The mouth and teeth

Introduction

The aim of this work is to teach the evils of neglect, its results and how to overcome them. Prevention is better than the best cure.

I expect this book to be read and studied by school children, and have worded it as simply and clearly as possible, leaving out all technical words and terms that would tend to confuse young minds.

Older people will obtain a vast amount of knowledge from it and will get excellent results by following its teachings.

Index

PAGE Chapter I. Anatomy of the Mouth and Teeth............. 5 et 20. RO LOWE TOW irs sy ses Vico es visdoveveaoness 7 ce Als De VIOGRr OW i ik ri dee dad edn 10 A fe Es iy hk Mov a AUR ogee ease a ones 14 immer Y. Bacteria of the Moth). 05.4600 6h 5 cbs cde aws 19 Cmageer Vi. ‘The Temporary Teeth. ......... 000s ccccuces 21 tmagrer Vil, The Permanent Teeth. .......5......0..05% 25 Chapter VIII. Decay of the Teeth and Its Cause.......... 30 tMagter TA. Deposits on the Teeth.... 0.2... ccc cicadas 34 Chapter X. Regulating Malarticulated Teeth............. 38 _mameer Al): Extracting the Teeth... ..:40cs 000 0ccacees 41 Chapter XII. Old Fashioned Way of Thinking........... 43 Creme sens. A TalkeOn Foods. 65 iis eect cece bead. 45 Chapter XIV. Tuberculosis or Consumption.............. 47 Geer OY. - Sets oF the Teeth. ook cn ci ie ee ce bee 48 imam 4Vi. Ehygiene of the Mouth... ...0..46...0-6 see 49 Chapter XVII. Daily Care of the Mouth................ 51 Chapter XVIII. How to Use the Tooth Brush............ 54 Chapter XIX. Sterilization of the Tooth Brush........... 56 SR Ry ee a eg. ene re 58 ST eS Ee a a or ar 60 Coemer AXIL “Tie Voice and Speech... ...ces ese eenes 61 Chapter XXIII. Hereditary Characteristics .............. 62 Gace AALY. Mab and Its Results... 2... occ ceasion’s 63 es, MOMNBTY 63 circa een ed ses etad ee hbbaue 70

THE MOUTH AND TEETH

CHAPTER I. Anatomy of the Mouth and Teeth

Define Anatomy. Anatomy means the science which treats of organized bodies. .

Since our bodies are composed of minute particles or atoms, we should know as much about their composition, how developed, and their uses, as is possible for us to understand, in order to maintain good health.

I think my little readers will agree with me, and tell me, should I have the pleasure of talking with them in person, that their bodies are made up of bones, muscles, fat, nerves, veins, arteries, hair, nails, blood and teeth. But to tell me how many bones, how they look and the number of muscles attached to each bone, and how the nerves and blood vessels manage to get here, there, and everywhere throughout the body and through the bones, would be more than you could do.

So we are going to tell you about them in order that you may know something about yourself, and we will take the mouth and teeth for the basis, as the mouth is the main entrance to the body. No doubt you never thought that your bodies contain 200 bones of all shapes and sizes. They are divided into four classes: Long, short, flat and irregular, and they are all very important; if even one of these bones were missing, we would be malformed or crippled.

The face contains 14 bones, and the head contains 8, making 22 in all, that go to make up the head and face. The bones, then, are the framework of our bodies, although we will only tell you about the bones that compose the mouth, as you will learn about the rest of them as you advance in your studies; the others are, nevertheless, important. The bones of the head that form the cavity for the mouth will be our starting points or foundation for study here. There are too many in all for you to learn about just yet, so we will begin by telling you all about the two that compose the lower part of the face and mouth, which consists of two bones, the lower jaw and the upper jaw.

They are placed in such a manner as to form a hollow place called the mouth, which is made up of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, glands and teeth. The lips seal the mouth at will perfectly, and will open and close just as we choose.

