The Indianapolis times., 1933-11-18
-Dietz on Science
BACILLI SOURCE
IN TOOTH DECAY
PROVES ELUSIVE
ExperimenterS Encounter
Blank Wall Despite
Extensive Work.
BY DAVID DIETZ
Scripps- Howard Science Editor

| WHY OO oO1uC pcOl4C I6GIIl Q6-
cay more than others? That is the
question which the childrens fund
Of Michigan is trying to find out
by means of an elaborate study
under the direction Of DR.. Russell
w. Bunting, professor of oral
pathology at the University of
Michigan dental school.
Professor Bunting points out that
it is now well established that tooth
decay, or dental carries as it is called
technically, is the result of the pres
ence Of certain bacteria, the So
called B, acidophilus, in the mouth.
This bacillus, by it's action upon
residual carbohydrate foods in the
mouth, produces acids which at
tack the enamel of the teeth.
Studies have revealed that the
bacillus is present in large amounts
in certain peoples mouths, present
only occasionally in others, and
never present at all in still others.
The question of why some peo-
pies teeth decay resolves itself,
then, into the question of why does
bacillus acidophilus thrive in some
peoples mouths? The answer is
not yet complete, although a be-
ginning is being made to the So
luton of the problem.
General Points Cited
Three general considerations ap-
pear to be related to the problem,
DR.. Bunting says. They are: First,
the chemical constituents Of the
Salivary and oral secretions; sec
ond, the possible immunologic prin-
ciples of the saliva, and third, the
character of the retained food de-
bris remaining about the teeth.
The opinion frequently has been
expressed that the phosphorus con-
tent, the calcium content, or the
acidity of the saliva might be a
controlling factor in the prevention
Of dental carries.
DR.. Bunting reports that during
the last two years the University Of
Michigan investigators have had
under observation two groups of
children, one of which was eX-
tremely susceptible to dental carries,
the other of which was extremely
immune. No constant differences
in the phosphorus, content, CAL
cium content or acidity of either
the saliva or the blood stream could
be found between the two groups.
AS a result, DR.. Bunting con-
cludes that low phosphorus, low
calcium, or a condition of acidosis,
are not the cause of tooth decay.
Seek Immunity Method
Experiments also have been tried
by the University of Michigan ex-
perimenters to see if immunity
can be developed against the ba-
cilllus acidophilus. Some expert
mentS were tried with a polyvalent
vaccine made of 40 strains of B
acidophiluS, but the results are not
yet conclusive.
These studies are only in their
infancy" DR.. Bunting says, "but the
findings thus far obtained strongly
indicate the existence of some form
Of general immunologic principle
which controls the growth and ac-
tivity of B acidophilus in the mouth
and the intestinal tract"
The character of the food debris
remaining in the mouth is impor-
tant, DR.. Bunting thinks. Since
the production Of acids by B acido-
philus depends upon the fermenta-
ton of Carbohydrate materials, the
amount and character of carbohy-
drate food debris in the mouth and
about the teeth constitutes an i'm
portant factor in dental carries.
Other factors which DR.. Bunting
and his associates have been CIV
ing attention to include those of
hereditity, age, bodily health, diet
and nutrition, and racial conditions.