Page 213 - My FlipBook

From Infancy to Age. 193
used with polishing powder, in order to keep the teeth polish-
ed in their interstices, where the brush has no effect : sticks of
various thickness may be required, or altered at pleasure.
Third—A fine steel instrument with a hooked point for re
moving any collection of tartar, foreign matter, or speck tha£
may occur on the teeth.
Fourth—An approved tooth powder.
Fifth—A polishing powder to be used as occasion may re-
quire with the bits of wood mentioned above. This powder
should be pumice stone very finely pulverized ; it cannot well
be made too fine : crocus two parts and pumice stone two
parts, may be used if preferred : silk thread used with this
powder is admirable for polishing between the front teeth.
Some dentists recommend thread of waxed silk for passing
between the front teeth to clean their interstices ; few will give
themselves the trouble to use it ; tooth picks arc most use?
ful implements, and ought to be used after every meal.
With this apparatus, and with a little care, every person
can keep his teeth clean, aud we may mention once for all
(its importance cannot be too' strongly urged,) keep the teeth
perfectly clean and of the natural polish, use the brush morn-
ing and evening, and a tooth powder in the morning if neces-
sary, and use it freely enough to effect the object of its use,
See " importance of cleanliness of the mouth," page 162
\
" brushing the teeth," page 164; " tooth powders," page 168.
The decay of the temporary teeth, or the means that might
be employed to arrest its progress, need not be mentioned. It
is only necessary to keep watch that these teeth when diseased,
do not injure the permanent ones,
MANAGEMENT OF THE PERMANENT TEETH.
Let the second dentition be so managed, that a regular and
beautiful set of teeth be ensured. For the management of the
teeth during the second dentition, see page 39. If there i3 a
certainty that the teeth will be crowded, when the jaws are
fully formed, from conformation of the teeth and parts, the twg
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