CARE OF THE TEETH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 8

CARE OF THE TEETH.

DENTAL CARIES. CAUSES AND PREVENTION. At the Y.M.C.A. last night, Mr O. E. St John, a member of tho Now Zealand Dental Association, delivered an address to membeTs of the Christchurch Chemists’ Association on tho care ot tho teeth and on dental caries, its causos and prevention. Mr C. W. Price, president of the Chemists’ Association, was in tho chair. Tlio lecturer referred to the ravages of tho disease, and said that measures taken to combat it aimed too much a'l 'treating symptoms instead of attacking causes. Tho public wero taught to prevent the decay of teeth by means of tho vigorous use of tho toothbrush and antiseptic dentifrices. If the theory of tho propagandists who preach the use of the toothbrush and antiseptics three times a day were correct, it followeu that teeth decay because of the want of us© of tho toothbrush and antiseptics. But that theory was not .homo out by actual facts, for people who wero most scrupulous over their moutns and teeth suffered from decay of the teeth, sometimes to a marked degree. Tho extent of decay might be rcducetl by teeth cleaning, but in spito of all care in that way teeth decayed. ‘Our ancestors,” said the lecturer, “ had no toothbrushes, and they had no denta decay. Animals living in a natural state have invariably perfect dentures, but those living in captivity and tea more or less unnaturally and artiftcially often contract Die disease Among racehorses caries of tho tcetli is fairly common. They might bo classed as highly civilised horses, and their feeding was more carefully attended to than in tho caso of less valuable ani mals. Uncivilised man did not suffer from decay of the teeth; civil sod man does. Tho difference is in the foodstuffs taken and.tho manner mjHuch the food is masticated. The. modern diet was too easily swallowed. ine fibrous and coarse elements have been eliminated, and consequently tho teeth to-day had a minimum cd work to perform. The m usees of mastication and ot urn tongue' aro uot exercised as they should bound tho various glands of tho mouth do not perform tho functions for which they wore created. The mouth an surrounding parts, in short, suffer from lack of normal exercise. Tho fibrous and rough particles ot old demanded thorough mastication, and that mastication cleansed tho teeth in a natural way, sweeping matter from the crevices on tho .teeth and between thorn, and the cleansing effect- was further performed by the resulting copious flow of saliva, induced by the natural flavours of thoso. natural foods. The lecturer referred to food substances which produce harmful effects.. Tho most important were cane sugar and starchy foods. Tho modern non-fibrous, artificially flavoured food, and the poor flow of saliva, resulting from tho imperfect mastication of this artificial food, created conditions that form caries. Another factor which played a prominent part in'the decay of teeth was the lowered vitality of tho mouth and its-contents consequent upon want of normal exercise. This could he credited directly ,to modernised foods. Tho resisting power against disease was lowered and the mouth succumbed more readily to attacks of pathogenic organisms. “ The prevention of caries was to he found in eating suitable food, and,, in a manner, too, that would bo gcod for the 'teeth,” continued the lecturer. Foods that aro best for the health of tho teeth are also those which are best for the general health of the body. Meals should in themselves contain Nature’s tooth-brush and natural flavourings, especially foods taken towards the end of a meal. “By Nature’s tooth-brush,” said Mr St John, “I mean that a. fair proportion of .the fibrous cellulose material of vegetables' should ho retained, that is, more raw vegetables, such as lettuce, celery, radishes and so forth, and fruit. Nature’s salivary stimulant should be oaten at the close of every meal. Of tho edible fruits the apple is the best,‘but any of tho ‘acid-sweet’ fruits aro highly beneficial. Fruits and salads are articles of diet that Nature has provided for us without any artificial preparation. Thoso things, when eaten, pro-, dues the greatest amount of natural protective substances, and thus keep the mouth in a. condition of good health. Native races that have adopted that class of diet are the freest from dental disease. There is no need to become a vegetarian, or to live on fruit and nuts only. It was sufficient for the purpose if some acid sweet substance, such as fruit, should bo eaten after ordinary meals. Children should be encouraged to partake of fruit bey fore going to bed. Biscuits of themselves will cause decay, but follow a biscuit/ with a piece of orange and- no harm will result. "White bread and imtter is a potent source of caries, but followed bv an apple is quite harmless, sugar by itself destroys the teeth, add lemon juice-•ami’ the .teeth are preserved.”

The speaker referred to artificial protection by means of the tootli-brusli and mouth .wash. He advised that the brush should bo as small as possible, and the bristles of uneven length. The surfaces of the teeth should be brushed. not scrubbed. He uttered a warning against injuring tho gums. The teeth should bo treated gently. Immediately after tho last meal at- night and first’ tiling in the morning wore tho times when most benefit would be derived from brushing the teeth—at night to remove all fennentiblo deposits, and in the morning because food adheres much less to clean teeth than to dirty ones. It was doubtful if any permanent benefit was derived from the. use of tooth powders and pastes. They were unnatural, and usurped the protective functions'of Nature; and so Nature, as always, provided less ;ahd less protective substances. The - lecturer detailed diets recommended for different meals and during the course of liis: address illustrated his remarks with lantern slides.