The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-01
FOR GOOD TEETH AMPLE A AND c AS WE'LL AS SUNSHINE
 VTTAMIN ID

VAxAMAN O
 Even the diffident dentor (den- tiSt to you, old-timer) who hesi- tates to prescribe diet or medicine for his patient lest he be charged with practicing medicine without a license. now comprehends that adequate proportions of foods nat urally rich in calcium and phos- phorus- notably milk, cheese, cab- bage, lettuce, beans, carrots, beet greens and other greens, peas, cel- cry, asparagus, spinach, caulihower, egg yolk, peanuts, other nuts, plain wheat (rather than refined wheat productS)-and liberal daily ra- tion of sunshine vitamin D to in- sure normal assimilation and util- ization of these elements are es- sential for the building of sound teeth and the prevention of carries or cavity formation. Progressive dentorS everywhere are not only urging upon their patients the im- pOrtance of these foods in the diet but are recommending, especially for children and youths the prac- tice of keeping on the breakfast table supply of special supple ment containing days ration of calcium and days ration of vita- min D, to be eaten regularly with breakfast as other meals. Not that calcium in that form is superior to the calcium present in natural foods, but it is quite as useful in nutrition and meets the require ments even though the diet be too refined or inadequate in the essen- tials indicated.
 There can be no question that the teeth suffer if the daily intake of vitamin c is at all deficient. The tenderness, swelling and bleeding of the gums, with loosening and loss of teeth, so characteristic of scurvy is sufficient evidence of this. Experimental investigation seems to show that moderate de- ficiency of vitamin c, such as chil- dren and adults are likely to suffer in northern regions in the winter time when fresh fruit or fresh fruit juice or tomato juice fresh or factory canned is not available in the daily diet, favors cavity for nation as well as gingivitis, chronic inflammation of gums, pyorrhea. We shall refer to the vitamin de- flciency factor of pyorrhea later. Every child or adult needs not less than 3-4 ounces of orange juice, lemon juice, fresh or vacuum process canned tomato juice, or other fresh fruit or fresh vege- table every day to prevent mani- festations of deficiency.
 Vitamin A, according to the in- vestigations of the Mellanbys and other nutrition scientists, is essen- tial for normal development of and maintenance of the health of the soft tissues about the teeth, the gumS tooth socket Things, etc, and the gingivalmepithelium as the dentors call the covering of the gums. If the daily supply of vita- min A is inadequate there is like | ly to be some impairment of the nutrition of these structures and infection more readily occurs.
 Foods richest in vitamin A are milk, cream, butter, egg yolk, liver, all green or yellow vegetables, car rots, banana, tomato or tomato juice, cheese, sweet potato, string beans, yellow corn meal.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 Empyema
 Have read your articles for years but never say anything on empyema. GA. D.
 Answer-Empyema means collec- tion of pus in a cavity, usually chest cavity. It is serious condition re- quiring medical or surgical treat ment. There is nothing the layman can do about it.
 | Riddle
 If it were not for your column wouldn't buy the paper. beg you to advise me what I can do for ner- yes of which have been victim most of my life. (CF)
 Answer-Heaven knows what you mean by nerves" You might get some helpful advice from the book let Nerves and Nutrition" for copy of which send twenty-five cents