PROPER CARE OF THE TEETH AND CAUSES OF TOOTH DECAY

The problem of decaying teeth is based on two factors heredity and the line of care the teeth are given. There is nothing we can do about heredity but there is much we can do about the care of our teeth.
It has been very well proved that one of the worst factors in the decay of teeth is the use of sugars and sweets. Experimental work food on rats clearly shown that sugar definely causes decay. One experiment produced decayed teeth even in baby rats before their teeth erupted. The newly born were fed with a formula in which the normal sugar (lactose) was left out and table sugar was substituted.
The teeth of children and youth are especially susceptible to decay and yet they are the ones who all too frequently form habits of eating sweets and deserts and drinking soft drinks.
The act of chewing gum should be cut down as it bathes the teeth in sugar. Likewise drinking soft drink.
CARE OF THE TEETH
If one is to be really careful with his teeth he should brush them after meal or rinse with water, moreover chew a carrot. Particles of food should not be allowed to remain on the outside of the teeth, especially between them. Brushing them by taking a stick and chewing at the end to make a brush, as is done in some parts of the world, is not good. The bristles do not get between the teeth well and rubbing the stick horizontally over the teeth tends only to push more food between them. Besides it wears off the hard enamel shell of the tooth, the loss or damage of which will cause the tooth to decay. Another bad effect of the stick method is that it wears away the protective tissue at the base of teeth, so much that in some cases the roots become entirely exposed.
Some people use the finger to clean the teeth. This is equally bad, for it also wears away the gums, resulting in some cases, complete exposure of the root of the tooth. This method does not remove the food from between the teeth either; in fact, it packs the food in.
There is only one acceptable method of cleaning the teeth and that is to get a tooth brush, a tooth paste and use it after every meal. When applying the brush, one should move it up and down over the teeth so the food will be removed from between them. In doing this one should be careful not to injure the gums. If one happens to eat his meal where he cannot have access to his tooth brush such simple practices as rinsing the mouth out with water or chewing on a carrot will be beneficial.
The teeth should be inspected by a dentist at least once a year if possible.

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