Page 288 - My FlipBook

158 PATHOLOGY OF THE HARD TISSUES OF THE TEETH.
work on erosion shows clearly that these may do harm, and also
that many of the tooth powders offered on the market contain
much grit. It is best not to prescribe any kind of tooth powder.
We can not render the mouth aseptic by the use of any of the
antiseptic mouth washes. This has been tried very thoroughly
by Dr. Miller. He reports that he was unable to render his own
mouth aseptic. He could remove most of the microorganisms
for the time being, but in a few hours they would be as plentiful
in the mouth as before. My own experiments have given similar
results. The most we can do is to eliminate those not habitual
in the mouth. Most of the microorganisms that are not habitual
in the mouth, i. e., whose natural habitat is not in the mouth,
can be effectually removed by the use of antiseptic mouth washes,
coupled with vigorous mechanical cleaning. The same can be
done just as well, probably, by the mechanical cleaning alone.
I have found that the pus microorganisms, the staphylococci,
except the one white staphylococcus which is habitual in the
mouth, could be very effectually removed by the use of the brush.
I have tried this with nurses in the hospitals who were dressing
suppurating wounds. Nurses who were dressing suppurating
wounds generally had pus microorganisms in their saliva before
the closer drill of recent years taught them better plans of
aseptic and antiseptic work. These can be very effectually
removed within a few days so that we will be unable to find pus
microoorganisms in the mouths of these persons in plant after
plant. If they are taught especial care as to reinfection, their
mouths can be kept fairly free from pus microorganisms or
other pathogenic microorganisms, except those whose natural
habitat is the mouth. These we are utterly unable to effectively
remove. Of course, the harmless saprophites floating in the
atmosphere are continually being caught in the saliva, and it is
soon reinfected with them. These are of no consequence.
The toothpick, ligature, tape and rubber bands. As the
proximal surfaces of the teeth can not be cleaned with the
brush, it is necessary to use other means, and the ordinary
rubber bands and the silk floss are best. One may carry a ball
or a disk of silk floss in his pocket, or have one on his dresser,
or may carry a few small rubber bands. They are cheap and
may be used and thrown away. The rubber band is perhaps
better and easier handled than the silk floss for cleaning the
proximal surfaces. It is a very simple matter to use it; pass
the rubber band into the interproximal space, bring it against
the distal surface of one tooth, well under the gingiva?, rub that