Year: 1879

The Beneficial Effects of Disgusting Habits.


During covocation OF the Odonto-
logical Society of Great Britain, Mr..
Hepburn read paper on this subject,
and the result of his Investigations on
the subject is contrary to what is, we
believe, the popular notion. He con-
siders that the direct action of nicotine
upon the teeth is decidedly beneficial.
The alkalinity of the smoke must ne
cessarily neutralize any acid secretion
which may be present in the oral cav
ity, and the antiseptic property of the
nicotine tends to arrest putrefactive
changes in carious cavities. In addi-
tion, he is inclined to believe that the
dark deposit on the teeth of some hab-
itual smokers is largely composed of
the carbon with which tobacco smoke
is impregnated. 1t is this carbon which
is deposited upon the back part of the
throat and lining membrane of the
bronchial tubes, and with whatever dis
astrous effect it may act in these situa-
tions, lie thinks we are justified, from
what we know of its antiseptic proper
ties, in concluding that its action upon
the teeth must be beneficial More
over, this deposit takes place exactly in
those positions where carries are most
likely to arise, and on those surfaces of
the teeth which escape the ordinary
cleansing action of the brush. 1t is
found interstitially, in all minute de-
plessions,f and filling the assures on the
coronal surfaces. It may be removed
with scaling instruments from the sur
face of the enamel. but where it is de-
posted on dentine, this structure be-
comes impregnated and stained. In
deed, it is only when the enamel is
faulty5and there is access to the dem
tine, that any true discoloration
of the tooth takes place; but it
is remarkable, he says, how the
stain will penetrate even through mi
mute cracks, provided the necessary at
tention to cleanliness be not exercised.
The staining power of tobacco-o1 may
be seen when deposit has taken place
on the porous surface of tartar collected
on the posterior surface of the inferior
incisors. In this situation shiny
ebony appearance is occasionally pro-
duced. That tobacco is capable of al
laying, to some extent, the pain of
toothache is, he thinks, true; its effect
being due, not only to its narcotizing
power, but also to its direct action upon
the exposed nerve; and he is inclined
to attribute the fact of the comparative
ly-rare occurrence of toothache among
sailors, in great measure, to their habit
of chewing. He has been struck, in the
case of one. or two confirmed smokers
who have come under his notice, by the
apparent tendency which exists toward
the gradual production of complete ne
crosis of carious teeth, and the various
stages of the death of the pulp, and
death of the periosteum taking place
without pain or discomfort to the pa
tient. This condition may, of course,
be brought about by variety of in
fuences; but in these special cases he
is inclined to think that the presence OF
nicotine in the mouth has acted power
fully. The experience of other speak
ers, in the subsequent discussion, ap-
peared to corroborate that of Mr.. Hep
burn, except that Mr.. Oakley Coles
thought the frequent changes OF
temperature probably injurious, and
tending to produce cracking of the en-
amel, and Mr.. Arthur Underwood
thought that smoking to the extent OF
injury to digestion tended to cause re-
cession of the gums and otherwise to
injure the nutrition of the teeth.