TOOTH-BRUSH CONDEMNED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 33, 8 August 1923, Page 14

TOOTH-BRUSH CONDEMNED

Is there danger in the tooth brash, as well as the dead tooth? Sir John O'Connor, K.8.E., M.D., docs not believe in the hard scrubbing of the teeth wilh bristles, and declares in the "Lancet" :—

"I have come to the conclusion that a large percentage of human woe, such as pyorrhoea, dental caries, gastric pollution, appendicitis, and organic decomposition in general is caused by' the inane daily -scrubbing of teeth with bristles, and by, the inane use of chemical dentrifices. Both of these lacerate and mortify the living tissue, destroy epithelial defence, and provide the entrance for hostile germs. I earnestly invite attention to the handicap this kind of thing imposes on the natural disinfectants— saliva and mucus. In ventilating this opinion I do not wish it to be inferred that I disapprove of cleansing the teeth at bedtime.

"On the contrary, gentle' rubbing of the teeth with a soft badger hair brush and some ordinary soda, or other effervescing potable water is an unirritating and salutary procedure, and I can personally vouch us to its being an effective and agreeable one." Any artificial meddling with the natural scavenging agencies of the mouth, he declares, is as insensate as it is.destructive. "In other words, do not put anything into your mouth that you would be ashamed to put into your stomach."