Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-09-25
What Makes Our Teeth Decay.
Doctor. I've taken so much strong

Doctor, I've taken SO much strong
medicine that
"Oh, please stop! Pardon me, but
see you are beginning the same old
story. Now, let me do the talking. I
suppose you think your physician is
wholly responsible for your decayed
teeth. because you casually learned
that the iron tonic ne prescribed con-
tanned muriatic acid. Or possibly he
prescribed hydrocnlori, or sulphuric
acid 1t is always we'll to take such
medicines through tube and then
rinse the mouth thoroughly. But no
one of these agents. however carelesslv
administered, is capable of doing one
quarter of the mischief which an ex-
animation of your mouth reveals. The
havoc has been wrought BY acids, it is
true, but they were born in the mouth.
You have what was formerly beauti-
full set of pearly white teeth. Some
time ago you discovered several de-
cayed spots which rapidly grew worse,
SO that your tt eth seemed fairly to
melt away. Take q mirror and ex-
anime one of these. The channel is
translucent, breaks down easily and
reveals larger cavity than YOU sus-
pected. This cavity is partly filled with
whitish. pulpy debris, and when YOU
probe in. the walls are quite sensitive.
Hot and cold drinks hurt, and food iodg-
ing in the cavity starts the tooth to ach-
ing. Nitric acid did it. Whence the nitri..
acid? From the decomposition of am
monia in the mouth. Frequently, the
functions of the skin, kidneys and other
excretory organs become impaired, the
blood becomes overloaded with am
monia (Which, in a vigorous, healthy
condition is carried out of the system .,
and eventually this ammonia finds it's
way through the salivary ducts into the
mouth. Then ensues u beautiful chem
zeal reaction. The particles on nitro
genus food which have been suffered to
accumulate between the teeth-you' re
not going to interrupt me?"
why, l brush my teeth alter every
meal, doctor"
''lou doP And do you use your
toothpick and bit of string with scrupu-
lous care to clear out all the spaces?
What is that lodged here between these
teeth 4 shred OF beef?'
This shred OF beef then, as we were
saying, de O1lposes after awhile and
hberates nitrogen, hydrogen and oxy-
gen. This latter agent instantly unltes
with the free ammonia in the mouth
and small quantity OF nitric acid is
the result. This nascent acid, which is
far more energetic in its action than
nitric acid taken into the mouth, at
tacks instantly the lime salts OF the
tooth surface with which it may come
in contact, and decay is the result.
What is the remedy? Cleanliness,
first of all, and secondly, anything
that will neutralize the ammonia:
Fruit or vegetable acid will do this.
Eat more cherries, apples, berries,
pickles, sauerkraut,; drink lemonade.
ITy water made tart with vinegar al
meals. 10 YOU understand now why
your daughter. Just blooming into
womanhood, Graves pickles. lemons
and vinegar? She can bite into raw
lemon without wincing. Why? be
scause her blood is surcharged with am
monia, her mouth is full of it, the sal
iva is ropy with 1t.
Sour food, a tooth-pick and a spool
of waxed floss silk for nitric acid
(whiteJ decay.
Another observation apropos to this
. sub. ect. The free use of fruit acids
insures the teeth against that dis
gusting accumulation, tartar, by vir-
tue of its destroying the free ammonia.
Before the ammonia decomposes to
tralizes the carbonic acid of the saliva
by which its lime salts are held sus-
pended IN solution. and these salts are
precipitated upon the teeth forming
tartar. 4 swallow of vinegar and
water as night will do much to prevent
tartar.
'-but the decay in my teeth is brown,
not white" you say. The spots are
exuuisitelv sensitiye.''
III ydrochloric acid is the little mis-
chief-maker this time. Have YOU sew
eral large filings extending to the gum
and so situated that food lodges in con
tact with themp Perhaps you wear 8
plate with clasps around one or two
teeth This favors galvanic action,
and thence results hydrochloric acid in
its nascent condition. But independ-
emily OF these considerations this acld
often abounds in the mouth of persons
who use salt or sailed meats immoder-
ately. 1t has no direct relation 90 am,
monia.
81 he decay in my teeth is not like
either of the above varieties" you say.
s.It is black as ink.
Sulphuric acid, then. The decay
progresses very slowly, and you suffer
yery little at the hands of your dentist,
and perhaps wonder why people make
such a fuss about having teeth filled
This acid is less destructive than the
other two named, still if you are great
ly alarmed by its inroads, avoid the use
of eggs and such food as abounds in
sulphur. Your breath is likely to be-
tray the presence of sulphuretted hv-
drogen, which does not at all resemble
altar of roses.
Thus far we have spoken only of the
active agents of decay. The vitality Of
the individual has much to do with the
matter of decay OF the teeth. Fevers
enfeeble the system and favor decay
Don't blame the medicines. The acld:
your physician administers correct tn,
Initiated conditions in the system, 81
that # the teeth suffer it is probably il
SD tie of his medicines, rather than be
cause of them, After typhoid fever, es
peci..lly, look out for decay. Boston
Budget.
81