Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-03
DIET AND TEETH
By H. Addington Bruce
J DOTH decay, it is now we'll known, is
fertile cause of diseases affecting the

ID DOTH decay, it is now we'll known, is a
II fertile cause of diseases affecting the
whole organism. Not nearly so we'll
known is the part played by faulty diet IN
causing decay.
More and more are doctors and dentists
coming to the opinion that if the appalling
prevalence of dental trouble is to be appre-
cably lessened far greater attention will have
to be paid to questions of food than most peo-
pie now pay.
For the tee&s2 SeA8y not merely because
germs attack them and are allowed to gain
a foothold through failure to use tooth
brush regularly. Another important factor is
low vitality in the teeth themselves. And the
kinds of food one eats have much to do with
determining the vitality of the teeth.
Particularly harmful, there can be no ques-
ton, is the ever increasing tendency OF both
children and adults to avoid rough, nara
foods-that is, foods which have to be we'll
chewed.
Experienced physicians insist, in fact, that
children should be trained from an early age
to eat hard, resistant, crusty foods every day.
Yet this advice is so little needed that the
training is usually in the direction of acquir-
ing a special fondness for SOFT mushy foods
that need to be chewed scarcely at all.
There are even people who refuse crusted
rolls and ale at pains to leave untouched the
crust of their bread. Others make it point
to "bolt'' most of their food, with but the
slightest mastication.
Thus the teeth do not have fair chance
to grow in strength. they would through
exercise They were meant to be used Vigor-
ously Not being used they take their re-
vense, as it were by becoming less and less
fit ever to be used.
Further, there is a growing belief among
authorities that the failure of many people to
eat a sufficiently mixed diet is itself direct
cause of tooth decay.
When the diet is not varied, vitamines and
other important food elements may not be
present in adequate amount. MalnutritiOn,
perhaps a condition of mild scurvy, will then
result and must affect in some degree the
health of the teeth.
Only recently two English investigators,
Zilva and Wells, found that the teeth of peo-
pie living on a scurvy- producing diet showed
fibrOd degeneration, which the lnVesuSa-
tors called fibrosis.
Fresh fruits are especially anti-sCorbutic.
The eating of fresh fruits freely is thus to be
recommended as of special value in main
tanning the nutrition of the teeth.
Also fruits assist in preserving the teeth by
the cleansing action of their acids. These
notably the acids of apples, oranges and
grapefruit-not only clean the teeth mechan-
ically, but destroy the mucin plaques that
favor decay.
For this reason it is always better to eat
fruits at the end of meal than at it's begin
ming. And the habit of eating fruit between
meals is for the same reason to be commend
ed. not condemned.
But remember, too, the great importance
of eating hard foods as exercisers of the
teeth. 1t is all very we'll to eat fruits-also
green vegetables and milk, which are of spe-
cial dietary value from the viewpoint of tooth
preservation-but hard foods must not be left
out.
Otherwise one need not be surprised if his
dentist is forever finding work to do, 40 mat
ter how frequently one goes to him.
Copyright, 1919 by the Associated News
manners.