PROTECTION OF TEETH

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28053, 22 August 1956, Page 15

PROTECTION OF TEETH

Research Into Oil Films alternative agent to FLUORIDE (New Zeatana Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 21. protection of teeth from caries by the application of an oil film as an Alternative method to the fluoridation 5 water was discussed today at the annual conference of the New Zeafand Institute of Chemistry. In a lecture on the subject, Mr A. G Leaver, of the Otago Dental School, -aid that in New Zealand, which had r high incidence of tooth infection, research was proceeding into the organic constituents of saliva, but of far greater importance was work on the protection of tooth surface by oil 61ms. £ "It has long been observed that races living on a diet rich in oil and fatty materials exhibit a low incidence of caries.’’ said Mr Leaver. “With this observation -in mind, the effects of applying various oils, fats, and surface active agents to teeth, subsequently exposed to acid buffers, were examined. It was found that, whereas numerous fats and oils were ineffective, several agents showed a marked degree of protection, the most effective being tetradecylamine. "Further laboratory work into this and other aspects of dental research is now being carried on.” he said. Mter a number of lectures and discussions in the morning, members of the institute were taken on excursions to agricultural fertiliser industries, paint and timber preservation plants, and a sugar refinery.