiSe mo-
ton in brushing especially at the urn In
the mouth that comes where the eye teeth
are is one reason 80 many of these teeth
have ragged flesh above them. Always
brush up and DOWN
Brush Teeth Before Retiring.
Before retiring treat the teeth in the
same way to make sure no particles of
foou remain between the crevices. for In
my opinion 1t is the decaying of food eft
In the mouth over night that not only
makes the enamel defective, but often
causes physical ills such as sore gums
irrita ton of the throat. etc. To avoid such
painful experiences brush the teeth thor
oughly after dining and when convenient
between meals after eating such detcacles
as fruit or sweets.
For the after meal scrubblng ] thini.
paste Is Unnecessary and ad''ise TIE use
OF saturate soda instead of clear water.
The actual brushing should DE done III tie
same way, up and down, and . the inside
as well as tn: vdts:de. In preparing sat
urate soda, which should have place on
every washstand and be as much toilet
necessity as soap, l would make it In guam
titles, using about four tab,espoonfus of
a good quality of baking soda to a pint of
cold water This should have strong
soda flavor and II 1t has not. more of the
powder should he added to give it strength.
l. the taste is unpleasant add few drops
of solution of peppermint or winter
green to make 1t an agreeable wash. AS
to the cleanser useG in the morning: and
at night, / advocate paste. for liquids are
only antseptic and powders are as iule
washed off the brush before enough can
be dissolved and :u5bcd on the teeth to
really e'ean them
Brush More Important Than Paste.
Thorough cleansing, however. depends
more upon the brush bristles than the wash
or paste used. and for this reason a tooth
brush cannot be too carefully selected.
Never get a harsh one, nor brush with
smooth surface. or variety with soft
bristles. but buy the kind that has irregu-
lar bristles of medium length and width.
SO that 1t can be used with comfort, and
with the feeling that the crevices and
spaces between the teeth are properly
cleansed. Get a new one every five or six
weeks, and be particular to wash the
bristles in five per cent solution Of boric
acid every four or five days, and in this
way keep them in a hygienic condition that
makes them safe to use.
'Toothpicks are, in my opinion, unneces-
sary in the care of teeth, for it Is only
occasionally that particles sticking in the
crevices or between the teeth cannot be re-
moved with q brush. When some sort OF
sharp thing is needed use quill, or a rub
Der band or floss silk, but never put a
wooden tooth pick into the mouth. for
consider them dangerous, as know of
many cases of liberation caused by piece
Of wood sticking into the gums. Not in