The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-04-03
Mouth Hygiene
ARTICLE SEVEN
The Story OF Dental Decay

isms Of vegetable life and can be seen
only under a powerful microscope.
The mouth is an ideal place for them
10 breed. They feed upon dead an
finals or vegetable matter and thrive
best where II is dark, warm and
moist In the mouth the temperature
is Just right for them. There is dark
ness and plenty Of moisture. and II
the teeth are decayed and not clean
and food is left on their surfaces and
in between them. the germs multiply
very fast and millions are produced
in the mouth and are swallowed ev-
cry day. Many of these in the mouth
are harmless under ordinary condi-
lions and will cause very little trou-
BILE, but II the disease-producing
germs gets into an unclean mouth
and greatly increase in numbers,
there Is danger of sickness.
1t is well to remember that in or
der to keep children free from sick
ness II is necessary to first train
them to keep the fingers out of the
mouth. and not touch food with dirty
have sound teeth and that the food is
thoroughly brushed off after each
meal.
II these two rules are followed II
means the prevention Of much OF the
sickness OF childhood and adult life.
1t is difficult to explain how teeth
decay without using names and words
that are hard to understand, but ey-
cry intelligent adult should have
reasonably correct idea about II, In
order to help the children TO nave
sound teeth.
Decay of the teeth always starts
from the outside surfaces, never from
the inside. The surfaces that decay
most frequently are: first, those be-
tween the teeth. where one tooth
touches the other; second, in the us
sures or rough surfaces on the tops
OF the teeth where you chew; third
close to the gums where the food
clings to the border OF the gums.
Meat will not cause the teeth to de-
cay, because, when 1t is decomposeo
by germs, an alkali is produced and
the enamel is not affected by the
alkali-an alkali is just the opposite
OF an acid.
The enamel OF the tooth is made OF
crystalline rods and between them
is a cementing substance which holds
them tightly in place. This can be DIS
solved by acids. especially Tactic acid,
which is very easily formed from SUI
gar. When milk becomes sour II is
caused by germs decomposing the SUI
gar in the milk, producing tactic aciu'
which gives the milk its sour taste
starchy food. II allowed to remain In
the mouth. can be changed to sugar
by an ingredient in the saliva. Tne
sugar can be acted upon by germs ID |
the mouth and changed to Tactic acid, |
an that il can be easily seen that TO |
leave starches and sugars on the
teeth for any length of time Is to pro-
duce Tactic acid which can dissolve |
out the cementing substance between |
the enamel. rods. But in order that
the acid be strong enough to actually
dissolve the enamel, il has to be held |
against the tooth surface for some
time and that Is done in this %ay
In saliva there is an ingredient called
mucin This substance is what makes |
the saliva viscid or stringy and Is IN
tended to lubricate the chewed food
so that il may be easily swallowed.
II a thin glass bottle were filled
with saliva and little Tactic acid
were dropped into the saliva, 1t would
nroduce a white fog which would set
tie to the bottom of the bottle and
stav there. This white substance Is
mucin and IL is sticky like glue. When
acids are produced in the mouth from
the sugars and starches eaten, TINS
white mucin forms on the surface oil
tho teeth and il there is food with
many germs upon the teeth a glue
i,La tent Is gently formed over both
germs and food by the mucin. AS the
germs decompose the starches and sn-
oars in the food form Tactic acid, the
acid ,s held tightly against the tooth
under the tent. becoming stronger as
more acid is formed. Now, II II re
mains next to enamel Of the teeth for
any length of time II will start to dis
solve out the cementing substance be-
tween the enamel rods.
These little tents are called plae-
cues. and they are formed and stay
where the friction OF chewing food
does not displace them. IL we eat
coarse. wholesome food and chew II
we can keep a great
many Of these plaques rubbed OH OF
the enamel. II you want to see now
many plaques are on your teeth ge'
what is called disclosing solution
made Of:
Iodine crystals 90 grams
Iodide of potash----------l9 grains
Iodide OF Einc.---------------lo grams
Giycerine -------------------- of4ns
water n -
Paint the teeth with this solution