The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-01-07


EskimOs.
1t is only recently that the teeth and
mouth have been suspected of being &
source of a number of serious infections
diseases, especially diseases of the heart
blood, kidney, and joints. The develop
ment of X-ray photography, particularly
the celluloid film, which has made the
making of N-ray pictures of the teeth
most convenient, has shown infected
roots of the teeth to be the cause of many
obscure rheumatic and other joint
troubles.
Careful examinations of many skulls
in the national museums show the inferi-
GRITTY of the teeth of our present white
races as compared with those of ancient
times or those of the present who con
tinue to live under primitive conditions.
and the United States public health
service, in a discussion of the care of
teeth. points out that the teeth have re
spOnded to the laws of nature just as
have other organs and other tissues. The
teeth Of the present day Eskimo, for eX-
ample are still in the stage of improve
ment.
The Eskimo did not choose the extreme
North as his place of abode because of
being a waTlike person, he gradually
worked as far North as man can exist in
an endeavOr to escape the raids of the
more warlike Indian tribes. Living thus
he had to exist on the cOarsest of foods.
Besides this, since his tools and nipple
mcnts are few and simple, he has often
been compelled to use his teeth as both
tools and implements. He chewS his
moccasin strings to make them pliabIc.
Teeth Deteriorate
With our white races, whose habits of
life are such that little hard usage IS
demanded of the teeth, we find that the
teeth and bOny structures have degener-
atcd and some persons have assumed
that in a comparatively few thousand
years our civilized races will no longer
possess any dental organs.
In telling of the care necessary for the
teeth. the service says that in addition to
careful attention TO proper food to build
strong and healthy teeth. it is important
to make sure that everything is done to
prevent decay. Decay of the teeth" ii
continues, spoken of as dental carries.
IS caused by the action of germs which
lodge upon the less exposed parts of
tooth. As q result of their growth the
tooth structure is sOftened, allowing the
succeeding generations of bacteria to pen
citrate further into the tissues of the
tooth.
1T will be noticed that decay usually
81
the surface used in chewing. or else at
the point where one tooth adjoins an
other. This point also fails to receive
the securing which the more exposed
parts Of a tooth receive. In some of the
ancient skulls examined it was found
that the surfaces which made contact
with other teeth in the same jaw were
highly polished by the slight motion Of
each tooth in its socket as hard pres
sure was brought to bear upon it and
II was thus rubbed against its neighbor.
Therefore. to reduce or prevent decay of
the teeth we must work along two lines :
to polish all surfaces of the teeth as far
rs possible and to reduce the number of
bacteria to minimum.
Efficient Methods
'Smearing the nails with clay or vase
line and endeavoring to cleanse them with
an Old tooth brush will enable one
to form an ODiniOn as to the most pffec-
tive method of brushing the teeth. Brush
ing across the nails will leave material
along the sides Of each nail brushing up
and down the nail will leave the area
about the root of the nail uncleanSed {:
hut if the brush DC used in rotary man
ncr. the brlStleS describing a small circle
upon the nail. it viii be found that all
The material will be removed. For the
inner side of the teeth, the brush is used
a. one would use a hoe. as the rotary mo-
ton is impracticable, bat in using this
back, as this will tend to carry germs be-
meath the gum margins.
If the gums bleed when the teeth are
brushed some abnormal condition. exists.
and competent dentist should at once
be consulted. \ healthy gum is not east
" injured. 4 thorough rinsing of the
mouth should follow to remove such ma
tarial as has been diSlOdged by the pre-
vious processes. The use of a tooth
powder tooth paste. or other dentifrice
is desirable. and there is no particular
choice in the selection of one except that
it should not be gritty. Ordinarily lime
water is excellent for cleaning the teeth
for it dissolveS the mucous film which
often covers the teeth.
The use of a toothpick is generally
to be condemned. as in its use many per-
sons injure the delicate gum tissue which
extends in a crescent-shaped mass be-
tween the teeth. The preservation OF
this tissue IS very desirable Dental
floss is very valuable in cleansing the
surfaces between the teeth, but care
should be taken in its use.
Deposits on Teeth
The teeth should be carefully brushed
after each meal. When this is impracti
cable the teeth should at least be brushed
on arising in the morning and before re-
firing at night. and thorough rinSing oil
the mouth and garglling of the throat
should be practlced after each meal. The
gums may also be cleansed with th(
brush, hut not with rs hard usage ak
when polishing the teeth.
"The first sign of tartar is Sigh
r0ughneSs, felt usually on the inside o.
the lower front teeth. This is caused by
deposits from the saliva of hard chalky
substance. If you find that your teetl
have tartar deposits, go Immediately
t. your dentist and have him remove tn
deposits and give the teeth a thorough
cleaning and polishing. The unclear
condition of the mouth resulting iron
tartar denosits is a common cause o
bad BREATH g.
An accumulation Of tartar where tn
teeth Join the gums IS a contributing
cause but not the only cause, of pyorrhei
or Riggs disease. The gums become If
ritated and infected by disease-producinI
germs. the tissues are broken down ant
rus forms Unless the pyorrhea suffere
is prompt in putting his case in the hand
Il y L.. -. tEn Il, Ennt;1nLn anntimlIns