Am.  Jour.  Prmrm.  \ 
April,  1898.  j 
Hygiene  of  the  Teeth. 
*93 
but  little  pain,  owing  to  the  comparative  insensibility  of  the  gums, 
and  will  frequently  allow  it  to  be  done  without  making  any  resist- 
ance. Strange  to  say,  there  is  much  prejudice  on  the  part  of 
mothers  to  the  operation,  and  I  have  been  told  that  if  the  tooth  is 
not  immediately  erupted  after,  the  lancing  the  resulting  cicatrix 
will  be  harder  for  the  tooth  to  subsequently  cut  through.  This  is 
not  the  case;  a  cicatrix  upon  a  mucous  surface  is  less  resistant  than 
the  original  tissue.  A  lengthwise  incision  along  the  crown  of  an 
incisor  or  canine  tooth  is  all  that  is  necessary,  but  an  X-shaped 
incision  should  be  made  for  a  bicuspid  or  a  molar. 
On  account  of  their  temporary  character,  parents  often  give  but 
little  care  to  the  primary  set  of  teeth.  This  is  a  mistake,  as  the 
character  of  the  second  set  depends  to  a  considerable  extent  upon 
that  of  the  first.  The  first  teeth  contain  more  animal  matter 
and  larger  pulp  cavities  than  the  permanent  ones,  and  hence  are 
more  liable  to  decay.  How  frequently  the  first  teeth  present 
themselves  as  an  unsightly,  decayed  row,  whereas  decay  should  be 
an  exception  and  not  a  rule.  If  the  teeth  fall  out  too  soon,  the 
proper  contour  of  the  jaw  may  be  interfered  with  ;  if  they  remain 
too  long  they  may  interfere  with  the  eruption  of  the  permanent 
teeth,  causing  irregularities  in  their  alignment. 
The  most  of  people  recognize  the  importance  of  cleaning  the 
teeth  daily,  but  many  think  that  once  is  sufficient,  and  the  best 
time  the  morning.  The  facts  are  that  a  quill  toothpick  should  be 
used  after  each  meal  and  the  mouth  thoroughly  rinsed;  a  more 
thorough  cleansing  with  brush  and  alkaline  tooth  powder  should  be 
given  before  retiring.  The  necessity  for  this  care  is  evident  if  we 
know  that  the  particles  of  food  which  collect  between  the  teeth,  on 
account  of  the  warmth  and  moisture  present,  rapidly  decay,  render 
the  breath  offensive  and  promote  the  decay  of  the  teeth.  The  so- 
called  "  tartar,"  which  is  largely  a  deposit  from  the  saliva,  also  fre- 
quently does  much  harrn,  collecting  principally  upon  the  lower 
incisors.  Candies  and  other  forms  of  sugar  are  especially  injurious 
if  they  become  lodged  in  the  crevices  of  the  teeth,  as  they  undergo 
an  acid  fermentation  which  attacks  the  enamel. 
Tooth  brushes  should  not  be  too  large  or  too  stiff,  and  should 
have  the  bristles  projecting  in  different  lengths.  When  first  used 
it  should  be  in  an  up-and-down  manner,  so  as  to  remove  the  food 
remnants  from  the  interstices  of  the  teeth.    The  daily  use  of  tooth 
