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Cleanliness of the Teeth. Io*5
writer and clean the interstices of them. Here again is the
advantage of using such a brush as we recommend
; for a
hard brush cannot be thus used with advantage. The teeth
should never be brushed furiously so as to fret the gums, but
deliberately. The advantage of carrying the brush up and
<3own is very great, and is absolutely necessary in order to
keep the teeth clean. In cleaning the interstices of the teeth,
a hint may be taken from the habits of the natives of India
they rub the teeth up and down with the bruised ends of soft
wood, canes, rattan, &c. with the mungun or betel nut tooth
powder.
Many persons do not brush the back teeth at all, and never
the inside of them ; but merely brush the front teeth external-
ly. Most persons do not brush the back teeth sufficiently.
The brush should be so managed, that it shall clean every
part of the teeth, between them, and on the inner side, as well
as the outside of them ; and with a little care this object can
easily be effected. The front teeth of the lower jaw especial-
ly, should be freely brushed on their inner side, for these teeth
are more frequently encrusted with tartar than any others in
the mouth, on account of their proximity to the sublingual
ducts, and from the circumstance of being more seldom brushed
than the other teeth. These teeth are seldom lost by decay, but
thousands of them are daily dropping out perfectly sound,
encrusted with tartar, which has produced disease in the
gums and sockets, their ruin being wholly the effect of neg-
lect; for these teeth would never be lost after this manner, if
they were kept free of tartar.
Brushes of a peculiar shape are kept at the shops for the
purpose of brushing the incisores of the lower jaw, on the
inner side. They may be used, but we think a common
brush of considerable stiffness to be preferable, and is to be
used by drawing it frequently out of the mouth, over these
teeth, so as to enter between them. A napkin or handker-
chief on the finger, may also be used with advantage.]
From what has been said in previous chapters, it is evident
Cleanliness of the Teeth. Io*5
writer and clean the interstices of them. Here again is the
advantage of using such a brush as we recommend
; for a
hard brush cannot be thus used with advantage. The teeth
should never be brushed furiously so as to fret the gums, but
deliberately. The advantage of carrying the brush up and
<3own is very great, and is absolutely necessary in order to
keep the teeth clean. In cleaning the interstices of the teeth,
a hint may be taken from the habits of the natives of India
they rub the teeth up and down with the bruised ends of soft
wood, canes, rattan, &c. with the mungun or betel nut tooth
powder.
Many persons do not brush the back teeth at all, and never
the inside of them ; but merely brush the front teeth external-
ly. Most persons do not brush the back teeth sufficiently.
The brush should be so managed, that it shall clean every
part of the teeth, between them, and on the inner side, as well
as the outside of them ; and with a little care this object can
easily be effected. The front teeth of the lower jaw especial-
ly, should be freely brushed on their inner side, for these teeth
are more frequently encrusted with tartar than any others in
the mouth, on account of their proximity to the sublingual
ducts, and from the circumstance of being more seldom brushed
than the other teeth. These teeth are seldom lost by decay, but
thousands of them are daily dropping out perfectly sound,
encrusted with tartar, which has produced disease in the
gums and sockets, their ruin being wholly the effect of neg-
lect; for these teeth would never be lost after this manner, if
they were kept free of tartar.
Brushes of a peculiar shape are kept at the shops for the
purpose of brushing the incisores of the lower jaw, on the
inner side. They may be used, but we think a common
brush of considerable stiffness to be preferable, and is to be
used by drawing it frequently out of the mouth, over these
teeth, so as to enter between them. A napkin or handker-
chief on the finger, may also be used with advantage.]
From what has been said in previous chapters, it is evident
