THE CARE OF THE TEETH.

 THE CARE OF THE TEETH.











The influence which the teeth are capable of exercising on the
personal appearance is usually known and admitted.

The teeth have formed especial objects of attention, in connection
with the toilet and cosmetic arts, from almost the earliest ages of
the world to the present time. History and tradition, and the
researches of archæologists among the remains of the prehistoric
nations of the East, show us that even dentistry may trace back its
origin to a date not very long subsequent to the “confusion of
tongues.”

We are told that the ancient Welsh took particular care of their
teeth, by frequently rubbing them with a stick of green hazel and a
woollen cloth. To prevent their premature decay, they scrupulously
avoided acid liquids, and invariably abstained from all hot food and
drink.




Europeans pride themselves on teeth of pearly whiteness; but many
Asiatic nations regard them as beautiful only when of a black color.
The Chinese, in order to blacken them, chew what is called “betel” or
“betel nut,” a common masticatory in the East. The Siamese and the
Tonquinese do the same, but to a still greater extent, which renders
their teeth as black as ebony, or more so. As the use of the
masticatory is generally not commenced until a certain age, the common
practice is to stain the teeth of the boys and girls with a strong
preparation of it, on the former attaining the age of ten or twelve.

Keeping the lips apart and breathing through the mouth instead of the
nose, and, particularly, sleeping with the mouth open, are habits
which are very prejudicial to the teeth and gums. In this way the
mouth forms a trap to catch the dust and gritty particles floating in
the atmosphere, which soon mechanically injure the enamel of the teeth
by attrition.





On the subject of cleanliness in connection with the teeth and mouth,
it may be said that the mouth cannot be too frequently rinsed during
the day, and that it should be more particularly so treated after each
meal. Pure cold water is the best for the purpose. It not only cleans
the teeth and mouth, but exerts a tonic action on the gums, which warm
water, or even tepid water, is deficient in. When cold water cannot be
tolerated, tepid water may be employed, the temperature being slightly
lowered once every week or ten days until cold water can be borne.
Every one who abhors a fœtid breath, rotten teeth, and the
toothache, would do well to thoroughly clean his teeth at bedtime,
observing to well rinse the mouth with cold water on rising in the
morning, and again in the day once, or oftener, as the opportunities
occur. With smokers, the use of the toothbrush the last thing at night
is almost obligatory if they value their teeth and wish to avoid the
unpleasant flavor and sensation which teeth fouled with tobacco smoke
occasion in the mouth on awakening in the morning.

As to tooth powders or pastes to be used with the brush, the simplest
are the best. Plain camphorated chalk, with or without a little finely
powdered pumice stone or burnt hartshorn, is a popular and excellent
tooth powder. It is capable of exerting sufficient friction under the
brush to ensure pearly whiteness of the teeth without injuring the
enamel, whilst the camphor in it tends to destroy the animalcula in
the secretions of the mouth, whose skeletons or remains constitute, as
we shall presently see, the incrassation popularly called “tartar.”
Recently-burnt charcoal, in very fine powder, is another excellent
tooth powder, which, without injuring the enamel, is sufficiently
gritty to clean the teeth and remove the tartar from them, and
possesses the advantage of also removing the offensive odor arising
from rotten teeth and from decomposing organic matter. The charcoal of
the heavy hardwoods, as lignum-vitæ, boxwood, oak, are the best; and
these, as to quality, range in the order given. Still more valuable as
a dentifrice is areca nut charcoal, which, besides possessing the
properties of the other vegetable charcoals in an eminent degree, has
valuable ones peculiar to itself.

Some dentists, and some persons in imitation of them, in order to
whiten the teeth, rub their surfaces with hydrochloric acid, somewhat
dilute; but the practice is a most dangerous one, which, by a few
repetitions, will sometimes utterly destroy the enamel and lead to the
rapid decay of all the teeth so treated. Should the teeth be much
discolored, and ordinary tooth powder prove ineffective, a little
lemon juice used with the brush will generally render them perfectly
white. It should only be employed occasionally, and the mouth should
be well rinsed with water afterwards. A little of the pulp of an
orange, used in the same way, is also very effective and safe, as are
also ripe strawberries, which may be either rubbed on the teeth with
the fingers or applied with the brush. The last form, perhaps, the
very best natural dentifrice known. Besides possessing singular power
in whitening and cleaning the teeth and rapidly removing tartar, they
destroy the offensive odor of rotten teeth and impart an agreeable
fragrance to the breath.