QUESTIONS.

1. How many bones in the body? 2. How many bones in the head and face? 3. How are the bones divided, as to classification?

CHAPTER II. The Lower Jaw

We will tell you about the lower jaw first, as it is hardly as complicated as the upper one: The bone is classed with the irregular bones, is a horseshoe shape, with a body, (what is meant by the body is the part which composes the greater portion of anything,—we speak of the ocean or sea as being a body of water, or anything that is greatest). The same word applies to smaller things, such as we are talking about. The bone, then, has a body, two surfaces, an outer and an inner surface; also has two angles which help to form the side of the face.

The bone articulates or joins together with the Temporal bone (one of the bones of the head) like the hinge on a door. This is for the purpose of opening and closing the mouth, and masticating the food.

The bone has little holes or openings in it to let the blood vessels and nerves pass in and out. Again, they give to the bone food upon which it lives; also carries away wasted used-up food, as the bones, muscles and all living matter require food to live on. They need air, water, different kinds of mineral salts, and other materials obtained through the food eaten. These things are required for the support of life just like the little flowers in your garden. They have to have air, water, sunlight, rich soil, heat and many other things obtained through the air and soil for their support. They grow and grow. That is the way with our bodies. While very young, these things are required for growth, and when we are grown, we still need food to keep our bodies warm and healthy.

That is why the holes are in the bones to let the arteries in that the bone can be fed, and to let the veins get out, that the wasted products which are of no more use, may be carried away and thrown off. If a bloodvessel or nerve get a severe injury, or get cut into, or become diseased, the food supply will be cut off, and the bone and tissues surrounding the injury will die.

The nerves are to the system, or perform the same functions, as the wires do to a telephone system. They carry messages to the brain and back again, as when we are going to take food into the mouth, to chew the food, to laugh, cry, sing, or any act, the nerves take a message to the brain, telling the brain centers what is wanted; another message is sent back in answer, telling the mouth to open or close, our eyes to close or look at different objects, far or near, telling us to walk, run, jump as we wish. The nerves that enter the holes, together with the bloodvessels, are so arranged that every tooth is supplied with a little fine, white nerve which enters at the end of each root, through a little opening for that purpose.

The bone is heavy and very strong, but a heavy blow will easily break or fracture it. The bone is weaker on either side of the chin; therefore, fractures or breaks take place more frequently there.

The bone has little grooves, ridges and rough places for the attachments of muscles, as the muscles could not stay so firmly attached to a smooth surface of bone as they do to rougher surfaces.

The bone is next to the earliest formed bone of the body, the clavicle being the first. We find fifteen pairs of muscles attached to this bone which surround it and contour it into the shape and beauty of the lower part of the face. The part of bone that contains the teeth is somewhat like honey-comb, or porous like, and for that reason is easily fractured. Many times when a tooth has to be 'extracted, a part of the honeycombed process will come away with the tooth. Many persons will be very much alarmed and think the bone has been broken, when it is only a small part of the process, and amounts to but little, as

1. Extracted, means withdrawn or taken away.

the process or honey-combed bone only serves to hold the teeth in position; after the teeth are lost, the process absorbs away and leaves the bone smooth and dense in a few months or years.

Breaking the jaw bone by extracting the teeth is seldom done, although in many cases the jaw will be dislocated when extracting the teeth, or even in suddenly opening the mouth. These conditions rarely occur when the muscles are strong and healthy, but are met with frequently when the muscles and “ligaments are weak and in %abnormal condition.

When we are small, there is only room for ten teeth in each jaw bone, but at certain ages (as you will find later) these little teeth are lost, one, two or three at a time, until they are all out, or should be out. There are many cases where they remain and become wedged between the other teeth, and can’t get out. Following these little ones, come the large, permanent ones that are supposed to last throughout life. But frequently through neglect and disease they are lost while yet very young. That is why we are going to teach you about the mouth and teeth, and how to prevent their loss.

