Page 251 - My FlipBook

CHAPTER IX.

PROPHYLAXIS OF DENTAL DECAY.

To every one at all acquainted ^yith the nature of that con-
dition of the teeth denominated as decay, caries, etc., and with
the causes by which it is produced, it must be apparent that
there are four ways by which we may counteract or limit the
ravages of this disease. We may endeavor (1) by hygienic
measures to secure the best possible development of the teeth ; (2)
by repeated, thorough, systematic cleansing of the oral cavity and
the teeth, to so far reduce the amount of fermentable substances
as to materially diminish the production of acid, as well as to
rob the bacteria of the organic matter necessary to their rapid
development; (3) by prohibiting or limiting the consumption of
such foods or luxuries which readily undergo acid fermentation
to remove the chief source of the ferment-products injurious to
the teeth (4) by the proper and intelligent use of antiseptics to
;
destroy the bacteria, or at least to limit their number and
activity.
That a great influence is exerted upon the process of fer-
mentation in the human mouth by the mechanical cleansing men-
tioned under 2 may be easily proved by the following experi-
ment : Take 10.0 c.cm. saliva ti-om the mouth in the morning
before cleansing it, add 0.5 gr. starch, and place the mixture in
the incubator. Then cleanse the mouth and teeth most thor-
oughly with the brush, toothpick, floss silk, etc., after which
take 10.0 c.cm. again (easily obtained by chewing a quill tooth-
pick or in the manner described on page 40), add 0.5 gr. starch
as before, and place also in the incubator. The first mixture not
only shows signs of fermentation sooner than the second, but
also forms much more acid in a given time. That diflercnt
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