Milford chronicle., 1920-01-16
TEETH AND HEALTH
By r. ALLEN GRIFFITH, D. D. S.
DEAD TEETH

I A dead tooth is one in which the
nerve has been removed by a dentist
or has died as a result of neglect.
Where cavities in teeth are neglect
ed, the germs that cause decay grad
ually enlarge the cavity until the nerve
7 is reached. The germs are constantly
throwing OFF their toxins poisonous
waste products). These toxins grad
ually poison the nerve and cause it to
die and decay. AS the germs live on
all kinds Of dead and decaying matter,
they now enter the pulp chamber"
(the space occupied by the nerve) and
live on the dead nerve. They gradual
ly follow the nerve down through the
root of the tooth until they pass be-
yond the apex of the root where they
enter the vital tissue of the paw and
cause an abscess. If the abscess
starts to swell, it usually causes
severe tOOthache Only an acute alb
scess causes pain. If the abscess
breaks through the gum it forms a
tistula (gum boiD. The pain from an
acute abscess is usually very severe
but frequently the pus is encapsulated
(walled in) and may lie dormant for
years, causing apparently no trouble.
When Inflammation first starts from
an liberated tooth cold applications
will sometimes stop any further swell
ing. After the swelling gets a good
start hot applications are most apt to
give relief. An abscessed tooth, how
ever, would better be extracted at
once. and there is no sure cure for an
abscessed tooth known to the dental
profession today unless the new silver
treatment should prove to be one. All
through the dentine of a tooth are tiny
canals filled with living protoplasm
connected with the nerve When the
nerve dies the protoplasm also dies I
and is penetrated by the minute micro /
organizms. Unless the tooth is ster- I
ilized with a drug that will last for
life, the infection is sure to recur soon (
er or later.
A dead tooth becomes foreign sub
stance in the mouth, like a splinter
in finger. Although it may cause
no pain, yet it remains a focus of in
fection to the rest of the system, and
fOci of infection are today causing
more concern to the medical profess
sion than any other subject has ever
caused il. Many diseases are traced
directly to dead and decayed teeth
has been traced and
proven to have originated in the pu-
-rescent nerve of a single dead tooth.
Some people think that an liberated
-ooth should not be extracted while it
S swollen. This is a mistake, as the
Doth, like a splinter in the finger, will
Train and get well much quicker ii
removed than if allowed to remain.
An abscess usually causes more or
ess fever, which produces the feeling
# depression that usually accompanies
he liberation of a tooth. An abscess
It the apex of a tooth root will cause
ess trouble than an abscess in any
ther part of the body because the gum
issue is so vascular contains so
many blood vessels).
These blood vessels carry away or
lestroy the germs and their poisons
IS rapidly as they are formed, or else
hey are swallowed into the stomach.
f as much pus were formed in the
ppendix, for instance, as is frequent
y formed by an abscessed tooth. the
would not live forty-eight
ours.
While dead tooth may not cause
ny apparent trouble for many years,
ct II is always a grave danger to the
ealth and perhaps a danger to life.
he greatest danger lies in the fact
hat they usually cause no pain. Only
he X-ray or the drill will frequently
ell the story of dead tooth. When
ne physician or the dentist orders
cad teeth extracted. the common ar
ument of the patient is: But, doctor.
lese teeth have never caused me the
EAST bit of pain or trouble" This is
erfectly true, but nevertheless they
re as grave danger to the health
the individual as a deadly poison
eing constantly poured into the sys-
m.
Sometimes in front teeth, where
lere are no grave systematic dis
lses, the abscess together with the
Dex of the root may be removed sur
cally and the tooth left. but where
ere is any grave systematic disease,
e only safe measure is extraction
Teeth devitalized by a dentist are
st as dangerous as those that die
ltural death. Sooner or later they
ust become infected. The indiscrim-
ate destruction of nerves is little
Ort of criminal