Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1911 — Page 3

BAD TEETH VS. GOOD HEALTH

By J. J. McCARTY, M.D. COPYRIGHT BY PEARSON PUB. CO.

HERB are In this country eight sacH[ w" tories devoted to the manufacture of artificial teeth. Last year the * ■ manufacturers solg ov«*r 60,000,000 of these teeth and this year they expect to sell between 78,000,000 and 80,000,000; and every one of these - teesh goes fto a natural * tooth which, if given proper care > and attention,' should last out one’s lifetime. Unclean mouths and teeth are responsible for these conditions, for It is a fact fully established that less than eight per cent, of the American people use a toothbrush or make any effort to keep their teeth and mouths clean. In order to have good health we must have sound teeth, yet we are permitting our teeth to decay at a pace that is alarming, which, if unchecked, will lead to a nation of broken-down, dyspeptic men and women. The first of the permanent teeth, the first molar, usually appears about the sixtji year and for that reason has been designated as the “sixth year’s molar.” These • molars are by far the most important of the permanent teeth, performing the duties of grinders of all foods that enter the mouth. From the seventh to the eighth year the Incisors appear and perform the functions of dividing the food. The bicuspid teeth begin to ju&ke their appearance between the ninth and tenth year and the canine from the twelfth to the fourteenth year. Around the twelfth year the second set of permanent molars appears, followed by the third or wisdom teeth, whose appearance varies from the seventeenth to the-twenty-fifth years. These teeth, assisted by the 7 muscles of mastication which control the movements of the jaws, perform the important function -of preparing our food for proper assimila-

tlon by means of the saliva of the mouth, which contains a ferment called ptyalin, that has the property of changing carbohydrate foods, such as vegetables and cereals, into starch. By a thorough mastication with this ferment the food Is prepared so that when it reaches the gastric Juices of the stomach digestion can be more readily advanced, and certain portions given off to supply the dally needs of our marvelous systedi with proper nutrition. During the days when baby is wrestling with its first teeth the young mother seeks aid in such contrivances as rubber rings and pacifiers, permitting the little one to chew them ad libitum, believing that they promote nature's efforts and assist the child during the dentition period. Her good neighbors have told her all about these adjuncts to teeth cutting and the wonderful results that they have obtained through their use. The mother does not realise that all these contrivances are danagerous to the health and well-being of her child, often being the means of Introducing some serious contagious or infectious disease of a most dangerous character. It has been found that rubber rings or pacifiers are paoterla carriers, being loaded with germs of a most virulent type. Even if cleaned and sterilised, there is another reason why they should never be used. They deform the mouth. The dental tissues of the infant are soft and yielding and the use of rings and pacifiers often distorts the mouth and gums, frequently resulting la what Is known as mal-occluslon of the teeth, a condition where the upper and lower sets do not properly meet. The sixth year molar is the most important of all teeth. It is often lost because parents frequently think that it is one of the temporary set. This error is due to the fact that it is cut while most of the first set of teeth are in the mouth. When this tooth is lost nature makes an attempt to close the space, with the result that the entire articulation is destroyed. The space thus created between the teeth is difficult to keep clean, due to the food particles being forced into these spaces. Its loss is also one of the chief causes of irregularities of the other erupting teeth. It Is the belief of the entire dental profession that the early locs of this tooth is responsible for more misplaced teeth and 111-shaped Jaws than any other condition at the mouth. Every mother ahould become familiar with the location of this important tooth. Beginning at the center in front and counting backward on either side, above and below, it Is the Sixth tooth eat The mother should carefully prateh for any defects found in this tooth, and If cavities are located they should bo repaired ht mum in order that the usefulness of the tooth can bo saved. \ The great American habit, the "bolting of ftpd." la one of the most serious conditions at nr modern Mfe. Dr. Osier has said that

