Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-02
What's the Matter With Teeth7

Is II the kinds OF food we eat or are the teeth
Of the present generation OF poorer quality than
formerly or do we use improper dentrihces.
that teeth fail 50 soon. for, life defective eye
sight. YOU constantly ind little children having
their teeth hIled as well as being supplied with
spectacles. almost before they lay aside their
baby bibs.
Ny father never had filling put in a tooth.
and had nearly all his original supply when he
died IN HIS eirhty-nfth year. sound and useful
for masticating his food. but his children spent
many dollars On their teeth. and some OF ms
their heads az thirty-hve.
Now. there is failure apparent In this mat
ter and some II his descendants are asking the
question. whiCA ] have placed at the head OF
this article, namely What is the matter with
without attempting 10 give the reason. I am
ready 20 say that while the present generation
IS generally afflicted with poor teeth as q rule
tits more than likely that our food is INJURIOUS:
because we eat too much strong food. hot food
and improper food: unless we have enough ac-
tive exercise 10 digest II and disordered stom,
system. and a disordered system viii anect
every part OF the body. even 70 the enamel on
candies affect the teeth injuriously. but do
know that an exposed nerve in a tooth viii ache
exposed nerve. Children OF the present day are
HUNDRED 10 all the sweet diet that their parents
can furnish 70 them. and when a little tot
goes 70 town with either papa or mamma, the
FIRST thing that Is demanded Is a little paper
sack Of candy. No matter how green, red or
yellow the candy may be- these young ones de-
rnolIsh n Immediately and are ready for more.
I never see a child with handful OF nigh col
ored cheap candy that am not uneasy as .
the effect OF the eoloring matter on its little
stomach.
children hardly knew what It was 10 taste
coffee a hundred years ago. The coffee bean
was expensive and Il was considered TO be, only
a Sunday morning beverage for even the we'll
to-dO grown-up folks. Tea was more univer-
sally used. and have reached the conclusion
that we drink entirely too much corree Tor
healthy stoInachs. at the present time.
In poor homes the coffee pot is nearly always
nm for hire
seems that its constant use begets a craving for
stimulents that Is nearly as absorbing as the
desire for intoxicants. How often do you hear
It said IF I don't get my coffee for breakfast
I have the headache all day When anything
nuid or solid masters ones digestive organs IN
that way the time has come 70 ask. why and
whereforeT
We may set IT down that any food which az
fects the brain or causes a condition that re-
suits IN headache that particular kind OF food Is
injurious enough TO let alone and to try some
In the -olden time people ate heartily. but
they were not expected TO eat at Irregular
hours. The stomach had time 10 rest and
there was sound sleep and little complaint OF
Indigestion. Children had a bowl OF milk and
bread. long before the people came IN from the
field al night. their feet were washed and they
were sound asleep on their cool pallets IN the
hot weather time. They were strong. and
healthy and there was little complaint about
poor teeth.
Nowadays, they eat everything that older
people eat and the chances are they must
sometimes vomit II up from en- overloaded
them up straight.
Fast living. hurried meals all sorts OF food
steaming hot or frozen. as the case may be,
packing in fiery condiments and filling In
the crevices with frozen creams and Ices. II
would be no wonder II nature made Kick on
the teeth and the stomach should set upa con-
tnuous grcwl OF complaint
There is almost universal complaint Of weak
When one OF the boys eats what he wants
without regard 20 health OF suitability for time
or place. and is then sent o ~ 10 sanitarium. or
engages a specialist. nine times out Of ten
hear its aid. he Is suffering with indigestion.
he has stomach trouble" Examine into
this fashionable complaint and you viii likely
discovers ne has been eating too much. drinking
too much coffee-if he is a sober man-keeping
late hours. with late suppers. and topping of
with frequent cigarettes or continuous cheWs
90 tobacco
II he Is a clerk or a very busy man. and his
teeth are troubling him (as they are reasonably
sure TO do. sooner later then he makes a
Sunday appointment with the dentist and gets
his teeth bored into dug out. packed with nll-
ing, and polished down on that day Of sO-called
rest and Sabbath-day observance.
And my dainty young lady IN lace and high
heeled slippers. actually consumes all the
pickles her mother put up purchase. and
expects her beau 10 bring her a box Of high
priced candy. whereas he calls for an evening
visit. She has appetite for breakfast. but
she eats from the safe pantry all day long.
at intervals, and her indigestion Is troublesome.
o. course, but she is always hungry Tor pickles
and candy. Her teeth are likely tender and
soft. and by the time she IS thirty-hve years
old. younger. she has plate or some high
priced bridge work I'm her mouth. or a set OF
tender, sensitive. neuralgia. affected teeth that
never give her satisfaction until the last one
has been pulled out. and pretty set Of gold
filled false ones are put In their place. NAV
be wrong but think our way OF eating, and the
things We eat have much TO do with these Door
| teeth