HENCE NEGROES' WHITE TEETH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 3

HENCE NEGROES' WHITE TEETH

Why do negroes have teeth of dazzling whiteness'; Of course, the darkness of their skin shows their teeth oil to . advantage, but, in addition, the teeth themselves are tar better than is the ease with many white races. The general idea is that the diet anil climatic conditions ot the negroes are the cause ot their beautiful "ivories," but some Oeruiau authorities dispute this. They claim that the "uncivilised" take special care of their teeth, and are acquainted with many remedies for dental diseases, among these being, certain herb-, -barks, and juices. Thus, in some parts of Africa, when an infant gone through the teething period, his mouth is rinsed out, with an infusion of the leaves of a native tree posses-iiig a constituent which cau-es 'the gums to .shrink, so tightening the teeth, : ■ -■■■; The natives living near the source of the Xile employ the root* of a podbearing plant to relieve toothache, while another tribe further west use an infusion of ka-so seeds for the same ' The toothbrush as used in this conn-! try is, of course, unknown to savages, hilt manv of them have a most effective • substitute. They use a piece of wood from certain trees which contain lieneticial qualities. Further, this stick is free from the great objection to brushes. It can be renewed at very frequent intervals, and is thus always fresh and wholesome—a great advantage over the toothbrush of the civilised races.