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166 Cleanliness of the Teeth.
that cleanliness of the teeth is of great importance in the pre-
servation of them. Few persons will be able to keep their
teeth so free of foreign matter as could be desired, by means
of the simple brush and water, though there is a very great
difference in this respect, the tartar accumulating much more
rapidly about the teeth of some individuals than others. It is
generally necessary to have recourse to some kind of tooth
powder in civilized life in order to effect this object.
There is a great variety of opinions among people, as to
the advantage of tooth powders: some use them once in two
or three days, or a week : they are apprehensive that they
may wear away the enamel so as to expose the teeth to decay.
If it be necessary to use a tooth powder at all, it should be
used every morning, at the time of rising, for these reasons.
The tartar is constantly being deposited about the teeth from
the saliva. If a person will observe his teeth in the morning,
when he rises, he will perceive them to be coated with a yel-
lowish slimy substance, which isthe tartar that has been deposit-
ed upon the teeth during sleep. When tartar is first secreted it
is quite soft and can easily be removed with a tooth brush, but
if it be neglected, it soon becomes concrete and hard, and can-
not be removed without the aid of instruments: hence it
should be daily removed. As a general rule, people do not
use the tooth brush and powders, so freely as would be for their
advantage. The prevalent opinion that the enamel may be
easily worn off—that there is danger of doing this, by the daily
use of a tooth powder, is founded in error—is a misconception.
The enamel is a very hard and dense substance, so much so,
that sparks may be elicited from it with a bit of steel. Be-
sides, if the teeth be not kept free of foreign matter, how can
the enamel be worn away ? We never yet saw a set of teeth,
worn out or injured by the daily use of a proper tooth po%vder;
nor have we been able by inquiry, to find the person who has
seen this much feared result. We do not wish, by any means,
to ineulcate such a principle as this, that there is no danger
to be apprehended of wearing off the enamel f by the use of