Page 184 - My FlipBook

' r >+ Cleanliness of the Teeth.
own fancy still, we shall offer our candid opinions on this
;
subject. And first, we do not approve of the use of a hard
brush for these reasons. In brushing the teeth, a hard brush
slips over them without entering their interstices, for its stiff-
ness prevents this : hence those parts of the teeth most essen-
tial to be kept clean, because they are the most liable to decay
there, from the action of foreign matter, are not brushed at all.
A hard brush is apt to tear and fret the gums, and has a ten-
dency to occasion a recession or absorption of them from about
the necks of the teeth, so that they appear somewhat longer
than natural : we have often seen this effect produced by the
constant use of a hard brush. On the contrary, we do not
think that a very soft brush can be used with the greatest
advantage.
In the choice of tooth brushes, we generally recommend
our patients, (or furnish them with such,) to get brushes of a
middling- size, the bristles being well arranged, straight, and
of considerable firmness, though not stiff, or too unyielding.
These brushes we recommend to be rubbed with water on a
sand brick, till the bristles are soft enough to enter the in-
terstices of the teeth, and not chafe or fret the gums when the
brush is freely used ; and these to be kept moist, or in a tum-
bler of water, for use, as occasion may require. Any brush
should be kept moist or it becomes stiff. Such a brush as the
above, we always use in preference to any others which we
have used experimentally. We depend more upon our tooth
powder than our brushes, in keeping our teeth clean. We
cone live that tooth brushes are generally thrown away, when
thfy are worn enough to render them most useful.
MANNER OF USING THE BRUSH.
No definite directions can or need be given for this purpose
The person who accustoms himself to the use of a tooth brush,
always contrives to use it to suit himself. The brush should
be carried longitudinally backwards and forwards across the
teeth ; also moved freely up and down, that the bristles may