DECAY OF TEETH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 20

DECAY OF TEETH

CAUSE DISCOVERED? CEREAL ELEMENT A FACTOR Two brothers, one a physician, the other a dentist, have reported the isolation of a streptococcus they believe is the principal cause of tooth decay and the discovery that it is nurtured by an element in food made from cereals which could be eliminated by a change in the processing, says the New York Times. The report was made before the Pathodontia Section of the First District Dental Society of the State of New York at the New York Academv of Medicine, 2 East 103rd Street. ' It was read by Dr P. H. Belding, dentist and editor of the monthly dental magazine Dental Items of Interest. His brother and collaborator is Lieutenant L. J. Belding, a navy physician attached to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Streptococcus Is Named The food factor, described as a " degraded carbohydrate fraction," which they found' nurtured the streptococcus, is found principally in corn, oats, and wheat, mainly the two latter. The fermentation of foods made from these cereals causes acid in the saliva which attacks the tooth enamel. Such fermentation is stimulated by the streptococcus, which they have named "odontyliticus," or "tooth dissolver." "We do not advocate," they said in their report, "the deletion of cereals from the diet, but rather suggest that measures be directed to removing or inhibiting the offending carbonhydrate fractions prior to human consumption." Investigation Asked They said they believed their discovery suggested a study in associated "dietary" diseases of civilisation, such as peptic ulcer, gallstones, kidnev stones, arthritis, appendicitis, rancer. coronary occlusion, pernicious anaemia, and rheumatism, to see if a similar solution could not be found for them. The paper suggested that public health authorities investigate their findings and amend the Pure Food and Drug Act to protect the public health. In an informal discussion. Lieutenant Belding said the problem was not one that could be solved by the housewife but was a matter of public health. He also said the findings did not offer a cure, or relief from dental troubles to mature persons. " It is strictly preventive medicine for 30 years from now," he said. " You have to catch them young." In their experimention the brothers had the passive aid of 1000 midshipmen at the Naval Acadamey. Saliva from their mouths was used in the laboratory tests. Lieutenant Belding said the discovery of the new streptococcus came when cultures were grown in cereal solutions. The streptococcus odontyliticus flourished only in that medium. He believes that is why it was not discovered before. For many years, the paper said, dentists, research workers, and biochemists have believed that dental caries was directly related to diet. Their work, they said, was " laboratory evidence " that " lends conclusive • weight to the clinical observations that caries is essentially a dietary disease." No Caries on Meat Diet "Caries are entirely absent," the paper continued, "among people who subsist upon a meat diet and rare among those whose carbohydrate is derived from the simple agricultural products such as tubers, can sugar, and fruits. The incidence of dental caries has paralleled the spread of civilisation, the development of garculture, and the ingestion of agricultural products, particularly the cereals." Races immune to caries, like the negroes of South Africa, who do use cereals, the paper said, already have pointed the way to control of the problem by their method of preparation of the cereals whereby the caries-producing factor is inhibited. This is done by fermentation or alkalisation before consumption. He said that, although fermentation of cereals before consumption might make some difference in their taste, he did not believe that would be an important factor, as primitive races found their foods palatable after being so treated. No consultation has been held with processors of cereals in an attempt to work out a practical method of orefermentation. Lieutenant Belding said, but he did not believe that would be either difficult or expensive.

The Greater New York Bureau for Dental Information issued an official statement in which it said it " views with interest the new thought introduced by Drs Belding." "Assuming that Drs Belding have discovered the common denominator of our biggest problem," the statement continued, "we would desire a duplication of their work by other authorities in the field. Until this confirmation is forthcoming, naturally we can merely be hopeful and interested."