The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18


may exercise their functions almost
with impunity. the teeth, whose office
is 30 laborious, sometimes suffer
from the temperature of foods and
from their resistance and compost
ton.
For this reason especially it is
necessary In making the toilet of
the teeth. every day. to use prod
ucts In which there Is not a harm
full Ingredient. Moreover. elixirs,
dentifrice powders and pastes must
not only DO favorable for the teeth,
but also for the mucous membranes.
For this reason the examination OF
the saliva ought to precede tho
choice Of 4 dentlfrice.
In order that the teeth be beau.
dful they should develop on q regu-
lar double curve. the line of the
gums forming a we'll ordered guido
for the teeth.
The lower teeth should At precise
ly to the upper teeth. without any
gaps, for the lower Jaw alone moves.
while tho upper jaw Is a part Of the
bony structure OF the face.
When our teeth are all In they
are thirty.two in number; sixteen
for each jaw-four incisors, two ca
mines and ten molars.
The wisdom teeth" are the last
molars on each jaw. They need es-
pecial care and attention because
usually they are not so strong as
our other teeth. They are, In fact,
vanishing with evolution, like our
little toes. AS the race develops
Its jaws grow smaller. and so there
arc many mouths which really have
not room for the wisdom teeth A
perfectly reliable dentist. II you can
find one. will tell you whether such
teeth should be removed from your
child or whether his Jaws are suf-
f1ciently large to permit them to
stay.
The tooth In its hard portion Is
made up OF cement. ivory and
enamel. The enamel forms the SUI,
perficial layer and gives the tooth
brilliancy. 1t Is more or less frag-
lie, according to the individual.
The acids attack the enamel:
hence 1t follows that some dentifrices
are quite dangerous and that some
fruits and acid drinks attack the
teeth. Persons addicted to drink
Ing cider always have wretched
teeth.
Tho daily treatment of the teeth
consists of washing and brushing.
The tooth brush Is very important
instrument, which should be steril-
lied both before and after using.
AS soon as the bristles wear or be-
gin to drop out 1t is time for a new
brush. You really need a new brush
once a month. In selecting your
tooth brush remember that 1t Is not
simply to rub or polish the enamel
or remove the food from between
the teeth. but 1t is also intended to
stimulate the gums. Therefore, it
should not be too stifY.
In addition to the brushing of the
teeth every morning. they should
be brushed after each meal, SO as
to remove all particles OF food from
between the teeth. In this way all
lamentations and deposits which
are the constant cause OF decay are
avoided.
II the children arc habltuated,
from the earliest age to take the
best possible care OF their teeth,
tooth trouble will be postponed or
prevented. Warm boiled water
should be used for children to wash
their teeth; adults may put into the
water they use a few drops of this
antiseptic solution:
ThymIc acid. .25 centlarammes
BenxoIc acid. ......3 qrammes
TIneture Of Eucalyptus,
100 arammes
OIL Of peppermint. Ne eramme
1t Is not enough to take daily care
OF the teeth. Care must be taken in
their use. Never break anything
with your teeth and never bite on
metal with them. Do not eat food
that Is either too hot or too cold.
Ices are as harmful to the teeth as
very hot brews. Do not. for in
stance. after drinking very hot soup,
swallow Ice water.
There are all kinds OF preparations
for the teeth, but, unfortunately,
many of these contain harmful ele-
ments. Be sure as to what is in
any dentifrice before using 1t, and
see to It that 1t Is adapted to your
saliva.
You can tell easily whether your
saliva is acid, alkaline or neutral, by
putting your tongue on a piece of
turnsole (thymus) paper, or blue
litmus paper. You know that acids
turn this blue paper reddish. There
fore, II this paper turns red when
put to your tongue, your saliva Is
acid and you should correct this by
an alkaline tooth wash. II, on the
contrary. your saliva turns this paper
blue after 1t has been turned red by
acid treatment, your saliva Is too
alkaline and an acid dentifrice
should be used. This is. however,
very rare, and the entire organism