The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-03
Your HEALTH
BY DIR. MORRIS FISHBEIN

More has been written of late
regarding the effects of diet on
the teeth than in all the previ-
Gus years of the life of man
upon this earth Out of this
accumulation OF material comes
some actual evidence and a
great deal of theory.
Once Horace Fletcher said
that the human being who would
be healthful should live entirely
on soft food, but even he recon-
mended that hard foods be eat
en-. He felt that all of the food
should be Chewed until il de-
veloped into a liquid state. Since
there are 80 teeth in the adult
body, he suggested that each
bite of food be chewed 30 times.
Actually, of course, there are
two periods in life when a per-
son should have liquid food
first childhood and second child
hood. In the intervening period
the musculature of the stomach
and intestlnes requires some
thing with more solidity and
bulk on which to exercise action.
In relationship to the develop
ment of the teeth of the child
there is now not the slightest
doubt but that the diet should
contain plenty of calcium and
phosphorus and suffice [
amounts of vitamins A, c and
ID to provide the material neces-
sary for the growth of the teeth.
There comes next, however,
the question Of the decay of the
teeth after they have developed.
There are some Investigators
who are convinced that the
dietary aspects in relationship
TO tooth decay are not important
except in so far as the material
Is hard or soft when taken into
the mouth. Such investigators
feel that the food which causes
trouble in relationship to dental
decay is that which has
marked tendency to be retained
by the teeth.
They feel that the consump-
ton of certain fruits. fruit juices
and vegetables helps to clean
the teeth in about the same way
as good toothbrush would
clean them. They assert that
elimination from the diet of
foods that are difficult for the
teeth would wipe out dental
carries.
Yet this point Of view is not
generally supported by many
OF her investigators. Another
group of authorities is convinced
that teeth need exercise which is
supplied by the right kind of
food. They assert that diet of
soft, pulpy food weakens the
teeth and invites trouble.
They say that a fibrous diet
in addition to stimulating the
process of chewing serves to
some extent as cleansing
agent. They also point out that
sugar in the diet tends to aid
the development of bacteria IN
the food that is retained between
the teeth and that for this rea-
son excess Of sugar is associated
with dental decay.
Where there is no absolute
evidence, as would appear TO be
the case in this instance. the
person who wants 10 protect the
teeth will do well to have them
tche d carefully. Frequent
examinations will detect the be-
ginning of dental decay as soon
as they occur.
II becomes possible then for
the dentist TO correct the condi-
ton which permits the food 10
accumulate between the teeth,
10 study the diet OF the person
concerned as TO its effect on
that persons teeth. and 10 give
suitable advice as TO the posi-
bility Of preventing decay in the
future.
Simply. the facts seem to De
that dental decay usually starts
in areas around the teeth IN
which food is retained and
which are difficult 10 keep clean,
that the decay proceeds from
the surface OF the enamel in
ward toward the pulp.