Imperial Valley press., 1935-11-30
Brushing,
Nutrition
Aid Teeth
Research Shows Both
Needed to Promote
Tooth Health
By LOGAN CLENDENING, M. d.

py LYMAN a's- -
1T WAS NOT so very many years
ago that We were told that in order
to preserve our teeth in healthy
condition the only thing we had to
do was to keep them clean. 1t
is certainly true that tooth decay, or
dental carries, is caused by the action
of germs. If the mouth is kept clean
and antiseptic. so the leaders of the
cleanliness theory said. the germs
cannot exist. and there can be no be-
ginning of dental carries. But about
the time vitamins came into prom
inence a new idea was advanced,
which was that If the tooth is kept in
state of good health. if its internal
resistance is high. the germs can
find no place to lodge. This state of
good health and high resistance was.
according to this idea. maintained by
the vitamins. particularly Nitamin {
and Vitamin D. Nitamin c is found
in fresh fruits and vegetables. and
- II Aohilt i4i N.e SS''NF 49,
ter, cream and cod liver oil.
So for a while. on the walls OF
dentists Offices. you found placards
advocating diet rich in these sub
stances as a method of prevention of
dental carries. 1t must be said for
the credit of the dentists that they
have always been trying TO do their
part In preventive dentistry. and il
has been an evidence of their pro-
gressiveness that these plarards have
appeared so ronsnicuouSly.
Theory Gels Setback
Just recently the dietary theory
has suffered a little setback. A care
full investigator decided to find out.
In the teeth of animals. whether
heavy doses of Vitamin d and cal
cium over a long period of time actu-
ally would increase the amount OF
calcium in the dentine, which is the
hulk of tooth tissue. Neither by
weight nor by chemical analysis
could IL be proved that this treat
ment with Nitamin d Increased the
amount of calcium in the dentine.
Although at the same time II was
noted that X-rays showed a consid-
erable increase in the density of the
bones. so IL was concluded that II
was having some physiological action
In the body in spite of the apparent
lack of action on the teeth. The
weight of evidence. however, Is SO
strong that Nitamin ID does increase
tooth health and tooth resistance.
that we must assume there is some
other factor involved than adding to
the amount of calcium in the Geatine.
II Is good thing to revive the
discussion, for the real harm was
done By the extremists on either side
the dietitians-N said we no
longer needed to pse the toothbrush.
and the toothbrushers who ignored
the influence OF the vitamins.
am in receipt of letter from u
dentist who says that he hopes the
dietary experiments will not stop
people from the old-time habit of the
toothbrush. 1t seems TO me this is a
common sense point OF view. 1t is
certain that no tooth paste or tooth
powder will entirely free the mouth
OF germs. They will always be pres
ent. and they will always be ready to
enter small crack or defect or
place of minor resistance in the tooth
structure. The vitamins certainly
help TO prevent these defects from
appearing OH the tooth surface.
Isn't it sensible. therefore. to use
both methods and continue with our
mouth hygiene as well as with our
dietary preventive measures for
tooth health?