the American nation could be divided into two classes, bolters and chewers, with the bolters leading by a large majority. Dr. H. C. Sex ton of Shelbyville, Ind., at a meeting of the Indiana Dental association, delivered an interesting address in which he deplored this habit, and advised that a national movement should be organized to be known as the “chewing movement.” He said: “The education of the average man, woman and child has been sadly neglected. They have not been taught to use their teeth. When we bolt our food we ignore one of the most Important ferments, ptyalin, in our saliva, that has much to do in the process of digestion. But the American habit is to spit, and Americans are the greatest spitters of the world. Between meals they will ■pit out the invaluable saliva, then when they eat they wash down every unchewed bolus of food with copious draughts of water, coffee, or In summer iced tea. What a foolish, disgusting habit it is and more than foolish, more than disgusting, it is killing in its hurtfulness. It has been stated that fully 75 per cent of the people of this country bolt their food. This habit is usually acquired during the early years of childhood and carried on durinig one's whole life. It should be the duty of all parents .to make their children eat slowly and chew their food properly. Nature has placed these teeth in our mouth for m purpose, a very valuable purpose, too, and if we neglect to properly use them we are inviting conditions that seriously threaten our health and general welfare. Diseases of the nose and mouth have a great influence upon the dental arch of the mouth, particularly adenoid growths in the nose If the nose is filled up with these adenoids the free passage of air along the nasal membranes becomes obstructed and results in the child becoming what is known aa a “mouth breather." In this change from the normal physiological nasal breathing the dental arch Is deformed and irregular teeth Is the result Many of these cases are deplorable, for it not only impairs the ability of the individual to masticate food properly, but tt Interferes with the voice and changes the whole facial appearance of the person. Another deplorable condition due to these nasal growths is the effect they may have on the mentality of the child. They become stupid, forgetful, inattentive and lack the power of mental concentration. This is caused by these growths obstructing the lymphatic circulation of the brain, preventing the proper supply of nutrition so essential to its development These adenoid growths not only affect the dental arch of the mouth, but they are fas frequent pauses of deafness in children. Dr. W. A Mills of Baltimore, discussing this subject at a recent meeting of Washington dentists. said, “one-half our idiots and insane In our institutions today are so as the result at

deformed dental arches due to adenoids in the nose.” Is insanity in many cases due to defective teeth? That is a question that has aroused much interest in the profession due to an Interesting series of experiments made by Dr. Henry S. Upson, professor of neurology in the Western Reserve Medical school, Cleveland, Ohio, iHe found among the insane in the asylums of Cleveland and Columbus many cases of dementia. precox and melancholia, these patients all showing dental impaction of the teeth. Taking nine of these unfortunate creatures. Dr. Upson had them operated on dentally and the results obtained were sensational in the extreme. Six of these have fully recovered, two much improved and one showed no mental change at all. The common cause of all our dental troubles is decay of the teeth, known technically aB dental caries, t is a disease known to have existed for centuries. In the British museum is a skull of a mummy dated 2800 B. C., showing evidences of well-marked caries. Dr. Jj. M. Waugh of Buffalo, quoting from Guerni’s “History of Dentistry,” calls attention to a collection of Egyptian writings dating back to 1650 B. C., in which, are mentioned a number of remedies for this disease. Decay or caries of the teeth is largely due to neglect or failure to keep the mouth and particularly the teeth properly cleaned. If food particles lodge between the teeth and are not removed theyL eventually ferment During this fermentation process the mouth bacteria acting on the carbohydrate foodstuffs produce acid fermenta. tion. These acids dissolve the lime salts of the teeth, exposing the dentine to the action of microbes which rapidly destroy the tooth structure. It is the v general supposition that teeth always decay from the outside; as a matter of fact the change takes place from within outward and goes on rapidly until there is quite a large cavity. Frequently toothache or extreme sensitiveness to hot or cold food or drink are the first intimations that decay has taken place. Sometimes there is no pain at all and a chance examination discloses the cavity in the tooth. These tooth cavities are ideal Incubators for all kinds of bacteria. Many of the pathogenic bacteria require heat and'moisture for their development and the unclean month and teeth offer all these conditions. It is not uncommon to find the pus-producing organisms, the bacillus of diphtheria and tuberculosis, in these tooth cavities. The cases of unclean mouths are legion; not only among children, but among adults. It is estimated that only eight per cent, of the people in this country take care of their teeth. In a recent paper read before the Society of Medical Inspectors of New York, and commenting on the condition of children’s teeth, Dr. Merritt said: “It may be said without fear of contradiction that if the teeth of the coming generation are to be saved It must be done during their school life. In the city of New York there are in this year of 1910 over 600,000 school children, h very large percentage of whom are in need of dental treatment. Few of them ever make use of a tooth brush; their mouths are filthy beyond belief, and most of theifi have one or more decayed teeth.” Dr. William H. Potter of Boston, at the solicitation of the school board of Brookline, Mass., recently examined the mouths of the school children in that exclusive suburb of Boston and found that 58 per cent of the children had diseased and defective mouths and teeth. The school 1 neper tore of Cleveland, Ohio, examined 88,000 children last year and discovered 77 per cent, of them to have defective teeth. It has been estimated that there are over 9,000,000 children in the United States who have defective and diseased teeth and 5,000,000 with enlarged glands and 7,000,000 with defective breathing, due to adenoid growths in the none. > - Dental carles frequently originates during pregnancy and Should repetve Immediate attention. There is an old and true saying, “a tooth for sveary child,” but this can be avoided If the prospective mother win follow the Instructions of her physician end her dentist.

