The Teeth

I offer to the magazine “The Woman's Voice” a talk in which I take up a brief study of the teeth, in installments, such as will help the reader to profit as far as may be, toward preserving the soundness of the teeth, the manner of protecting them from the diseases and pains that may befall them, and their relation to the body — holding fast to the proverb: “A sound mind in a sound body.” The truth beyond all dispute is that the mouth has a great effect upon the health of the whole body and its beauty. Accordingly I have resolved, despite the shortcoming I feel in myself, to undertake this task, relying in the writing of it on personal experience that I owe to the profession, and on the medical books and scientific journals in my hands, brimming with the newest and plainest opinions. I shall make the first part of it an introduction, dealing with the manner in which the milk teeth and the permanent teeth appear.

Dentistry, as is well known, is of recent date in this country. Those who discharge this duty faithfully are few; we see that they have bestirred themselves to do their duty, singly and in groups, keeping before their eyes the guidance of the public — and above all of the rising generation — in how to avoid the evils of the modern age in the matter of food and the other conditions of living that bear upon the health of the mouth and teeth. As one of their number, I offer this talk for the same end, moved by the duty of my particular service. I have chosen for it the method of question and answer, and preferred brevity to length, especially in what concerns scientific and technical details, to make understanding easy and the benefit general.

The beauty of the face has a great connection with the mouth and teeth, and most poets and artists, from times long past down to our own day, see in this domain a sign of inspiration and an example of the Creator's marvelous handiwork. And people in general look at a woman for the beauty of the formation of her face and mouth, and for what appears upon her of the clear water of health and its sweetness.

The mouth has its very great importance in speech. The vibrations of the cords of the larynx do not suffice by themselves for the production of speech; they must be shaped with the help of the throat, the tongue, the teeth, and the lips. If one of these organs is damaged, or there is a defect in its formation, a person's capacity for speech is impaired.

The body has a great connection with the mouth and teeth. If the body and the teeth are in a sound and good condition, the benefit is mutual, for this relation is a vital one, of reciprocal effects. It is plain to us that whenever a disorder befalls the teeth, they become a fit refuge for germs, and thereby become a general danger to health; and if a disease befalls the body, the health of the mouth and teeth is affected by its disorder.

The teeth are a working organ like the rest of the important organs among the parts of the human body, and their benefits are many; the chief of them are chewing, speech, and the adornment of the face.