The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-03-25
CARE OF THE TEETH

Cleanliness is the greatest thing
in the care of the teeth. How many
of the readers of this article use
knife and fork, dish and spoon meal
after meal without washing? Very
few.
Yet many or the same readers use
the eating utensil contained in the
mouth without even the occasional
dry wash" which the Irshman gave
his shirt.
And this woeful lack of care in
face of the fact that the mouth is a
most excellent place for food to de-
cay or ferment and germ life to multi
Fply.
1t is much more essential, in the
interest of cleanliness, to wash the
mouth than the dinner dishes.
Further, the filth left in the
mouth is eventually carried into the
| stomach and there and in the intes-
tines, produces irritation, causing
more or less serious reflex disturb
ances of an acute or chronic nature.
A filthy mouth also predisposes one
to inflammation of the respiratory Or
gans, such as the we'll known cold
in the head" sore throat, bronchitis
and even pneumonia.
The strictly local results of I'M
cleanliness about the mouth are IA
miliar to all of us in the we'll known
malady called tooth ACHE" and less
familiar in the diseases of the gums,
which cause the loss of more teeth
than does actual decay.
One may be reduced to the plight
of the woman who said, II have only
two teeth left, but thank goodness
they meet.
The habit of mouth care and clean
illness should be established early in
life. 1t is extremely important for
the child to have it's teeth in good
working order, for this is the time
in life when habits of thoroughness
in mastication are formed. Converse
ly, childhood is the time when the
habit of passing food into the stom-
ach without chewing is established.
This last because, perhaps, the teeth
are tender on account of cavities or
are lost altogether for the same rea-
son.
This is also the formative or grow
Ing period of the child's life, when it
needs, as much as any time which
we'll masticated food alone can give.
The child's temporary set of teeth
should also be well looked after and
preserved until such time as nature
shall provide substitutes in the perm
lnent set.
At or before this time it should
llso be seen that the child does not
breathe through its mouth. If it
Ices breathe through its mouth for
my considerable length of time, ir-
egularity of the teeth and a long
rain OF bad symptoms will follow.
IT it is noted that the child
reathes through it's mouth it should
e taken to the family physician or
ose and throat specialist for exam
lation of its nose and throat. If OBJ
are found they should be
eemoved, and If the teeth are irreg-
lar they should then be regulated
ne child should be instructed to
reathe through its nose and should
assisted and encouraged in every
ay to do so.
In considering care of the teeth"
should not be overlooked that one a
the simplest and most effectiy@
cans of keeping the teeth a
outh In good condition is within the
ach OF everybody. 1t is a means
nlch We all can and should use.
lat means is-vigorous mastication.
:, putting it another way, exercise
the teeth and muscles of mastica-
IN. They need exercise as we'll as
e other organs and muscles of the
dy.
Chew with vim and vigor. Chew
rd and resisting foods, crusts of
cad, hard brittle toast, and chew
til the food is liquid.
The thorough and energetic mas
alton OF food acts beneficially in
'eral ways. 1t tones up the soft
sues or the mouth and helps to
ke the gums hard and healthy.
ing the teeth a firmer and better
i. me vigorous chewing means
It the food passes oftener and with
re friction over the exposed sur
e OF the teeth, thus cleansing and
lshlng the surfaces that the food
hes In contact with, and in this
nner helping to prevent decay.
ne teeth should be examined and
shed by a dentist at least twice
rly, and at such times all neces-
filings and repairs made. If there
n extreme tendency for the teeth
lecay or If the gums are or have
n diseased, the teeth should have
tment once month.
ne articles required for the toilet
ne teeth and mouth are a good -.
'h, good dentifrice, paste pre-
ed, spool of waxed dental or rib-
toss silk and, if desired, some
toothpicks.
ne most important time to brush
teeth is the last thing at night
time is selected as the most
us eXcreted during the night the
Tn is at rest and if any particles
cd are left in the mouth thew will
nore apt to ferment and decay
during the day.
lie teeth should be brushed first sa
IN the morning to remaye thrp~-
rs excreted during the nighf and
products of bacterial action 90