THE PROCESS OF DECAY IN TEETH 



is the result of particles of starchy foods, such as bread, lodging iu the crevices of 

 the teeth, where it favours the multiplication of a certain form of bacteria which 

 swarm even in the healthiest of mouths. The result of their activity is fermentation 

 and the production of an acid which dissolves away part of the enamel. Another 

 kind of bacteria then attack and dissolve the gelatine, so that a hole is formed and 

 the mischief can spread to the sensitive pulp beneath. 



--CROWN 



PERIOSTEUM 



COVeWINQTHE ROOT 



AND BONY SOCKET 



OH ALVEOLUS 



NCHVC 



SECTIONS THROUGH THE PERMANENT TEETH. 



IF TAKEN IN TIME, 



so that the decayed portion is carefully removed, while the hole is filled with some 

 proper material, the tooth may last for years. If, however, the trouble is neglected 

 and spreads to the pulp, great pain is suffered, the pulp dies, decomposes, and an 

 abscess results, which causes intense suffering, besides the loss of the tooth, which, 

 meanwhile, will probably have infected its companions. All the time, the owner 

 of the diseased tooth will have been swallowing the disgusting discharge from the 

 abscess, which causes all sorts of troubles constipation, indigestion, " bilious 

 attacks," tendency to colds, sore throats, etc. The direful results of the collection 

 of particles of food at various points on the surface of teeth is clearly shown in 

 Fig. 4, which illustrates the process of decay in teeth. 



TO ALLOW A TOOTH TO DECAY AND THEN HAVE IT OUT 



is far too common practice ; but, as is demonstrated in Fig. 5, if a tooth is removed 

 from either jaw it throws two teeth out of use in the other jaw, an important fact 

 of which most people are ignorant. This illustration shows a complete set of sound 

 teeth in the mouth of an adult. How many of us possess this valuable aid to health 

 and beauty? 



HOW TO PREVENT DECAY. 



(1.) Keep the teeth clean and healthy by thoroughly masticating all the food 

 eaten, instead of bolting much of it unchewed. For this purpose include crisp toast, 

 crackers, and raw apples in the daily diet. The custom of eating only pulpy, soft 

 food and the crumbs of bread is bad for the teeth. Therefore, form the habit of 



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