The Washington herald., 1913-02-08
Topics of Interest to Every Woman
EDITED BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI
PRESERVATION OF THE
TEETH IS IMPORTANT
No Woman Can Be Considered Beau
tiful Who Has Unsightly
Teeth.

In the first place. let us remember that
the teeth are far too important an asset
both to health and to beauty to be cared
for entirely by ones self.
We may be our own manicure, ano
even do most of the things necessary tc
preserve the teeth, but every once in sc
often the dentist should be consulted. He
is regarded by most of US as a torturing
| monster to be avoided at all hazard This
Is because we go to him when he has
&c cure rather than in time to prevent
| trouble, and do not realize that the pain
he is causing is not from any diabolical
desire on his part. but rather the sure
result of ur own neglect and careless
ness.
When, had We gone to him soon
enough, he would have found merely a
small orifice or two in the enamel Of one
or more teeth, easily to be filled, prompt
ly and quickly; he discovers now a cavity
perhaps reaching we'll into the soft in
terror of a tooth, probably with nerve
exposed. and to remedy this is a more
or less painful as well as a comparative
ly complicated and expensive operation.
Sensible Care.
Daily and sensible care of the average
set OF teeth will put of the necessity
VI StLlOuS NOTh On lIlt pdll VI AIlS ASAs4oN
for years. and such visits should be paid
to him merely to obtain expert assurance
that the line OF defense from the enemy,
decay. is unbroken and in good order. We
are all apt to think that. after all. 1t Is
not SO serious a matter to lose tooth.
Almost everybody has, We assure our
selves, but as a matter of fact, that loss
is the return OF an indictment against
us for carelessness and neglect, Tor un-
tidiness of the mouth, and what Is TO
be thought Of person who Is gullty OF
that last The ancients, with no dentists
worthy of the name, used to say that
man began to die with the loss OF his
first tooth. With many skillful dentists
all about, and knowledge of the care of
the teeth, 1t is not necessary we should
begin to die for some time.
1t will be conceded by any one pos
sessing the slightest observation that
good teeth are as important as any
other one thing in preserving youth
full appearance. When they fall out
or decay, years, seemingly, are added
to the face, the shape of the mouth
changes. and a withered look ensues.
While the external causes OF tooth
decay can be restrained by absolute
cleanliness of the mouth. there are
internal causes, symptoms of certain
bodily diseases. that are also destruc-
tive. and when these manifest them
selves in pale, unhealthy looking gums.
sometimes shirking and drawing back
from the teeth. a physician. as well as
a dentist, should be consulted. Simply
pale and sensitive gums, however. can
be greatly helped sometimes by massag-
ing with the finger dipped in olive oil.
rubbing the gums Of the upper jaw from
above downward, and those of the lower
jaw from below upward, also by bath
ing the mouth with a rather strong
solution of alcohol.
Salt Good Dentifrice.
For a general dentifrice plain salt
is as good as anything. This may be
varied with ground CASTLE soap mixed
with precipftated chalk. See that the
teeth on the right side of the mouth
receive as much attention as those on
the left. Besides brushing thoroughly
after each meal, it is well to cleanse
the mouth before retiring. with lister
Inc or with a weak solution of peroxide
Of hydrogen. II the latter solution is
too strong. It will have the effect OF
loosening the teeth.
After meals. too. clean carefully be-
tween the teeth with a toothpick of
soft wood or dental floss Use the
brush as sparingly as is consistent with
cleanliness and always brush from the
roots up. never across. II the saliva
has a tendency to acidity frequent rms
ing of the mouth with limewater IS
good, while if alkaline, use bicarbonate |
Of soda and water.
These things may seem too simple |
10 be impressive, but remember that /
[ is because the truly effective bases |
IF the beauty-doctor's mixtures are so |
heap that he makes SO much money.