p. 203 | OUR TEETH

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1862

OUR TEETH.

THEY decay. Hence, unseemly mouths, bad breath, imperfect mastication. Everybody regrets it. What is the cause? I reply, want of cleanliness. A clean tooth never decays. The mouth is a warm place—98 degrees. Particles of meat between the teeth soon decompose. Gums and teeth must suffer.

Perfect cleanliness will preserve the teeth to old age. How shall it be secured? Use a quill pick, and rinse the mouth after eating. Brush and Castile soap every morning; the brush with simple water on going to bed. Bestow this trifling care upon your precious teeth, you will keep them and ruin dentists. Neglect it, and you will be sorry all your lives. Children forget. Watch them. The first teeth determine the character of the second set. Give them equal care.

Sugar, acids, saleratus, and hot things are nothing when compared with food decomposing between the teeth. Mercurialization may loosen the teeth, long use may wear them out, but keep them clean and they will never decay. This advice is worth more than thousands of dollars to every boy and girl.

Books have been written on this subject. This brief article contains all that is essential.—Sel.