Page 563 - My FlipBook

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gums, and teeth in an irritable, loose, and diseased state.
The gums may be rubbed with a sponge to advantage, either
dipped in pure water, or in some medicated liqour. Soft
brushes are alone admissible for the teeth and gums of chil-
dren.
Tooth-brushes may be made of different sizes and cut into
different shapes, so as to clean the teeth inside and out, and
adapted not only to regular teeth, but those which are
irregular.

Tooth-Picks.

These are made of gold, silver, &c, and of tortoise-shell,
ivory, quill, &c. The metallic tooth-picks are generally re-
jected. Those from the quill, &c. are prefered and recom-
mended by nearly all dentists. The oldest dentists and
writers on the teeth, affirm the utility of tooth-picks. They
should have a place in every gentleman's pocket, and every
lady's toilet ; and should be always used after every meal, to
remove every particle of food from between the teeth.
They may at first make the gums bleed, but they will finally
do for the gums between the teeth, what the brush does for
them on the outside, that is, make them firm and healthy.
I cannot dismiss the subject, without urging the use of
tooth-picks, as well as tooth-brushes ; as without them, bits of
food, mucus, tartar, &c, collect between the teeth, irritate
the gums, and cause them to assume a spongy, inflamed, and
swollen state, whilst their use obviates these unpleasant ef-
fects, and becomes an efficient adjuvant in producing a pleas 1-
ant, sweet, and healthy state of the mouth.

FINIS.