Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-10-14
TGsks of ProphyIactic Dentisfry-Few People Take
Proper Care of the Teeth

bered, is rarely a strong tooth and can
never be relied on for much hard work..
For this reason II is most necesSar that
decay should be removed and the tooth
stopped before the pulp cavity or nerve
is attacked.
A tooth ache will send most people to
the dentist either TO have the tooth
treated or removed. but there are cases
where the nerve of the tooth becomes
affected without much pain with the re-
suit that the infection becomes general
and abcesses form.
This brief description of the structure
of the teeth, their proneness to disease
and the insidious way that decay COM
menceA shows US the great importance
OF frequent visits to the dentist, to have
the teeth cleaned and examined and any
beginning of decay noted and promptly
arrested. A man, woman or child who
visits a reliable. conscientious dentist
every three months Is an excellent ex-
ample of the economy of prevention, an
economy of time, suffering and money.
Added to this is the proper daily home
treatment of the teeth.
Prevent What Causes Decay.
So much has been said and written on
this subject that it would seem useless
to add to it, II 1t were not SO evident that.
most people are careless in this respect
1t is agreed by dental experts that decay
comes from bacteria, and bacteria re-
suits from uncleanliness of the MOUTH:
therefore to prevent the decay that is
constantly causing loss Of teeth and send
ing people to the dentist for long, expen-
sive treatments, we must give better and
more careful care to the mouth.
A little child will generally enjoy usingI
the tooth brush and will use II properlyl
IL instructed. It adds TO his sense of i'm
portance to do something that father and
mother are doing. When the children ar
rive at the busy school-going age, how
ever, every mother knows how dificultl
it is to get the various items of the toilet
properly done. Tooth brushing is sadly
neglected, and when Il is done too oftenl
consists of perfunctory dabbing OF a
little perfumed paste or powder over the
teeth
Watch Out for Decay In the Adoles+
cent PERIOD.
1t is during the adolescent period that
the teeth are especially prone to decay,
They are often crowded on account OF
the incomplete development OF the jazz
and for some reason bacteria seems toI
form more quickly in children's mouthsi
than in grown people. For this reasoni
the proper brushing and cleansing of thei
mouth is most important
A dentist will tell you that the powderl
or paste used on the teeth Is of less im-I
portance than the method of using IL.
The tooth brush should be curved with
the bristles arranged to flt in the spaces
between the teeth. The teeth should bol
brushed with an up-and-down movement
and not across the jaw as is the too fire.
quent habit. The up-and-down move
ment dislodges particles of food between
the teeth and does not bruise the gums
as the lateral movement is apt to do.
Brushing Not Sufficient for cIeaniR
ness.
There are few sets of teeth so placed
in the jaw that brushing alone is sufh-
Client for the absolute cleanliness that
means no bacteria Brushing with fair
ly coarse powder will clean the surface
of the teeth and polish them, the latter
a necessary process for their good ap-
pearance To insure cleanliness betweenl
the teeth the dental floss should be used
after each meal, or at least before going
to bed and the mouth rinsed with a ger
micide. Alcohol and formaIn are germi-
cides and, when properly diluted, form
the safe basis OF an agreeable mouth
wash.
Teach the growing child to gargie his
throat and wash his gums and tongue ael
the same time he brushes his teeth. These
are all lurking places for germs. A biti
OF absorbent cotton will do this work
we'll. and anyone who has experienced the
comfort of a Clean cool mouth and throat
is not apt to neglect so simple a natter
n