The Washington times., 1933-09-20

Il E&" "
shaped lips, will amount to
nothing at all If a smile dis
closes bad teeth.
If you have already let things
60 to the extent that you are
now the possessor of "store
teeth" you can at least see
that the young members Of your
family are started on the right
track.
General Care
I have been fortunate enough
10 obtain valuable information
from one Of Washington's well
known dentists on the daily
care of the mouth-for both
older people and children. It
Is advice which covers the main
points, all of them equal in
Importance, and it may aid
readers of this column.
First of all, this dentist says
that dentifrices clean the teeth
and gums, but are not intended
to whiten normally yellow or
dark teeth.
Some people have them nat
urally, and no tooth paste can
change the actual color of the
tooth itself.
He believes that a dentifrice
should be used, however, three
times a day after each meal
If possible for the purpose Of
keeping the mouth clean. Of
course if you have a job, you
will find that the after-luncheon
brushing would be difficult to
manage. However, do it if you
can.
According to my authority
it is the method employed in
brushing the teeth and the
time spent in the process which
are the most important fac
tors.
The teeth should be brushed
up and down and as much
time should be given to it as
you can possibly spare for the
stimulation of the circulation
In the gums. It should be a
very thorough process.
Massage Gums
The use of dental floss, he
believes, at the time of the
brushing at night is an i'm
portant adjunct in maintain
ing the health of the teeth
and gums. And in connection
with this daily routine he says
that masSaging the gums during
and after the cleansing OF
the teeth Is Of primary I'M
portance.
AS far as mouth washes are
concerned, he thinks that most
people do well using the fol
lowing mixture as a mouth
wash and gargle after the
teeth have been brushed: One
teaspoonful Of salt and one
teaSpoonful of soda mixed with
q tumbler full Of lukewarm
water. This adds the finishing
touch to your daily routine.
A dentist should examine
your teeth every four months
In order to keep them in AL
shape and to check on any
work which should be done.
And now for the children,
although this particular advice
he believes should be followed
bv grown-ups as we'll. They
should take cod liver oil
products and calcium waters
for the purpose of bringing up
the calcium content Of the
teeth.
Baby Teeth"
He says that parents should
by all means take care of the
regulation of their children's
teeth, If the second teeth come
in unevenly.
Here are two points which
this dentist was most anxious
to stress. Namely, the periodic
examination of a child'S tenn
porary teeth, and the impor-
lance Of guarding against the
early extraction of first teeth.
He says, an early extraction
Of temporary teeth causes an
abnormal accluSion (bite) and
also encourages the irregularity
Of the permanent teeth. These
first teeth tend to preserve
the normal arch.
Periodic examination Of the
"baby" teeth, as they are Of
ten called. is more important
even than later examinations.
It Is one of the determining
factors in the maintenance of
the normal shaped mouth, and
thus the foundation of a
healthy mouth condition. which
effects the whole system.