The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-10-06
PECULIAR NOTIONS ABOUT
 PYORRHEA

It is not the ache or pain of pyorA rhea that makes the condition seriA ous-indeed, 1t causes so little ache or pain that many ignorant victims do not even seek treatment until some serous complication or devel- opment drives them to doctor or dentist. The reason why one should use every preventive or, if possible, corrective measure to check pro- gress of the degeneration is of course because one wants to main- tain efficiency, stay young, retain any good looks one may have, live long. Tn other words one must corl- bat pyorrhea because 1t inpairs the function of the teeth and if unchecked cripples or destroys. To the shame of the physicians, den- lists and educators of the country, Q good many people who kid them selves they have had @ good educa- ton, are edentulous or nearly so when and if they pass fifty.
 If you have been exposed to what purports to be education in high-school or college, you will have only vague notion of the func. ton of the teeth. You will think, as millions of Americans fed on the same pap do, that indefatigable brushing of your teeth with what ever brand of medicated soap your faVorite pretty girl magazine feat ures, takes care of your teeth. And probably your dentist will tell you to carry on with the idiotic per- formance only of course give your wrist a slightly different twist, thus
 If you have had a highschool, college or university training, then, 1t is ten to one that you are as unconscious as any child of the part the teeth play in digestion, as. Similation, nutrition, health, effl- ciency. good looks, longevity. More likely you think I'm ilutty about the whole subject of the teeth. That's the cue you get from @ raft of den- lists and most physicians. '
 Still, 1t can do you no harm to know, stu (short for your choice of appellations ending in -dent, -p!d or -fly, whichever fits you beSt), that digestion of starch begins dur ing rnastication of starchy foods Vegetables, fruits, cereals) in the mouth and, if the inaStication Is complete the salivary (ptyalin) di- gestion of the food continues for from half an hour to on hour or more after the food has been swal- lowed, in the fundic end of the stomach where 1t remains almost untouched by the acid gastric juice for that length of time. Of course If your teeth are not hitting on all cylinders you cannot masticate food very well and this calvary di- geStion Is corFeSpondingly poor. The partly digested or undigested starchy material you gulp down must then be digeSted, If ct all. by the panereatic juice in the duoden- um-a burden which, in my opin- ion, contributes to the development of diabetes. It is useless to try to give Q specific name to the various health impairmentS that may occur from such Salivary or oral indiges. ton. but they are pretty important If you have any great regard for health.
 When doctor or dentist or both advise extraction of one or more teeth in the treatment of pyorrhea the remedy is as rational as ampu- tation Of leg for relief of bunion. A sure cure for the relief of bunion. A sure cure for the bunion. oil right. but hardly the method of choice If you have any further use for the le0.