The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-20
CATCH 'EM EARLY, SMOOTH
 FEM OUT

VhANAh AhAVk EAMNhAxt 0WAVVAA
 FEM OUT
 Physicians and dentists cannot agree about the cause of dental car- ies, it seems. On the one hand, la recent years students of the subs ject have regarded nutritional defl- ciency as the main cause. On the other hand, the older physicians and dentists still cling to the theory that Q cavity begins by erosion or acids eating away the enamel, and 50 pro- viding aYi opening where germs may lodge and work away erlarging their quarters. The acids, we are asked to believe, are produced by bacterial Fermentation of sugars or starches in the mouth, particles of such foods remaining on the teeth or be- tween the teeth or under the mar gins of the gums long enough to ferment and wive rise to tactic acid.
 So deeply inbued with this quaint theory of dental carries are many dentists that they sometimes stand right up in meeting, lay back their ears and relieve themselves of com- ments like this Quoted from Q sym. posium held by Q joint meeting of 0 medical and dental society,":
 "Once Q tooth IS formed Gas in the adulD the calcium content of enamel or dentine cannot change. You can't change the composition or structure or such tooth by ad- ministering calciuc in any form or vitamins. Neither can the tooth be robbed of the calcium 1t has, during pregnancy or in other conditions"
 If that Is sound science tand l am not the one to question it), then the belief long held by tho laity and the medical profession, that the teeth of e pregnant woman are likely to become soft, erumbly and suffer from Q rapid decay If her nu- triton Is faulty, is not based on fact.
 Dentists who believe Q tooth once completely developed or formed never changes, usually do not hold c similar view about bones. Just why they assume the teeth are ex. ceptional is obscure.
 Spontaneous cure Of dental carries, healing of cavities or deposit of new enamel or whatever it Is that stops the progress of decay, has been ob- served by numerous investigators in the mouths of children who hap pened to be kept on c diet proVid' ing optimal amounts of vitamins Some dentists deny that such Spon- taneous cure of dental carries can happen. Tho same school, l think, that insists q tooth once formed never undergoes any further change. They do not maintain that the fully formed tooth Is dead. No, no, it iS still alive, but having grown up it never can grow any more. It's lucky the bones of adults, even elderly adults, are not subject to such arbi. trary limitations. It would Dc most inconvenient to have c broken bone dangling about for the rest of one'i life.
 Whatever the important factor oi dental carries may be, the cavity be. gins as c minute Assure or scratch AA tfiV ttAhhASAt ANV hhtbthb VI " dbh ing can remove such c Assure. Only burnlshing or polishing can smooth it out.
 Ear and Sinus Trouble In Swimmers
 What do you recommend as c protection against sinus and car in. factions contracted In swimming7 2 (A. D. H.
 Answer-Wear . suitable nose clip to keep nostrilS closed and breathe entirely through mouth whit Swim- ming. Wear in each car Q loose plug of absorbent cotton with Q few drops of oil on it or of naturally oily lambswool, or ear shoppers of q pliable wax material such as people wear to dull disturbing noises when they are trying to sleep.
 Can't Bear It
 Walk twice around the floor on all fours, with your legs straight and not fiexed, and your palms fiat on the floor like bear-if you can