DENTAL CARIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17288, 2 October 1916, Page 11

DENTAL CARIES.

CAUSES AND PREVENTION. TO THIS EDITOR. Sir, —In your issue of Thursday morning is an account of a lecture delivered at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms by Mr C. E. St John on the above subject, and 1 would like to add a few remarks, as I consider several of tho subjects brought forward by Mr St John need a littlo more light thrown upon them. First, then, tho causes, as set out by tho lecturer, lack many important essentials to my mind, and as far as research and practical experience will permit mo to judge. Caries ot the teeth is caused by the perfect organisation of tho human body as a whole, not so much by tho food wo eat. i'o make this plain, each individual tooth is lined with an extremely sensitive membrance, called the periosteum, whose duty is to act as cushion or bull or for each tooth when coining into contact with the opposing teeth, to prevent injury or shock. This membrane, when pressure is brought to bear upon is bv the lodgment of particles of food between the teeth or any irritating influence around tho necks of tho teotli, discharger, a secretion called mucus tor tho purpose, of dissolving the foreign matter, or irritating influences, so that the saliva can easily wash it away. But at the same time, as tho dissolving of tho food particles is taking place, thcro is also a softening of tho enamel wherever this secretion touches, therefore- tho particles of decomposing food lodged between the teeth are fully charged with colonies of disease germs. Immediately the softening of the tooth structure takes place, it gives free access and inroads to the tooth by these disease, germs, which have been lying in wait for such an opportunity, hence so manv approximate cavities —that is, cavities' betwen the two teeth. ThereforeI hold that the primary cause of dental caries is Nature endeavouring to rid herself of objectionable and irritating influences. ~ Secondly, in regard to prevention. If my theory is anywhere near a right solution, the prevention ol caries is only to bo attained by the most practical, and convenient, and at the same timo easiest methods of assisting . Nature in ridding herself of these objections, and from my own experience the following is tho best I know of: Jake small chisel-edged pieces of pmewoocl. For this I recommend an inexpensive moans—that is, the wood matches used in your homo, and made from Baltic pine wood. Do not throw your spent matches away, but put them anv suitable box, or receptacle, in which have previously placed a small piece of gum camphor. TJurmg an evening any father can in halt an hour prepare sufficient of these dead matches to last his family a whole week. My reason for recommending these matches is that they are soft, and therefore can conform to any declivities and deformities of the teeth, which are indeed numerous. The wood is also steeped in paraffin, which makes it almost impervious to IJIO lodgment of disease germs. In addition it is a wood fully charged with antiseptic properties. Go carefully between each tooth before and after brushing, using at the same timo a small portion of some reliable tooth paste on tho point of the match. Supply your children with sufficient of these matches each day, impressing upon them to use'each match once, and once only. In five minutes a person will do more in tho prevention of caries of tho teeth than in a month's constant use of the brush or than can be done by restricted diet.

Further, there arc ono or two questions brought forward by the lecturer which I would like to touch upon. The first is cane sugar, which he condemned. Sugar is goocl and wholesome. It is also the all-important factor for tho healthy development of the muscular tissue of the human body, at the same time being a powerful antiseptic. Anyone wishing to test this quality can do so by wrapping any fresh clean wound up with nn ample sugar dressing, and in three days the result will bo both gratifying and astonishing. The small percentage of mallic acid contained in pure cano sugar is not sufficient in itself to materially intcrfero with tho teofch. If this was so tho Japanese, instead of having the finest dentition of all civilised races, would have the poorest, for in nearly every house in Japan, in fact in every room, you will see hanging from a piece of string within tho reach of the smallest child a piece of good sugar candy, so that the child can help itself at will. The lecturer also recommends freshly pressed lonion juice. Now this is really good if taken rightly both for child and adult. It has great healing properties, it is stimulating, soothing and blood restorative, and it stimulates the salivary glands of the mucous membrane down to the stomach. Citric acid differs from most acids by increasing the alkalimity of the blood, being acidised and converted into carbonates. The proper proportion of lemon juice to be taken is ono in eight. A teaspoonful of juice to two tahlespoonfuls of freshly boiled water.

Fresh ripo fruit, especially apples, if eaten first thing in the morning will be found much more beneficial than at night. Stewed or baked fruit, in my opinion, would be much bettor if taken at night than uncooked, and then never later than an hour before retiring.— I am, etc., * EDWARD HOPE, Dental Surgeon. Christchureh, September 80.

TO TII3 KDITOII. Sir, —Seeing that tho teath trouble is so prevalent and serious, could not Mr O. E. St John be prevailed upon to repeat to tho general public his very interesting and instructive lecture given before the Chemists' Association? This teeth trouble is a, matter which urgently needs more and over more increasing light thrown -upon it. Dentists and the public generally have been co utent wi th th o "p h tchji n g-up'' method in the past, but Mr St John goes to tho root cause or causes of tiie trouble, namely, tho food question, pleading for a, more natural system of diet, condemning the use of so much starchy foods and white bread, which aro prolific causes of decaying teeth and other troubles. Hoping that Mr St John will repeat his lecturo publicly,— I am, etc., INTERESTED.