Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
DIET AND THE TEETH

That food particles will soon decom-
pose and lead to dental carries if al
lowed to remain between the teeth or
in the depressions on the teeth is now
common knowledge among well-in-
formed people, and most of us have
come to realize the significant rela-
ton of the tooth brush, silk floss and
alkaline mouth wash, not to the pres
ervation of our teeth alone, but also
to the preservation of our health, hap
piness and even life itself.
But perhaps it is not generally un-
derstood that decomposition of one
kind of food differs from decomposi-
ton of another kind in respect of the
injurious products liberated. The de-
composition products most injurious
10 teeth are such as favor the deyel-
opment Of bacteria and such as are of
acid nature. Indeed, some invcstiga.
tors have given Tactic acid as the pri-
mary factor i'll the destruction of en-
amcl. PrOteids, which include animal
tissues, eggs, etc, are not nearly So
harmful to the teeth as other kinds OF
food because the proteids do not yield
on decomposition the acids that dlsln-
tegratc the enamel nor the products
favorable to bacterial life and activity.
The carbohydrates, however. do yield
these delatcrious decomposition prod
ucts plentifully; hence sweets, starches
and gummy foods arc more injurious
than meats. whether fish, flesh or fowl
This does not mean that man should
lead a purely CarnivOrOus life, but 1t
does mean that Over-indulgencc in
candy and other sweets is bad for chill
dren's teeth, and that one needs TO
clean the teeth carefully after eating
adherent sacchariR or StarChy food.
Another point concerning the effect
of diet upon the teeth is that soft or
sticky food is not so good for the
teeth as firm or even coarse allmcnt.
The teeth need exercise to keep them
well and sound. A liquid or semt-soitd
diet does not furnish the mechanical
stimulation which the teeth require;
moreover foods of this sort adhere to
the teeth and are harder to remove
than dry solid foods are
But there is a more profound rela-
ton between diet and tooth preserva-
ton Who has not often noticed thar
some peoples teeth are cOnstitutionally
prone to decay? And that despite the
greatest care OF these precious organs
certain individuals are constantly in
the hands of the dentist. whereas other
individuals who absolutely neglect
their teeth are never troubled with de-
cay? The reason for this difference
in many instances is that the tastes of
the man with the sound teeth lead him
to eat food that contains enough of the
elements OF tooth sustenanCe and sub
stance. while the man with the bad
teeth does not get a sufficient supply
of these elements from his restricted
diet
Says The Journal Of the American
Medical association, apropos TO this
subject:
"Other factors concerned in the pro-
tluction of carries Of the teeth besides
inadequate cleanliness and too soft
food are the general nutrition and the
character of the internal socreuons.
The teeth need certain inorganic sup-
stances properly metabolzed to keep
mp their perfect health and growth. II
these substances, probably largely
phosphates, are insufficient the teeth
tend to decay. Such an insuffictency
is probably always more or less pres
ent during pregnancy. If the teeth
tend to degenerate and cavities quickly
form the trouble is generally with the
nutrition. and the person is often &c
ficient in bone-fOrming salts. such
patients should receive lime salts,
phosphates, glyCerophOsphates and
IRON -