The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-15


 The faher of six children-who ought to have GO votes if the father of two or three is entitled to one-fles this brief:
 "I inclose the booklet Good Teeth sent out by Ca large corporation) so that you see what we poor people are up against. Plenty of advice on how to spend $45 per week. For instance, on page we read that child should be taken to the dentist whenever a tooth appears We have only six children; each child has or will have 32 teeth; the dentist makes no charge less than $5 So here we have preliminary expense of $96O if do what is right. There lot of families poorer than are. It seems if do everything we should do in the way of dentists examinations, doctors examinations, etc., there will be money left to buy food Your comment this pamphlet would be of interest to great many 1amies'
 In chastened spirit l carefully refrain from naming the corporation that distributes the pam phlet. Some one once said he'd rather be a live coward than a dead hero I'd rather be timid teacher than an emeritus
 On page of the booklet one reads that the teeth should be cleaned and polished every six months by the dentist the dental hygienist. That is good common sense-I believe in fact it is the only way to keep the teeth clean. The dental hyslenist. the pamphlet explains, is trained especially for this work She is a skilled opera tor for cleaning the teeth. That, too. is right. But the pamphlet goes on to tout her as "an instruc- tor in the home care of the mouth who will give you sound advice" To that l take exception. No dental hyGienist could give me advice. That is part of the professional work of the dentist, and the dentist cannot delegate his professional work any more than a doctor can send his office girl or a nurse to act as his substitute. Some people may stand for such service, but not many 1 hope in America. It is largely the European immigrant class. that submits to the tin doctoring racket in the country.
 On page Il of the booklet the peasants are teeth is apt to ferment and produce acids which iniure the enamel" This is good specialen of the nonsense and hokum that inevitably features the health propaGanda' of corporations that aspire to take over the control of public health and the practice of medicine. 1 hope to assure this father and all other parents who have any f1i in my ic ground in fact or in scientific investigation for the quaint notion that sugar on or between the teeth of child adult is will become in any way injurious to the teeth or to the general health. That antiquated theory was discarded long ago by educated dentists. The tyros or pets employed by the corporation to prepare this booklet probably hadn't heard the news, but that is the way with most of this big business prac- tice of medicine or hygiene.
 On page 9 the funny pamphlet tells the peas antry that 'rinsng the teeth with lime water after they have been cleaned will help to keep them clean and make them strong and healthy" Perhaps this rite will not harm the teeth or the individual, but it is silly-tilly advice neverthe less, and I challenge any person of scientific standing to cite good evidence to make it even plausible.
 I say nothing about the detailed instructions in the booklet on the way to use the toothbrush, because my belief about brushing the teeth is not in harmony with the prevailing belief of the older dentists I merely repeat that in my judgment a regular visit to the dentist his dental hygienist for cleaning of the teeth is the only EsSay asp ksfp sS tssth sean
 Prcvaricating Testimonials
 Please send me your "iOdin ratOn." have a small gOicr, but family doctor says not to worry, as the iOdin ration will be all need. Your flax seed prescription has cured my husband of con stipation He has taken no pills now for several years. (Mrs D. H. C.
 Answer-I do not mean to be grumpy about it, but my iodin ration is not suitable treatment for goiter It is merely a practicable means of insuring every one child or adult, sufficient io- din for health requirement. If your doctor be- lieves you need treatment for your goiter he should prescribe it. And I. must decline to ac. knowledge that my faxseed prescription cured your old man-I mean MT c. of constipation. In the first place 1 have never prescribed haxseed anything else for MT c. In the first place have never even suggested faxseed for constipa- ton. I do recommend daily spoonful or two three of plain whole raw fiaxseeds in lieu of physic for victims of the physic or pill habit who wish to break the habit