New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-08
TEETH AND THEIR CARE


millions
matter distressing but not alarming. Ana as long
as their teeth don't hurt they take II for granted
that they are all right. When the worlG learns TO
realize that neglect can turn the creVlces OF the
teeth into cesspoos. capable OF producing in one
day i'm one human mouth one billion germs charged
with all sorts OF health destroying qualities. then
the world will get UP and stamp out carries or
dental decay, as 'it has stamped out smallpox
\ danger flag that should always be needed by
Individual in whose mouth II appears is the
gum boil" says THE London Daily Telegraph"
1t isn't merely painful appearance. TO be healed
as soon as possible; II is an indication that the
gums are forming poisonous matter, which will
infect the whole system If left alone. Persons with
many decayea teeth frequently the subjects OF
a slow poisoning. which often renders them chronic
Invalids before they realize that the condition OF
their teeth 10 at the bottom of their persistent i'll
health. Poisonous material formed In the mouth
owing to the presence Of decayed teeth and con-
stantly being swallowed With the food and saliva
has been shown by recent Investigations to be ca
pabie OF leading 10 very serious disease. For ex-
ample. eminent specialist has recently traced
the origin OF the most fatal form or anemia known
-pernicious anemia-to poisoning of the system
started by decayns teeth. Other ailments pro-
euced by the presence OF these poisons in the
mouth chronic tonsllits persistent throat
and occasionally chronic Inflammation of the
tongue (slossitis).
RIGGS DISEASE.
"A similar kind OF chronic poisoning very often
occurs in person. who not too careful as4o the
care OF their teeth. and may occur IN alb
sencs OF actual decay of the teeth themselves;
what happens these instances is that matter
forming microbes gain a toothod In the gums
around each tooth, resulting I'm a constant dis
charge OF poisonous material into the mouth Such
. condition is technically known 'pyorrhea
slveoaris.' or Riggs disease and is exceedingly
prevalent nowadays; in fact. ii is exaggeration
to say that there thousands OF persons in
whom this affection exists without their being
aware of it"
The worst of II is that carries is Widespread
perhaps the conmonest disease IN the world
"The Telegraph" says: 1T has been shown by
thorough investigation that eight out of every
children attending the London schools have
defective teeth. During the South African war
more than three thousand sent home on
the sick list. simply because their teeth were dis
.ased. A person with defective teeth Is a person
who cannot chew food properly. Food thrown
into the stomach in Jumps cannot be digetted
rightly. and IL follows that the proper nOurish-
ment will be obtained from any meal, and
consequently process OF slow starvation will be
begun. the consequences OF which must be loss Of
weight and poor physique. And when the
food is not fully broken up in the mouth, and is
taken into the stomach in less solid
humps these hard masses act as an irritant TO
its delicate lining membrane, and sooner or later
produce the symptoms of dyspepsia or Indigestion
evidenced by pain and discomfort after meals dis
turbed nights and bad dreams; WHILE if the irri-
tation continues month after month chronic ca
tarrh OF the stomach, even dilatatiOn of that
organ. will occur. leading wasting chronic ind-
Eestion and invalidism. Further. we know that
cancer is very prone TO attack a stomach weak
cned by years of chronic catarrh and so even
that terrible disease is not improbably sometimes
due indirectly neglected teeth. A very large
number OF the cases OF indigestion and catarrh of
the stomach met with by medical practitioners can
be traced TO deficient mastication due 10 defective
teeth. decayed tooth with rough edges may
cause cancer Of the tongue.
A MICROBES BREEDING PLACE
But IT is their hospitality to germs that makes
defective teeth dangerous. The mouth is the
most comfortable place nicrObe find; IL is
warm. II is moist-a perfect breeding place Just
give microbe a mouth with some diseased mat
in IT, and that is all Il needs 10 enable II 10
Fat and Invade the body on its errand OF
pneumonia whatever its particular stunt hap
pens 10 be. Then the microbes. finding decayed
teeth so pleasant TO live in. work hard to spread
the decay. They do this by producing acid sub
stances. and acid saliva is death 10 sound teeth
The teeth, Ike the bones. consist largely Of lime
salts, which are, everyone knows, readily dis
solved by acids; consequently il is only to be ex-
pected that the acid saliva will very soon begin
TO dissolve away the outer enamel of the teeth
(Which is their hardest parO. Once the softer I'M
DERIVING dentine and bony layers of the teeth are
exposed. this action OF the acid progresses more
and more quickly. Then, soon there is a
hole cavity made into a tooth, the microbes
themselves gain entrance into the very heart Of
IL, and, besides producing more acid and tooth de-
strOying substances, lead Inflammation Of the
nerves therein AS rule the acid made by
the micrObe first eats into tooth at its root lust
on the edge of the gums here the dental tissue
is somewhat softer than above, and so NAV lead
TO destruction of the whole of the inside OF tooth
before its owner realizes that 1t is seriously de-
cayed: thus 1t is that people very often UNI
pleasantly surprised by the sudden collapse of a
tooth which they had thought to be only very
slightly decayed. In such land they are ex-
tremey conlmon) the apparently healthy crown
has been only shell of the enamel hiding the
destructive process within.
Many people who think they know how TO clean
their teeth really do not know IL is a verY COM
mon custom for people TO brush their teeth every
morning of their lives. and in so doing to consider
that they have fully done everything desirable
the point OF view of hygiene and cleanliness But
little thought will show. when the teeth are
brushed in the morning only the microbes in the
mouth have had all night TO act upon the teeth and
flourish upon the food particles that have col
lected about them during the preceding day. There
can, a matter of fact, be little doubt that the
worst Tavages of the microbes upon teeth are
committed during the night; hence. if to
make certain OF preventing their decay. it becomes
absolutely necessary thoroughly to brush them and
cleanse the mouth with a suitable mouth wash.
before retiring bed each night, well in the
morning. Another important detail is that the
usual method of brushing the teeth from side to
side is quite insufficient get rid thoroughly of
food particles: this end the teeth must
always be brushed with up and down motion.
as TO sweep all debris and forth away from the
gums. dental decay begins usually in childhood.
is Of the utmost Importance that children should
be taught these rules they old
enough to understand; furthermore. il should be
impressed on the plastic mind of every growing
child that the teeth among our most precious
natural possessions. and that their loss decay