The general health depends upon good teeth and a healthy mouth, and without these, we make a failure at everything we go about; for pray tell who can succeed in any walk of life, any position, profession, home life, or business of any kind, with poor health, a bad personal appearance, and who will tolerate an offensive breath?

. Ligaments. Tough fibrous bands connecting the muscles to the bones. . Abnormal. Not normal, contrary to usual conditions.

cob

QUESTIONS.

. How does the body obtain food upon which it lives?

How is used up food carried away from the system?

For what purpose is food after youth?

What bone forms first in the body? What one second?

How are messages carried to the brain from all parts of the body?

OR ONE

CHAPTER III. The Upper Jaw

The upper jaw is of great importance on account of so many diseases and injuries to which it is liable. It is next to the lower jaw bone as to size. There are two of these bones that join together in the middle of the face, or the ‘median line, as it is known. To determine the median line, take a point midway between the temples on the forehead. continue the line downward, between the eyes, down the nose and over the tip of the nose, over the mouth to the tip of the chin. (Have pupils demonstrate). This line will come directly over the union of the two upper jaw bones.

The bone assists in forming the head and face: The roof of the mouth, the floor and outer part of the nose, and the floor of the “orbit.

The bone has a body (as did the lower jaw) and four 3processes. The body is somewhat shaped like a cube and is hollow on the inside. This hollow is called the *Antrum of *Highmore.

The bone has four surfaces, viz., the outer, the orbital (or upper), the posterior and the inner surface. The inner surface forms the roof or palate of the mouth; the outer surface forms the contour of the side of the face and the cheek; the orbital (as the name tells us) forms the floor of the orbit; the posterior surface joins with other bones of the head and face, thus helping to build and contour the head and face.

1. Median, middle of, midway, between.

2. Orbit, the bony socket which contains the eye.

8. Processes, are little projections of bone like little arms.

4-5. Antrum of Highmore. 4. Antrum means a cavity or chamber. 5. Hymore, the name of the man who discovered the antrum.

The processes are little projections of bone, like little arms extending out, and serve for the attachment of muscles, and to Sarticulate with other bones.

The Antrum of Highmore is a hollow place in the bone, and corresponds to the points of the face called the cheek. There are two cavities, or antrums, one on either side of the face. The cavity or antrum is lined with a thin membrane that secretes a fluid which keeps the bone moist inside, and also to give it food, as the membrane is supplied with small bloodvessels and nerves.

The antrum has ‘a little ‘duct that empties into either side of the nose; the fluids are thrown off and away from the antrum in this manner, thus carrying away waste and foreign material from the antrum and from the duct as well; also emptying into the nose, giving moisture, and clearing the nostrils of dust and contamination as it goes along, the secretion has now finished its work and is thrown away as waste.

The antrum is subject to many kinds of disease, and many times the discharge will come out through the nose if the opening becomes closed. Severe troubles are often met with great pain, and in some cases the bone will separate and cause the eyes to become injured or diseased. There are cases where the eye will be pushed out of the socket due to the pressure from bad swelling of antrum troubles. A good many of these conditions come from the teeth, as they often penetrate the floor of the antrum and extend into it, so that if roots of teeth that extend into the antrum are badly diseased, they will cause troubles as before stated. Foreign materials are often forced through the teeth that are badly broken down into the antrum; such things as toothpicks, pins, food, etc. Neuralgia is often caused from these conditions, due to pressure on the nerves, through swelling, feverish tissues or from growths, like Tumors, Cancers, Abscesses, and many other conditions. Some of the nerves and bloodvessels that supply the upper teeth pass through the antrum.

6. Articulate, to join together. 7. Duct, a tube for the secretions and excretions.

Owing to the thinness of the bones of the antrum, a tumor can easily force the bones apart, causing the face to enlarge, the eyes to be forced out of place, the nose closed, and the mouth closed in extreme cases. These conditions come about according to the growth and size of the tumor. Many times the teeth have to be extracted to give room for the growing tumor. Little or nothing can be done for such cases, after they get a good stand.

