The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-05-09
Takf Carr Of
Dour Trrtb
BY Wendell Phillips Dodge, N PIC
torial Review.

teeth were OF greater iiiipot eohee
to the nation than the restriction OF
the consumption Of alcohol, inn
portant as the latter problem is.
And DR.. William R. Woodbury.,
neurologist to the Boston Dispen-
sary, says that neglected mouth IS
factor in infection diseases. He
also says that foul mouth fur
nishes fertile soil for infectious
germs and favors diphtheria, scar
let fever and measles.
Even rheumatism, one OF the
most intractable Of all diseases
with which physicians have to deal,
according to DR.. Gordon Wilson, a
prominent physician Of Baltimore,
arises from source of infection
found most often in the teeth. He
cites numerous cases to prove that
liberated teeth and their purulent
discharges are responsible for more
OF the severe types of rheumatism
than we have any idea Of. IN most
of these cases of rheumatism, at
tention merely to the teeth end
gums. where suppuration was
found to exist, resulted in an inn
mediate amelioration of rheumatic
pains and an ultimate cure.
The trouble known as Riggs
Disease" which is exceedingly
common, is marked by Inflammation
and tenderness OF the gums, and
their gardual recession from the
teeth. The cause of the condition
is the formation of tartar on the
teeth below their junction with
the gums, when the separating OF
the gum from the tooth permits
particles of food to lodge within
these clefts. These undergo decom-
position and set up suppuratlon. IL,
however, the tartar is removed be-
fore suppuration occurs, the in
Illumination quickly subsidies, and
the gum again adheres closely to
the tooth. Even in advanced cases.
lif the teeth are pulled, the gums
rapidly heal and assume their nor
NAL pink color.
Results of School Investigations
Teeth are also responsible for
many varieties of facial malforma-
ton, such as the pushing Of the
upper teeth forward, making a re-
ceding chin; the pushing of the
lower teeth forward, causing the
bulldog Jaw" and less serious
variety which punches the teeth
| together, so that the upper and
Hover sets do not meet properly.
AT six years OF age the first per-
lmanent teeth appear-four grind
ers or molars. These teeth should
Ibe saved at all cost. They are
working tools, their work begin
ming at once and continuing
Throughout life. Upon them rests
| full growth and development, and
general good health during life.
Unsound and irregular teeth, swol-
len tonsils and adenoid growth are
closely related. Neglected teeth and
a dirty mouth are the causes of
diseased tonsils and an obstructed
nose. 1t is not uncommon, more
over, to have an inflamed condi-
ton of the eyes as a result of bad
teeth. So little do most of us real
ize the importance Of sound, clean
~ teeth, and the interrelation of
stomach and sense nerves. that ey-
en- the school principals thought
the eye specialist was exaggerat-
| ing when he declared that bad
teeth caused Indigestion and indi-
gestion caused eye strain. The
presence of adenoids or enlarged
ttonsiIs constitutes an open door to
invasion of the body by harmful
germs. DR.. J. I. Case of Battle
EGreek, Mich, says that whooping-
Tough, :. measles, scarlet fever,
lpneumonia, bronchitis and asthma
more readily attack children with
adenoid growth and enlarged tom
sils.
SO much for what happens when
we fail to take proper care Of our
teeth. The thing to do is to pre-
vent disease Of the teeth and mouth
by practicing dental hygiene. Going
to the dentist will not conserve the
teeth, without the prompt and
careful removal Of food substance
that may find Judgment in them.
Wherever there is fermentation
and decomposition or organic mat
ter, there innumerable colonies of
disease germs are generated and
quickly become highly destructive
to the parts they infect.
Especial care should be taken to
remove every particle Of food from
around and between the teeth after
eating, by thoroughly rinsing the
mouth with a suitable antlseptie
solution, and by the free use Of the
quill toothpick or floss silk.
The slightest particle Of food
lodged in crevices between teeth
quickly decomposes on account Of
The heat and moisture OF the
mouth. And as the saliva evap-
crates, it leaves on the teeth a
sediment called tartar, which, as
We have seen. causes teeth TO fall
out. Want Of cleanliness i per-
haps the most direct Of the pre-
yenlable causes If the most COM
mon dental disease. namely decay.
Tartar. If allowed 10 accumulate,
and harden. nnrks great mischief