TEETH. 



1. The true coucretion of the teetli, which happens when 

 the teeth ai-e connefted togetlier by a fubftancc rcfombhiig 

 bone. 



2. The fpurious concretion, or tliat arifincr from the 

 exceffive clofenefs of the teetli to each other, in which ftate 

 they fecm as if they had aftually grown together. 



3. The concretion from tartar. Sometimes the intcrfpaces 

 of the teeth arc fo filled up with tartar, that the teeth co- 

 here in fuch a degree, as to caufe an appearance rcfcmhling 

 what may be fuppof^d to proceed from an aftual bony con- 

 cretion of thofc bodies. The mode of treating this cafe 

 will be confidered in fpeaking of the tartar of the teeth. 



4. The clofe contaft of the fang of tlie tooth with tlie 

 focket. In this circumftance, the tooth either cannot beex- 

 trafted, or, in the event of great force being ufed, the tootli 

 is broken away from the jaw. 



Elongation of the Teeth. — Sometimes one or more of the 

 teeth appear to become longer. 



1.' Elongation of a tooth from the deficiency of the oppo- 

 fite one. Thus, when one of the molares of the upper jaw 

 is drawn out, the correfponding tooth of the lower jaw 

 feems lengthened ; becaufe after a time the neighbouring 

 teeth are worn down by the friftion which they continually 

 exercife againft each other. 



2. Elongation from preternatural foftnefs of the tooth. 

 Plenck informs us, that he has feen in a female child eight 

 years old, the right canine tooth of the lower jaw elongated, 

 and which, after being extrafted, was found fo foft, that the 

 crown and fang could be comprefTed with the finger. 



3. Elongation of a tooth from exceffive growth is men- 

 tioned by writers ; but this cafe cannot be poffible, as the 

 teeth are known not to be vafcular. 



4. Imaginary elongation. Perfons whofe teeth are 

 afFefted with ftupor, are apt to fancy that their teeth are 

 longer than natural ; but without real caufe. The cure con- 

 fifts in removing the ftupor. 



Foulnefs of the Teeth The teeth are often feen covered 



with a fordid, fetid, yellowifh, or dark-brown mucus. 



The proximate caufe is the adhcfion of the mucus of the 

 mouth and fauces to the furface of the teeth. 



1. Morning foulnefs. In almoft all men, the teeth become 

 coated in the night during deep with a dirty mucus, and 

 appear foul in the morning. The reafon is, becaufe during 

 fleep the faliva is more flowly fecreted in the mouth ; and, 

 on account of the motionlefs Hate of the tongue and jaws, 

 it is not walhed ofi" the teeth. 



This fpecies of foulnefs is eafily removed by wr'hing the 

 tnouth every day with cold water, and the teeth with a bit of 

 rag, the finger, or a wet fponge. 



2. Foulnefs of the teeth from negleft to clean them. 

 They who are not in the daily habit of wafhing their mouths 

 and teeth with cold water, by degrees have the interftices and 

 fangs of their teeth incrufted with mucus in the morning, 

 and with the remaining particles of the food. 



With refpeft to the treatment, merely wafhing the mouth 

 in this inftance is not enough ; it is alfo requifite to clean 

 the teeth occafionally with tooth-powder. 



3. Foulnefs of the teeth from fever. This is remarkably 

 feen in cafes of putrid fever, in which, owing to the (late of 

 the faliva, the teeth become covered with a yellow or dark- 

 brown coat. 



Here the teeth fliould be frequently wafhed and cleaned 

 with vinegar. 



4. Foulnefs from ptyalifm, efpecially that produced by 

 mercury. In the beginning of a falivation, the teeth become 

 coated with mucus. The beft treatment is to wafh and 

 clean them frequently with a honey gargle. 



5. Scorbutic foulnefs. In perfons labounng under fciirvy, 

 the teeth are invariably covered with a purulent kind of 

 mucus, iffuing from the fockets of tlie loofcned fangs. 



The cure demands the internal and external employment 

 of anti-fcorbutic remedies. 



6. Foulnefs of the teeth from tartar. In the early ftate of 

 the formation of tartar, the fiirfac<' of the teeth becomes 

 covered with a mixture of e.irth and gluten. 



The treatment confills in removing the tartar with a tJiick 

 tooth-powder. 



Of cleaning the Teeth In perfons whofe teeth are perfcftly 



found, it is only necefTary U) wadi their mouths every morn- 

 ing with water that has had the chill taken off it, and that con- 

 tains a few drops of the fpirit of lavender ; the mucus being 

 wiped from the teeth with a bit of rag, or fponge-. The 

 fame flionld alfo be done after meals, and the fragments of 

 meat lodged between the teeth niuft he removed with a tooth- 

 pick, which inllrument fome recommend to be made of ju- 

 niper wood. 



But in perfons in whom a depofition of tartar readily 

 takes place, the tartar ought to be removed with a tooth- 

 fcraper, and the teeth well cleaned every week with tooth- 

 powder. 



Charcoal, or carbon, is ufed for cleaning the teeth, and 

 the beft is made from the (liell of the cocoa-nut. We are 

 informed by hiltorians that the ladies among the ancient 

 Britons ufed the charcoal made with the wood of the com- 

 mon hazel-nut for this purpofe. See Den rii'iiicr;. 



The abforbent earths .ire ufed for dentifrices ; they me- 

 chanically cleanfe the teeth from the thick mucus and tartar, 

 and at the fame time preferve the tone of the gums. There- 

 fore, 



1. The bafis of dentifrice powders may be prepared 

 fhells, red corals, mother-of-pearl, powdered crabs' claws, 

 bone of the cuttle-fidi, lapis ha;matites, &c. 



2. For communicating an agreeable colour to the pow- 

 der, carmine or cochineal may be added. 



3. For giving an agreeable odour, ambergris, cinnamon, 

 or cloves may be ufed. 



4. For ftrengtheniiig the gums, armenian bole, fanguis 

 draconis, or terra catechu, is tlie beft ingredient. 



Rough tooth-powders, like that containing pumice-ftone, 

 gradually wear away the enamel, efpecially when they arc 

 employed every day. 



Acid applications, particularly the mineral ones, do in- 

 deed whiten the teeth ; but when long ufed, render them 

 brittle. 



Hence crude and burnt alum ought to be reje(ftcd from 

 every kind of dentifrice. The nitric, muriatic, and fulphu- 

 ric acids in tinftures are ftill more hurtful. 



Of the Tartar of the Teeth. — This fiibftance is an earthy 

 crult, which adheres to the teeth. As it fills up the inter- 

 fpaces of feveral of the teeth, and occupies their external 

 furfaces, it is feldom obferved upon their iiifides. By the 

 Greeks it was called odontoUthos, from m-a^, a tooth, and ^i6o.-, 

 a flone. By others it has been termed tophus, vel calculus 

 deiitium. 



With regard to the eflfefts of the tartar, it difplaces the 

 teeth, and renders them loofe and painful ; it alfo feparates 

 the gu.fis from the fangs, producing caries in the latter, and 

 a bad fmell in the breath. 



In refpeft to colour, the tartar of the teeth is of three 

 kinds, namely, dark-brown, yellow, ai.d bLck. 



Since niai y perfons who never clean their teeth at all are 

 not disfigured with thefe depofitions of tartar, it appears that 

 a pecuhar difpofiiig caufe is necelfary for the occurrence of 

 the complaint, 'flie fpecies are : 



I. Tartar 



