Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-03-05
copyright. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
RESISTANCE TO DE.
CAY.


PERSONAL RESISTANCE TO DE.
~. CAY.
Whether the reaction Of the saliva is
acid or alkaline has been under dis
cussion for century, and men still
differ so widely and so many authori-
ties may be found on either side that
the subject is involved in confusion.
Without doubt the truth is that the
saliva is very feebly alkaline and
readily changes either to acid or all
kaline with the establishment of va.
rious constitutional conditions. No
two individuals can possibly be exact.
ly alike and the constitution of the
mouth secretions must vary according
to time, place and the predominance of
one or more Of the forms Of the many
species Of microorganisms known to
be found in the mouth; also 1t must
vary in accordance with the individual
state Of health and mind, so that
physiological saliva, with the biochem-
ical elements in state Of equilibrium,
is probably very rare.
II confusion exists concerning SO
comparatively simple matter as the
reaction Of the saliva, 1t is reasonable
to expect difference Of opinion in re-
gard to so worldwide and vague a dis
ease as carries, or tooth decay, and Its
numerous allied conditions. Because
they are so very closely identified the
same general confusion exists with
reference to the subject Of decay Of
the teeth as pertains to the reaction Of
the saliva. Hence, one authority finds
carries due to acidity and another to
akalinity; another declares 1t to be
caused by the absence of certain
element. and still another finds 1t Is
caused by the presence of that same
element.
The idea that some teeth are hard
and resistant to disease and some soft
and easily destroyed was very gener-
ally believed by the dental profession
until the investigations Of DR.. G. V.
Black few years ago cleared the sub
Iect. He demonstrated that there is
actually no material difference In the
hardness OF teeth and that the quality
Of hardness or Of softness Of the
teeth has no specific connection with
their tendency to decay.
When the teeth Of children are seen
to be decaying badly the general inter
probation is that they are soft and
poorly calcified. II, on the other hand,
the children happen to grow up to ma.
turity without developing decay Of the
teeth the Interpretation is that the
teeth are hard and firm and therefore
resist decay. Then 1t has been gen
orally observed that during pregnancy
and lactation the teeth of women suf
Ter more from carries than during other
periods, and this has been so universal
an experience that 1t gave birth to an
old saying: "A tooth for every child.
II is generally held that the teeth
Of the mother are robbed Of the cal
, cium salts to build up the bones oi
, the unborn infant, but this is one Of
, those half truths that are so confus
ing and misleading.
Carries Is essentially a disease oil
, childhood, and childhood has epigram
matically and most truly been desig
mated as "an extra hazardous occu
!, patton" Child bearing is an extra
, hazardous occupation. too; and so
measured by its mortality, is moderr
, business hazardous. We have already
|, noted that typhoid and other feverl
, frequently and quickly destroy teeth
and 80 does excessive physical work
It is only within the last few yeari
|, with the dawning understanding o
the action OF catalyzers, the engines
and the ductless glands Of our bodies
and more especially since Funks dem
onstration OF the vitamines and thei
influence on the hormones Of the duct
less glands-the governors Of our bod
ies-that the matter begins to clear
We begin to suspect that It is no
solely the abstraction Of the phosphor
US, the calcium, the magnesium, tn
carbon the iron and the fluorine from
our food that is the cause OF tn
universal prevalence OF tooth and ger
eral physical decay. We begin t
suspect that the loss OF that part O
the eternal energy by which those elt
ments are normally welded into an
held in the plants, our ultimate sourc
Of life, precipitates these trouble
upon US. We know that animals ca
be starved on physiological combine
J. tions" OF the pure salts OF these ell,
!. ments, and we know that they thriv
n on the natural constituents OF tn
h same elements.
h With the single exception OF tn
r. tides, the movements of which ar
n connected with the moon, and the r,
II tation OF the earth on Its axis. ever
N motion on this earth from the bea
d ing Of every individual heart to th
N turning OF every windmill may
10 traced back to one ultimate cause
"A a sunbeam-and every form OF life
Ir a component part Of cycle contin
ID ally Transforming, by means Of th
ia sunbeams, dynamic into potenti
n. and potential back into dynamic q
IA ergy. SO far as we know man
IN the only species with sufficient pr
Ia sumption to break the cycle and n
N price we pay for our arrogance Is lo
or our normAl resistance TO decay