124 FAMILIAR TALK CONCERlSiNG TEE TEETH. 



of food, a filling, or any other cause, the gases, finding no other vent, are 

 forced through the minute orifi(^-e at the end of the root, where the vessels 

 entered which supplied it with life, irritating the root membrane of the 

 tooth and the surrounding parts. This irritation causes inflammation, and 

 as this progresses pus is formed. 



The first indication we have of this variety of toothache, is a slight sore- 

 ness on shutting the teeth together, or on striking the affected tooth. Soon 

 the soreness increases, the tooth feels as if it was more prominent than the 

 others, and one has a desire to be continually feeling of it, to see how things 

 are progressing. 



The pain is dull, throbbing and, owing to the parts being confined by 

 hard, bony walls, severely intense, the whole jaw sympathizing. How will 

 this state of things end? In one of two ways. Sometimes, in persons of 

 good constitution, the trouble will after a while pass away, but, as a general 

 rule, pus will keep forming, the face swelling, and finally, after almost un- 

 bearable agony, the pus will work its way through the bone and soft parts, 

 forming what is known as a gum-boil (alveolar abscess), which at last 

 breaks, and thus for a time will the trouble end. This is what is familiarly 

 known as an ulcerated tooth. 



What causes the death of the pulp? The most frequent cause is the ap- 

 plication of some medicament by the dentist, to destroy it.- This ought 

 never to be done if it can be avoided, as there is in the majority of cases a 

 much better way of treating them, if they are not too much diseased; 

 namely, by carefully cleaning the parts, washing with tepid water, and pro- 

 tecting them with a soft, non-irritating filling, as every thoroughly edu- 

 cated dentist knows how to do. There are other causes, such as severe 

 blows received upon the teeth, too close contact of metallic fillings, appli- 

 cation of arsenic to allay sensitiveness in cavities of decay — which should 

 never be done unless it be fcr the express purpose of devitalizing the pulp — 

 and several other causes which I have not space here to name. 



As it is often necessary to destroy these pulps, what should be done to 

 guard against toothache of this variety? After the life of a pulp has been 

 destroyed, by the application of medicine to it, or any other cause, it should 

 be hardened and withdrawn from its cavity — which is not a painful oper- 

 ation — the parts thoroughly disinfected, and the cavity carefully filled. If 

 teeth are treated in this way, the chances of trouble are greatly lessened, 

 and they may be retained as useful organs for many years, and perhaps for 

 a life-time. What shall we do if this trouble does arise? Consult a com- 

 petent dentist, not one who has picked up a little knowledge of teeth, and 

 is a mere extractor and plugger of these organs, but one who has been 

 thoroughly and scientifically educated for his calling, and he will know 

 what to do. In case for any reason this is impossible, you may be able to 

 relieve yourself. 



In the first place do not delay in hope that the tooth may feel better, but 

 attend to it at once. Eemove, if you can, all foreign matter from the cavi- 



