The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-11-13
Teeth and Disease.

pTeclatc tnt service OF the dentist as
guardian of public health.
The Importance Of dentistry as a
branch Of medical service is becom-
ing more evident every day. Recent
medical discoveries emphasize the
fact that the dentist plays the lead
ing role in the alienation and cure Of
many diseases that for years were
considered incurable.
III health conditions traceable to
bad teeth are many and varied
about 100 diseases traced to bad
teeth
Most Of these diseases are due to
micro-organisms. The midro- organ
isms growing in the mouth are car
ried to some weak spot in the body
where they produce the secondary
disease.
There are many disease-producin
INTERPRETATIONS that develop in dirty
mouths, such as tuberculosis, pneu-
monia, influenza, etc. Innumerable
diseases such as typhoid. yellow fever
and tetanus. that formerly decimated
mankind. have almost been driven
from the earth by the bacteriologist
and the physician. by the use of vac
cines and serums. The serums pro
duce AN immunity IN the blood.
On the other hand. there is at
some place in the body, with certain
diseases. small focus Of bacteria
continually maintained that does not
develop immunity. but is constantly
throwing out a supply Of bacteria and
their poisons. Such persons are sub
Ject To recurring colds on the slight
est provocation, recurring neuraIgias,
muscular rheumatism lumbago,
sore muscles at the back Of the neck.
et,. In the past, and frequently
now. IT is the practice to say that the
patient is subject to such attacks,
make local applications and wait for
nature to effect cure.
IL for any cause the resistance of
the body is lowered, the attack re-
ours, and, once part is affected BY
the microbe. it becomes more liable
to repeated attacks.
The Xray has been Of inestimable
value in determining the presence of
focal infections due to diseased teeth,
by bringing to view hidden areas of
infection within the jaws not visable
to the eye. Most of these areas are
found at the ends Of the roots of
dead teeth.
Porcelain teeth are usually placed
on dead teeth, and dead teeth are
safest when extracted.
Latest research work has proved
that dead teeth become infected |
sooner or later. Pyorrhea adds its !
share to infection of the system. |
Germ-laden cavities are. likewise.
constantly pouring their share of
germs into the system. Can it be
doubted, when these things are
known to be true. that the mouth
pays an important part in the con-
dition of our health?
lnsanitary mouths are the incuba-
tors for millions of colonies of
steptococci and staphylococci, the
germs that do not produce an immun-
ity. but constantly add poison to the
system until the resistance is broken
down. Even diseases that are not
directly caused by insanitary mouth
conditions are greatly aggravated by
these conditions.
When the blood stream is constant
iy poisoned by pus germs contin-
uously poured into it there must
come a time when the resistance is
broken down and the human machine
is laid up for repair
There can be no doubt that half of
the diseases that take toll of mankind
will be controlled when dentistry has
succeeded in teaching people to keep
their mouths clean and their teeth in
to masticate their food
The world does not yet realize
what dentistry can do for humanity.
Clean, sound teeth in clean. healthy
mouth means health and happiness.
M. s. HATFIELD, ID. d. S.
ladv.)