Most of the conditions are started from decayed teeth whose roots extend into the antrum. Nature cannot destroy the poison; therefore, disease and abnormalities, which have just been mentioned, take place. Many serious operations can be avoided if these causes are checked in time; otherwise, hopeless invalidism or loss of life follows as the results of thoughtlessness.

People forget that little things, can, and do result in big, harmful ones, and many times cause great suffering and sorrow.

Repeating again that the antrum is so situated, and the walls so thin, that many injuries, and disease, occur thereabout.

The bone has the same honey-combed process for the reception and retention of the teeth as has the lower one.

The bones are usually spoken of as being only one bone; the two bones being so closely and firmly united, although when they fail to unite (as they sometimes do) the case is then called Hair-lip or Cleft Palate.

The same conditions are met with in the upper jaw as in the lower when teeth are extracted; pieces of the process may come with the teeth.

Fractures of the upper jaw are very hard to manage, owing to the fact that bandages can hardly be made to stay in place.

A heavy blow will crush the walls of the antrum, and cause the face to be disfigured as a rule.

The palatal surface forms the roof of the mouth. This part of the bone is comparatively smooth; some little openings are in this bone also, for the entrance and exit of bloodvessels and nerves. It also has a few rough places for the attachment of muscles. 12

In adults the honey-comb process contains eight teeth in eack bone, making sixteen in all; and five in each jaw in children under six years, making ten in the full upper jaw.

The bone belongs to the class of irregular bones, and articulates with nine bones of the head and face. It has eleven muscles attached to either jaw, making twenty-two muscles to the upper bone.

This is a very important bone on account of being one of the main bones to make up the face. It is a difficult bone to operate upon, as an operation usually ruins the looks of the face; therefore, any trouble or disease should be carefully and skillfully treated. Physicians seldom think much about, or have much to do with such cases, especially if caused from the teeth, as they leave that part of medical and surgical work for the dental profession.

QUESTIONS.

. Upon what does good health depend?

. What are the results of losing the temporary teeth before they are ready to come out of their own accord?

3. What are the results of keeping them in too long after their time to come out?

. What usually causes an offensive breath?

. How can a bad breath be overcome?

What is the antrum of Highmore? 2. Why should it be very carefully guarded against bad teeth and accidents?

7. What is often a cause for neuralgia?

: How many muscles attached to the upper jaw bone?

noe

Doe

How many bones articulate with this bone? 0. What class of bone does it belong to?

CHAPTER IV. The Mouth

The mouth is the entrance to the stomach and intestines, or the digestive tracts. It is an oval shaped cavity, bounded in front by the lips, upon the sides by the cheeks, behind or posteriorly, by the soft palate and muscles that assist in swallowing. The mouth is lined throughout with a thin membrane called the epithelial membrane, beginning at the lips and continuing throughout the mouth and soft palate. The membrane is a rose pink color when in a healthy condition. The function of this membrane is to line the mouth, also to secrete a fluid that aids other juices in mixing and swallowing the food; also aids in the sense of taste to some extent, as the membrane is supplied with little fine nerve endings that are very sensitive; therefore, the membrane is very useful.

The mouth is supplied with other secretions. From glands on each side of the face and under the tongue. The largest one is the Parotid which is placed below the ear and behind the angle of the lower jaw. This gland weighs from one-half to one ounce. It is well supplied with bloodvessels and nerves, and is of a purple color. It empties its secretions into the mouth through a duct (meaning a little tube) called Stenson’s Duct (from the man who discovered it). The duct is about two and one-half inches long and commences by the uniting of very small branches, finally forming the big duct which empties into the mouth opposite the second molar teeth in the upper jaw.

