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Care of the Teeth

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 23, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 8.

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Care of the Teeth

By Edith E. Bruce

EDITH E. BRUCE
In studying how to care properly for the body it is very important that we take into consideration the care of the teeth. The teeth, besides being an ornament to the face, giving it expression and symmetry, perform the main part of the mechanical digestion.
By grinding the food it is mixed with the saliva, and thus prepared for digestion in the stomach and other digestive organs.
When we consider the fact that starches are largely digested by the action of the saliva, and that a large part of our diet is made up of starch foods, we can appreciate the necessity of giving the teeth proper care.
When the teeth become decayed or missing, food can not be properly masticated, hence not enough saliva is brought into use, the food is swallowed in almost an unbroken mass, or “washed down” with some kind of liquid (which never should be done), and the next thing, the individual is suffering from indigestion, prolapsed stomach, torpid liver, and many other ailments common to this day and age of the world.
That disease of the teeth, like most other diseases, is caused by germs, is recognized by the medical and dental profession. The unwashed tooth surely is an ideal breeding place for micro-organisms, as it has warmth, moisture, and plenty of decayed food.
Food passed through a filthy mouth can not help but breed disease to the whole alimentary tract. Blood-poisoning has been known to be caused by ulcerated teeth, and many other serious conditions may be traced to poorly kept teeth.
Nothing can be more disgusting to a refined individual than to hold conversation with a person whose mouth is full of filthy teeth; for with such a condition one could not expect but to have a foul breath.
Booker T. Washington, who has done so much to educate and train for usefulness the colored people of the South, requires each student to be provided with a tooth-brush before entering the school. He says that “a person can be marked for his refinement by the use of the brush.”
Surely this is an example to us. We would say, then, that the teeth should be kept clean for a threefold reason:—
First, that they may be preserved as long as possible.
Second, that they may perform their office in the work of digestion, and thus promote good health.
Third, for general appearance and cleanliness.

A Few Practical Hints

Attention should be given to the teeth from infancy. Some think, because a child loses his first teeth at an early age, that they require little or no attention; but this is a wrong idea.
When a baby has not more than six or eight teeth, they should be carefully washed with a clean linen cloth, and later on a soft baby tooth-brush may be used. It is very important to keep the temporary set in good condition as long as possible, both to preserve the health of the child and to secure a perfect permanent set.
As the permanent set is developed, the temporary set is absorbed to make room for them; but a dead nerve can never be absorbed, hence deformity is most likely to occur in the permanent teeth. The practise of pulling the child’s tooth with a string is entirely wrong, as much damage may be done to the tooth.
The adult’s teeth should be thoroughly cleaned with a brush and some good tooth-powder once a day, and the teeth should be well brushed after each meal to remove all particles of food.
There are many kinds of tooth-powders on the market, but for a few cents one can get at a drug store, precipitated chalk, which is an excellent thing for the teeth.
When the teeth begin to decay, they should at once be filled; for it is much easier to keep the teeth than to use artificial ones.
At any rate, keep the teeth clean by some means, that you may be able to speak forth the praises of God with a clean sweet mouth.