The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-02-23

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for bacteria of long list of the most
fatal diseases to which the body Is sub.
jet.
The concensus of opinion OF many
investigators seems to be that the coat.
ing OF the tongue contains large guam.
titles of bacteria and If not cleaned
several times daily It IL one OF the
most favorable localities In the mouth
for breeding bacteria and causing foul
breath. That the majority of the most
destructive dental diseases are the re.
suits OF neglect and an unsanitary con-
dition of the mouth is not questlona-
BILE, but is true and il censurable, and
there should be combined effort on the
part OF all right thinking people, den
lists, physicians and laity to effect a
change.
In the New York Medical journal a
we'll informed and forclble writer says,
Hundreds and thousands of people are
going about with decayed teeth and
gums, carrying with them In their
mouths cess-p pools filled with fetid
denominations OF putrefying, offensive
food debris, with its teeming popula-
ton OF heterogeneous and resulting
poisons as consequence, and are daily
swallowing these putreiactions and alb
sorbing the pus. Many cases of septic
diseases are due to decay In teeth and
diseased gums, and to that alone.
I will quote dleconnectedIy sentences
from a paper written by DR.. Grady,
Dentist, U. 8. Naval Academy, who
has written ably on this subject. He
says, 1t has been estimated that half of
the children born die before they
reach the age Ct sixteen. We can truly
charge large ortion OF this great
slaughter to ignorance and wilful neg
lect. It is wonderful how many dis
eases can be traced indirectly to bad
teeth. Side by side with medical
science dentistry has grown, and now
the teeth are recognized as important
objects OF special study, as the eye or
ear. The Same spirit which has led to
enlisting the active cooperation Of
public schools concerning measures Tor
preventing the spread Of contagious
OF children should be insisted
upon in the care of the teeth. A move
ment to secure public action on this
matter will at once exert a moral IoIce.
Mothers will be more watchful and
painstaking to AVOID the disgrace OF de-
cayed teeth in their children mouths.
Children will be moved to take pride
in spotless teeth. The inculcation OF
clearly habits among children should
be insisted upon. The hope of dentist
~ is to employ prophylactics to pre-
vent decay instead Of treating it, and
rs with the teeth 80 with the gums.
This is reasonable, humane and scien-
tific, and on line for a higher plane of
in professional work. 1t is
more important for health to keep the
teeth and gums clean than to keep the
hands and face clean. There is strong
reason to believe that many diseases of
the nervous system, respiratory organs
and alimentary canal, maybe due to
the fact that the masticatory organs
have been neglected.
The only proper course to pursue in
dealing with the question is by per-
and intelligently educating
the minds of the. public to Its ex-
act status. The school is the one force
that can unity all conditions of society.
Here we have the children of all classes
In their entirety and We can if we will
teach them that soundnees OF teeth is
In itself one of the best evidences OF
soundness of body. That the prevent
ion of dental carries and diseased gums,
depends first of all on strict cleanliness
of the mouth, the importance OF which
possibly be over estimated. i
OF all causes OF decay of teeth and
unhealthy gums, uncleanness is per-
haps the most fertile. The clean tooth
may decay, the neglected tooth must
decay. Children must be instructed
in tie care of the mouth, teeth, gums
and tongue, and the sooner this Is done,
the sooner will tho many evils arising
from the present neglect be stayed.
We must see to 1t that school children
thorough instruction a. to tho
utility of good teeth. The teaching
which a growing child imbibes in
school sticks fastest in its memory. In |
stead of regarding teeth As foes, chill
dren should be taught to regard them
ss special friends, and devote to them
their best care. We must by all means
remove the possibilities for the propa- |
CATION OF disease in the public schools
the present condition OF chill