The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1950-06-14
FACTS ABOUT TOOTH DECAY

Speculation about tooth decay
dates back many hundreds of years.
Ancient writings describe tooth de-
cay as being caused by worms eating
the tooth from within out. Many
strange and bizarre remedies have
been recorded for the prevention of
this commonest disease of mankind.
Even today, however, many strange
ideas concerning the teeth are still
being passed around.
Who has not heard it repeated
that water in the Pacific Northwest
is devoid of essential minerals for
the preservation of the teeth? Or
who has not heard the often repeat
ed story that the pregnant mother
must lose a tooth for every child?
Others say that vague deficiencies
IN the diet lead to a weakness or TO
so-called "softness of teeth.
Top flight research scientists have
definitely proved that dental cavities
are caused by common mouth bac-
teria acting upon fermentable car
bohydrates, chiefly sugars. 10 form
acids which destroy the tooth.
It makes no difference whether
the sugars are so called natural
sugars, such as honey or maple
sugar or ordinary table sugar, since
the end product is always the same.
Not all bacteria are good acid form
ers. however, and in different mouths
different kinds of bacteria flourish.
Although the average person has
large numbers of acid forming types
of bacteria in his mouth, there are
a few individuals who have little or
none. Consequently these people can
eat large amounts of sugar and still
suffer no tooth decay
When the dentist fills the tooth
he replaces the decayed structure
in the area attackd by an insoluble
material usually silver or gold. The
process of acid formation can still
continue, but the acid formed is too
weak to affect these metals.
There is no such thing as soft
teeth. Studies have shown that all
teeth are equally hard with very
little variation. There is a difference
however, in ability with which some
teeth can resist acids.
It has been found that minute
amounts of fluorine in the drinking
water during the periods in which
| the teeth are forming (first eight
| years of life) causes the formation
| of tooth structure which is somewhat
more resistant to acids Consequent
| ly people whose teeth contain these
minute amounts of flourine are much
| less likely to have cavities than
those who do not.
Unfortunately if the amount of
flourine in the drinking water eX-
ceeds a certain level, then the forma-
tive cells are affected and the teeth
are disfigured permanently. This is
even worse than having dental carries.
Experiments are in progress in
which an attempt is being made to
find a safe amount of flourine to
add to drinking water to make teeth
more resistant to decay and yet not
have permanent disfigure m n t.
When these studies have been re-
ported on it may be possible for
many communities to fortify their
drinking water so that children
growing up under these circumstan-
ces will have teeth which are less
liable to decay.
However, with the exception of
flourine, there are no known miner
ais in drinking water or in the soil
which will add resistance to teeth
beyond the amount now found by
the average individual.
If there were no bacteria in the
mouth, sugar could be eaten and no
harmful effect on the teeth would
result. Unfortunately, it is impossible
to eliminate bacteria from the
teeth Immediately after eating to
remove offending material before
any harm can be done.
Naturally in spite of all precau-
tons decay may start This is the
best reason why early ana periodic
visits to the dentist should be part
of family health program.
mouth 1t may be possible, however,
to change the kinds of bacteria in
the mouth, and scientists are work.
ing on ways and means of accomp-
fishing this end.
If no sugars We're eaten, the prob
! lem would also be solved. The next
best thing to not eating sugars at
al IS to remove them by brushing
before the bacteria have had a
chance to work upon them.
Ideally sugar should be removed
within ten minutes from the time it