Atlanta Daily World

TEETH and HEALTH
By Dr. E. W. TAGGART
THE COLOR OF MY TEETH
Quite frequently the dentist hears the statement "doctor my teeth don't seem to be as white as they used to be" or is asked the question "why is it, doctor, that my teeth seem to be turning yellow?" or "What will whiten my teeth, doctor?" These queries grow out of the first interest that may be awakened in one after being induced to think of the teeth at all, and all persons seem prone to ask them, perhaps for the same reason that they discuss the weather or the man in the moon or simply because they don't have anything else to say. Well, it is pretty hard to make conversation about something that you don't know anything about, and most people know very little about their teeth, and judging from the attention given them, care less. The basic color of the teeth is yellow which deepens with age, so after all the observation that they seem not as white as formerly is correct, but this is not a disease process and should not be alarming. Of course, the teeth should have at least two daily scrubbings and their annual or bi-annual inspection and cleaning by your favorite dentist, but by no means attempt a bleaching of them for if you do, dear reader, your teeth will soon be no more as this cannot be done except by chemicals that are positively harmful to the enamel, therefore, beware of all preparations and concoctions recommended to "whiten teeth" as they are either harmful or a fake. Color in teeth plays an important part in facial harmony. The oft delicate creamy yellow of the natural teeth is much more pleasing than would be black teeth, absorbing all the rays of light, or pure white teeth, reflecting all the rays of light. While in general in nature the color of the teeth harmonizes with the color of the complexion, instances are found in which the colors clash. These conditions may be brought about by the influence of occupation, diet, and mental attitude over centuries of time, changing the complexion from the basic type. The origin of coloration in the teeth is different from that of the skin, which is confined to the organic matter in the dentine, is supposed to be an integral part of the structure of the teeth, as is the color of the blood bile and internal organs. The predominating hue of the natural teeth ranges from a very faint creamy yellow to a yellow of deeper saturations. Variation from this rule is seldom found save where external factors have influenced the coloration, devitalization, fillings, neglect, and other factors causing darkening or a grayish or chalky appearance of the teeth.