Many times the duct will become closed with what is known as Calculus (commonly called tartar). It is a substance resembling bone; it originates from food stuffs and water, and analysis shows different mineral salts. It is thrown off as a waste product through the saliva which first comes through the glands. Many times the glands cannot throw it off into the duct and on into the saliva, and a great deposit will collect in the gland and form a bony-like tumor, and many times becomes infected and give trouble. |

The glands will often throw off the calculus, but the duct will: become impaired in some way and not do its work as it should, and the deposits will form a hard mass in the duct, which lessens the flow of saliva, and causes enlargement of the face, with many other troubles if allowed to go on and on. Surgical operations are often resorted to, to remove the tumorous growth. If the glands and ducts do their work properly, the calculus that comes from the saliva is thrown off as a waste and finds its way into the mouth, and commonly finds a lodging place on the teeth, or if crowns or plates are worn, will deposit on them as well. In many cases the deposits on the teeth will accumulate to such an extent that they will be longer than the teeth themselves, and are removed with some difficulty, as it attaches very firmly and is almost as hard and solid as stone. Others less solid can be more easily removed, but if not removed, great harm will result. (More will be said on this subject later.)

The Sub-maxillary glands are situated below the lower jaw bone on each side of the chin. These glands (two in number) are much smaller than the Parotid glands. They weigh two drachms, are about the same color, and secrete less fluid. The fluid from these glands are less viscid than that of the Parotid, and contain less mineral salts. The ducts of these glands are about two inches long and open in the floor of the mouth under the tongue (the ducts are called Wharton’s ducts after the man who discovered the glands and ducts). The glands like the Parotid are well supplied with bloodvessels and nerves. The 1Sub-lingual glands are smaller yet. They are situated under the tongue in the floor of the mouth. They weigh about one

1. Sub-lingual. Sub means under; lingual means tongue; under the tongue. (Latin). 15 drachm. The ducts are not so long, but outnumber the others, as there are about twenty in all with the two glands. These glands are likewise supplied with bloodvessels and nerves.

Now, these glands are very useful, and should be treated very kindly, for they are tender, easily bruised, and somewhat easily infected through uncleanliness and through the blood also. Their function is that of secreting saliva, from which they are generally spoken of as the Salivary glands. The Saliva contains a ferment called ptyalin, which converts or changes starch into sugar, thus helping in the digestion of food before it reaches the stomach; also in the sense of taste, as it assists in breaking up and dissolving solid foods, therefore rendering them more palatable. The Saliva also moistens the lips, tongue and mouth that they will not become dry and hard.

One of the greatest things to be considered in the process of mastication, is that of a thorough chewing of the food in order that the saliva will have a chance to perform its function. Without the saliva we could not swallow, talk or perform any act with the mouth. (Dr. Horace Fletcher first made this a study, and the world owes to him for his teachings.)

The amount of saliva secreted in one day is about two pints. If the food is not properly chewed and mixed with the saliva as it is being masticated, then nature is going to be cheated, the stimulation is lessened, therefore the amount of saliva is lessened ; consequently, the food is swallowed unprepared for the stomach, and the process of digestion is left entirely to the thirty-two feet of alimentary canal. You see nature’s first step of digestion should occur in the mouth, and food not mixed well with saliva, putrefies and throws off noxious gases.

Most people are human sewers, anyway; they eat hurriedly and swallow with an effort, gulp down soup, soft foods and liquids, and never taste half of what they eat. Thus they carry into their stomach decaying masses of refuse that leave them sick. The real wonder is that they live at all. Then they wonder why they have headache, boils, bad breath, foggy feelings, gout, eczema, etc. They are poisoned, that’s why.

The mouth is nothing more than a food chopper, the teeth the grinders, and I daresay not another organ of the body is abused as is the mouth and teeth. And doesn’t common sense teach us, that if the teeth or grinders are out of repair, that the work of digestion, and the methods that nature has provided us with that we may live (like your little flowers in the garden) are cheated, the whole system will have to pay the penalty.

