CONCERNING THE TEETH,

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 3, 21 April 1894, Page 6

CONCERNING THE TEETH,

[By Invercargill.] A good set of teeth is always admired, not to say envied; yet good teeth seem to be on the decline.. There is ho doubt that, .many reasons could be given for this. One of the most important, I think, is the want of .exercise. It has' generally been accepted that the use -of tobacco preserves the teeth, but that is a mistake ;—it is merely the action of the Jaw in holding the tobacco that causes "a healthy action of. the nerves ’ and ? veins, and •' s6' strengthens and improves the teeth. For instance, carpenters. ; who always *hold a pencil or a chip ,in their mouth, or a butcher., who- holds his knife, in his teeth, as a rule have good teeth. . My advice to any who wish to improve their teeth (if any -way sound) would be to take a small piece of wood like a pencil and exercise them on it, being careful not to bite too hard for a start, but . steadily, and eating bard lollies, or chewing wheat, cracking nuts, &g» ■ : As for cleaning- the teeth - I tbink powdered charcoal is the [best, if carefully u5ed,,,... hjalt, is said, to,be

very .good for cleaning the teeth, but it is not very pleasant to use. 1 Physiognomy tells us that the teeth express character; and no doubt they do. Large teeth denote kindness, and when found with loose lips indicate simplicity. Wh en broad, thick, and blunt they denote coarseness. Still, the late Charles Spurgeon had very thick and broad teeth. When thin and far apart they denote a delicate constitution. Very small teeth indicate childishness, while irregular and pointed teeth belong to selfish people. Owners of clean and even teeth are found to be neat and orderly in everything, while teeth green at the gums, dirty and irregular, always prove the owner to be slothful, illtempered and disagreeable.