Page 145 - My FlipBook
P. 145
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CHAPTER YI.
ACTION OF THE PRODUCTS OF FERMENTATION ON THE DIFFERENT
STRUCTURES OF THE MOUTH.
It might appear from a su})erficial ()l)servaiioii tliat the pro-
ducts formed bv the above-menlioned fermentations, of which
one or more is constantly going on in the mouth, do not exert any,
or at most but a sHght deleterious influence on the soft tissues.
Oonsideral)le quantities of food may remain in contact with- the
mucous membrane of the gums and cheeks for some length of
time without exciting any apparent local disturbances, which
might not be explained by the mechanical irritation caused by
them. A more thorough examination, however, will enable us
to trace serious local and general diseases to the influence of
parasites in the mouth. These disorders will be discussed at
length in Part II. For the present I propose to consider that
particular action of the parasites and their products which has
as its result the most frequent and widespread of all diseases of
the human body,
THE DECAY OF THE TEETH.
The destruction of the hard substances of the teeth, commonly
known as caries of the teeth, decay of the teeth, tooth-rot, etc.,
has, more than any other topic in the domain of dentistry, con-
tinued to excite the scientific interest of dentists and physicians
for more than two thousand years. The numerous theories
which have been held at dift'erent times concerning the origin
of dental decay prove that the prol)lem is no easy one. Not one
of them has a^ yet licen universally accepted. Among the causes
119
CHAPTER YI.
ACTION OF THE PRODUCTS OF FERMENTATION ON THE DIFFERENT
STRUCTURES OF THE MOUTH.
It might appear from a su})erficial ()l)servaiioii tliat the pro-
ducts formed bv the above-menlioned fermentations, of which
one or more is constantly going on in the mouth, do not exert any,
or at most but a sHght deleterious influence on the soft tissues.
Oonsideral)le quantities of food may remain in contact with- the
mucous membrane of the gums and cheeks for some length of
time without exciting any apparent local disturbances, which
might not be explained by the mechanical irritation caused by
them. A more thorough examination, however, will enable us
to trace serious local and general diseases to the influence of
parasites in the mouth. These disorders will be discussed at
length in Part II. For the present I propose to consider that
particular action of the parasites and their products which has
as its result the most frequent and widespread of all diseases of
the human body,
THE DECAY OF THE TEETH.
The destruction of the hard substances of the teeth, commonly
known as caries of the teeth, decay of the teeth, tooth-rot, etc.,
has, more than any other topic in the domain of dentistry, con-
tinued to excite the scientific interest of dentists and physicians
for more than two thousand years. The numerous theories
which have been held at dift'erent times concerning the origin
of dental decay prove that the prol)lem is no easy one. Not one
of them has a^ yet licen universally accepted. Among the causes
119