As long as our bodies are clean and free from poison, we are going to be healthy. Therefore, the mouth of all parts of the body should be kept clean and in a healthy state, for bad, decayed teeth and a filthy mouth are responsible in most cases for chronic stomach troubles, and general systemic derangement.

If for no other reason other than a social standpoint, one should take the utmost care of the mouth and teeth, for there is nothing so abhorrent or disagreeable as that of a bad breath, and badly decayed teeth. The sight of such a mouth is enough to make one sick. A bad breath is a signal of danger.

“The breath is poison to begin with,” even from a healthy mouth, so what must it be when contaminated with decomposed, decaying foodstuffs, tooth structure, tissues, and all other foreign material that go hand in hand with such conditions. The most serious question is “Why don’t people take care of their mouth and teeth?” Why do we take our daily bath? Why do we wash and clean our face and hands many times a day? For cleanliness, of course. Nature demands it, and we form the habit while very young, and feel very uncomfortable when neglected.

Then, my little readers, your mouth and teeth need the bath and scrubbing much worse, for they are brought into contact with far more filth and decaying products than are the face and hands.

There are so many grooves and places between the teeth, and non-cleansing surfaces of the teeth, that foodstuff finds a lodging place, and there remain until removed; if not, then it decays, like your sausage grinder, will clog up and trouble in many, many ways will take place. One who has bad teeth and a diseased mouth such as we have been telling you of in this chapter, can expect anything to go wrong with their bodies at any time. ;

QUESTIONS.

Name all of the salivary glands and tell where they are situated; what is their function?

Why should the ducts of these glands be carefully watched and kept in a healthy state?

- What is calculus? Learn all you can about it.

. Why should one masticate the food thoroughly?

. How much saliva normally secreted in one day?

Orme pn

CHAPTER V. Bacteria of the Mouth

The mouth is a hot-bed of micro-organisms or Bacteria. Some authors claim to have found from twenty to thirty different kinds of germs or Bacteria in the mouths of healthy persons at the same time, so what must be the number in mouths that are not clean and healthy! What is every mouthful of food swallowed by such a person like?

The air we breathe, especially in poorly ventilated rooms, and in cities that are filthy, also in swampy regions, is full of Bacteria. Most foods we eat are full of them. Therefore, there is little room for escape except by being as clean as we possibly can.

Not all Bacteria are harmful; in fact, some Bacteria are very essential to life. An example would be that of ripening of fruit, cheese, milk, wines, bread yeast, etc.

Though many Bacteria are very poisonous to animal bodies, higher or lower, and many diseases are readily and easily transmitted from one to the other. As an example: Tuberculosis or Consumption can be transmitted from cattle, either from eating the meat, or from the milk from cattle thus infected, to man. Fowls and fish have Tuberculosis, and so do cats, dogs, monkeys, rabbits, or any of the lower animals, for that matter. Through under climatic conditions and the conditions of the air, do the lower animals become extremely susceptible to such diseases. (The same thing holds true with man.) As a rule, the lower animals are less susceptible than man, from the fact that they live in the open air to a greater extent.

Some authorities claim that some Bacteria can be boiled for several minutes or even hours without being killed, while others are killed at the boiling point of water. Strong antiseptics kill, or prevent the growth of many, until they die of starvation.

Bacteria depend upon heat, moisture and suitable foodstuffs for their growth; some of them require air to live and some do not.

It is said in parts of Mexico, there are no Bacteria. The air is so pure and free from them that meats, or other foods, do not decay.

On mountains fewer Bacteria are to be found than in low lands. They have been found in polar regions where there is ice and snow the year round. So this being the case, and when there are but few things that we can do to keep our bodies free from them, or prohibit their growth as much as is possible, why not at least try to do the things that are easiest and simplest in the reach of each and every one, and that is, keep clean?