Milford chronicle., 1920-08-13
EFFECT OF DIET ON TEETH


A well-balanced diet and taking
care of the starch and sugar element
will well-nigh make the mouth self
cleansing and will go a long way to-
ward preventing further ravages of
decay once the teeth are put in good
condition.
The nicro-organisms in the mouth
act upon the starches and sugars
that are taken as food to form acids
by q process of fermentation. Fer
mentation takes place in the mouth
lust the same as it does in a jar OF
fruit that is not perfectly sealed. Fer
mentation is a process of putrefac-
ton and takes place just the same as
food of ay kind is sure to decay II
left in an exposed placei The temper
ature in the mouth is ideal for the
growth of these germs, consequently
the process takes place much faster
in the mouth than it does outside OF
the mouth. The chief acid formed is
Tactic, altho many other acids are
formed.
The starches and sugars are more
or less sticky, lodge between or on
the teeth and ferment quickly. That
is the reason that they are the foods
that most frequently cause decay.
When these foods are allowed to re-
main in the mouth for any length OF
time the miero-organisms attack
them and form Tactic acid, which dis
solves the enamel. If the micro-Organ-
isms are not disturbed for some time
and sufficient acid is formed a cavity
is sure to result
The action of the micro-organisms
in the mouth upon prOpeid material
(meat, fish, eggs and the albuminoid
constituent of some vegetables) is TO
form an excess of alkaline substances, /
which have no action upon the enam-
el other than a beneficial one.
The mucin in the saliva sticks to
the rough surfaces of the teeth. and, |
becoming mixed with the micro-Or- /
ganisms, which are always present |
forms bacterial plaques. These bac- I
terial plaques form upon all surfaces |
of the teeth. They occur upon the /
teeth of people who are most suscep-
tible to attacks of decay of the teeth
as well as these who are not. We
therefore, must come to the conclus-
ion that bacterial plaques upon the
teeth are not the essential factor in
causing decay of the teeth, but that
the lodgment and fermentation of
starches and sugars is the essential
factor and that the circumstances
which favor the formation of the
plaques also favor the lOdgment Of
the starches and sugars, and the two
combined do the damage.
There is still some uncertainty as
to why teeth in some mouths are at
tackled by decay while those in other ,
mouths are not, but the reason and ,
cause for the disease is definitely and
known. 1t is now univer- ,
sally admitted that tooth decay is
caused by fermentation of starches
and sugars that lodge upon the teeth. q
This fact having been established
how is this disease, which is the most 7
prevalent of all diseases to be con- =
trolled?
In the first place it can be control Il
led by absolute cleanliness. If the =
teeth are kept absolutely clean by the
means of perfect oral hygiene then -
the diet is of little moment unless we !,
insist upon hard food to exercise the i
membranes of the teeth Il
md the muscles of the face. Remem- r
Der, too, that few people, or even dem :,
lists, know what oral hygiene is, and ;,
hat the tooth brush alone will not :,
prevent decay, althO its constant use #
S the basis of all oral hygiene.
In the second place decay can be =
controlled largely by diet alone. BY
he elimination of large part of the 4,
soft, stick foods that are so common -
.oday, or even if they cannot be en- Il
irely eliminated, take them in the y
middle of the meal, or at least fin ~
sh with something hard, or fibrous -
md a little fruit 7,
Fruit stimulates the flow Of saliva, =,
which dissolves the starches and SUI ~
gars, and in that ,Way helps to clean -.
he mouth. h,
Foods that tend to prevent decay ~
will be the subject of next weeks ar -, ~
icle. under the head of Carbohydrate ~ ~,
foods" ~ ~,