SWEET AND CLEAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1939, Page 8

SWEET AND CLEAN

LOOK TO TEETH AND MOUTH. SALT IS EXCELLENT FOR USE. To have a charming smile demands much more than personality. Our teeth must be white and even. Decay must be combated. Our breath must be svzeet and clean. Cracked lips and crooked teeth may be overlooked, but bad breath can neither be overlooked nor pardoned. An excellent saline mouth-wash can be made by dissolving a level quarterteaspoonful of salt in a tumbler of warm water. This saline solution will deodorise the mouth, and is excellent for reducing inflammation, that is why it is so popular’as a wash for use after tooth extraction. Pyorrhoea is an inflammation of the gums which causes a wasting of the roots of the teeth. First the inflammation loosens the attachment of the gum to the tooth, then pus forms and discharges and later the tooth loosens in the bony socket until the socket eventually disappears, and finally the tooth will either fall out or will have to be extracted. Another effect .of pyorrhoea is that it often effects other parts of the body, and has a very tiring action on the system. If the gums are tender and bleed very easily it will be found that salt has a healing and hardening tendency. Apply it with either the fingertips or with your toothbrush, and vigorously' brush or massage it into the gums. Naturally, at first, this may-make the gums bleed and be a trifle more tender than usual, but you must persevere with the treatment to acquire lasting results.

If the gums should become too sore, then naturally you will use a little discretion and us the salt a little less frequently. Ordinarily you will use the salt twice daily, but when excessive soreness is present you will find that once daily will be sufficient. After a very short period you will notice ■that the gums are becoming less tender.

For Good Brushing. The best method of applying the salt for tender and bleeding gums is first to saturate the toothbrush with warm water, and then, after pouring a little table salt into the palm of the hand, dab the wet bristles of the brush into the salt, taking care that the brush does not collect an excessive amount, then brush your teeth in the usual manner.

After all the teeth have been thoroughly brushed, wet the first finger, dip it in the salt, and then vigorously massage the gums, starting at the front and working towards the back. Finally gargle the mouth with a salt and water solution.

The correct method of brushing the teeth is to place the brush upon the gum and then with a rotary movement bring it perpendicularly upward on the lower teeth and downwards on the upper teeth. This movement will keep the gums in a healthier condition, and will keep the teeth cleaner than if they are brushed crosswise. Never break threads or crack nuts with the teeth nor pick them with metal objects. Two toothbrushes should be used, one for mornings and. the other for evenings. This will permit the brush to dry thoroughly, and it will thus give better cleansing service and last longer. After the brush is used it should be washed thoroughly with hot water, dried with a towel, and then placed in the fresh air to dry.