The teeth should never bes neglected. It is as essential to keep them clean as it is necessary for us to eat. They should be thoroughly brushed with a medium bristle brush three times a day. Moat people brush them in a very perfunctory sort of way, applying the brush horizontally. This does not remove the small particles of food between the teeth end fermentation and decay results. The propel way is to first rinse the mouth with watei that has been slightly warmed. This washes away many of the food particles that adhere to the teeth. Next use the brush without any powder or paste to dislodge any food that may still remain on the teeth; then apply youi powder or paste by means of the tooth brush and thoroughly use it along the teeth with the cross motion usually applied with the hrusb to the teeth. You must also brush upward and downward, inward and outward, then backward and forward. In this way all foreign substances are removed. In order to be sure that no particles remain even after thia treatment, It is necessary to pass silk dental floss between the teeth. Very frequently if the floes becomes ragged or breaks, it is a guide to some defect existing in the tooth surfaces. In ■electing a tooth paste or. powder be sure to secure a product free from acid or grit V In order to obtain a clean mouth and have good teeth and health it is necessary that you should have your dentist look over your teeth at least twice a year. You are pot able to locate small cavities with your hand mirror and your dentist has every appliance for doing so. Do not think that because a tooth decayed it cannot be saved; the roots at teeth do not decay, and the dentist, with the aid of fillings and crowns, can repair these structures and give you much comfort. Missing teeth greatly Impair the proper chewing of food. It Is here that the dentist can be of ftnportant service to you. Many mothers think that It is useless to take care of baby’s temporary teeth, but thl* is a grievous error. Their permanent teeth have begun formation up in the gums during the temporary period and are ready to make their appearance at the proper physiological time. If care is taken with the temporary sat the permanent ones will appear with some regularity and be formed to produce correct occlusion. Mothers should dean the babyl teeth every day with a weak solution of bo xaclc acid; a soft cloth dipped In solution should be gently draVn across the teeth and «ums at least twice a day. When a child reaches the sge of Xfc years It should be ex ■mined by the dentist. This f» done to insun that the teeth and gums are In good condition

The ONLOOKER

by WILBUR D. NESBIT

He always had been mild to man and maid and child, He never said a word that wasn’t" kindly, He never criticised or sharply analyzed His fellows’ deeds, but looked upon • them blindly— And yet his gentleness did not, as you might guess List him among the men we view as noted, He might say pleasant things of commoners and kings , —t ji ■ • But never in the papers was he quoted. He wanted to be known, he would not stand alone, He would not be a meek and humble cipher, So finally he said: “I might as well bo dead If I don’t Join the bludgeoner and knifer. I’ve thought that things were wrong, but let them drift along Disliking to toe wounding others' feelings. I’ve thought men might be pained If I said what they’d gained Might truthfully be mentioned as their stealings. j *Tve held aloof from strife, to lead a happy life, < ! But find that policy to be a loser.’’ ,He then went out and said that banqueters were fed t On liquid things as though each was a boozer; He said our common schools were, raising crops of fools. That women were all simpering and silly; He said that all thfe men were chuckleheads, and then ' .. . - v \ That all the churches were extremely chilly. • He said some caustic things of emperors and kings, He threw some verbal bricks at modern writers; He said that modern art should find the garbage cart, - ) " Our sculpture should be smashed by dy- ' namiters; He said that as a race we held no worthy place. That history would pass us without mention. That marriage was a fraud, that lore should be outlawed— And straightway he commanded full at- > tention. He wrote “Just What I Mean” for Some One’s Magazine, He wrote a. problem novel—’twas a winner; He lectured here and there, he wore a lot of hair. He roasted every one he met at dinner. But O, the wondrous change!“The man who'once was strange To alt the world, today Is called a wonder. The lightning of his wit kas helped a little btt But all enjoy the rolling of his thunder.

Smooth Work.

“Hear about Wlseun’s way of getting all the mince pie he wants to eat when they have company at home?” asks the neighbor. “No. How does he work it?” “He always starts a temperance discussion Just before the pie is brought on and then cites instances of men who have been started on the downward path Just by tasting the brandy in mince pie and ostentatiously declines to take any of It himself. The result is that the others follow suit, and then, when the guests have gone he goes to the pantry and eats the whole pie.”

What Got Them.

The minister has labored long and earnestly in the effort to get the men in his audience to Join the church. In glowing words he has described the Joys of heaven, but the men BtiU sit unmoved. At last an inspiration flashes to the mind of the preacher. “Best of all, misguided brethren,” he cries. “I would tel! you that in heaven there is never any houseclean,lng.” As one man the men come forward and become members of the church.

Self Confident.

“I shall, indeed, be proud If you will sing my lullaby at your recital,” says the composer, banding the score of the composition to the ningesk^ “Bu£” ventures the singer, "why have you marked the last stanza to be sung fortissimo?” “O. I did that so that the audience would be awakened." . • -*r- . ..A 1 a., -cv

Their First Season.

“I wonder who originated the sashlon of wearing furor “Eve. after the first fall.” , -