Taking Care of Your Teeth

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1921, Page 1

Taking Care of Your Teeth

IHv A. Hurley-Street Dentist). Wr\ leu people know Imw to lake ease ot t lie teeth ami to prevent them from decaying. The following hint-, if mloptetl, wtl save you a «ood deal of stiller.ng and • •xpense. In the In st place, it is well to remember that clean teeth do not readily decay and that decay or caries v caused by the lodgment of food suhstanees on tl',e surfaces of the teeth. Those suhstanees undergo tormentatimt with the production of acids which eat awav the outer covering ot enamel „r the tooth and afterwards the tooth siisbtance (dentine) itself. Kverv means should, there!ore, he taken to ensure that Da re ha,mini elements should not remain on the teeth. To this end it is well to finish one s IlU >al with a cleansing type o! loodstuli. Such articles as an apple, celery, let t lice, watercress, radish, and taw carrot are types of naturally cleansing foodstuffs. If any of these are chewed thoroughly at the conclusion ol a meal the mouth will he left in a t omp.ua tivelv clean condition. Foods which should not end a meal are ordinary white bread, milk, biscuits or sugar in any form, as these loate on the teeth suhstanees which uadi, undergo acid fermentation The mouth should be well rinsed cut ami the teeth brushed after each . Fven if one’s tooth brush is not at hand it is a veiv excellent thing to use just i;l ain water and thoroughly wash 'he mouth quite free of food debris. This should be done m a very •«- romdi manner. Take a mo.itldui m water, and. using the check muscles rigorously, pump the liquid about the mouth for a few seconds. It is «" losing to note the amount ol food pattides thus dislodged. Fsc a moderately hard toothbrush of not too large a size indeed for most people a child’s size will be lotted more efl’ective and convenient in use . 1,1,1 the larger size. liriist the teeth upwards and down

w: ,rtls alwavs working from the f'oms. Many poo.de merely brush their tee h crosswise, and in this way avoid 'he spaces between the teeth where decay is so readily set up. The teeth should be brushed on all surfaces and not merely on the outsides. The brush may he kept in a weak carbolic solution, and should he carefully rinsed in water before using. Fse a. good tooth powder or paste, carefully avoiding any preparation tast j„g strongly of earholie as this has a lunmful effort, on the gums. Camphorated chalk forms a cheap ami useful tooth powder. . The- most important time lor cleaning the teeth is just before retiring. Many oroide clean their teeth hut once a day and this before, breakfast, This is the least effective time, ns the food of the previous night’s meal will ha\o boon resting on the teeth and undergoing fermentation during the quiet hours of the night. Have your tooth logularly examined l,y ji, competent dentist at least once „ year and do not wait until pain compels the visit, If decay is treated in she early stages a satisfactory tilling t ;!i i ho made with little or no pain. Finally note that white bread is the dentist's best friend. He will never he idle while this is universally eaten ltememhcr too, that if you would wish to avoid or minimise decay in \• 1 ■ 1 ’ mouth you should always insist on eating wholemeal or standard bread.