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teeth and the decomposition of the organic matrix which take place
in an acid medium (pH 5.2 or lower) such as is created when
soluble carbohydrates are available to acidogenic bacteria. This
decalcifying solution is kept in constant contact with tooth surfaces
by residual food particles in the mouth thereby giving rise to dental
plaque. Refined carbohydrates like sucrose produce more plaque
than other foods and far worse teeth are developed in those babies
who are fed on sugared comforters such as sweet milk and syrup
than those who are not.
It would seem that we care too little about dental hygiene and
that we tend to accept the incidence of bad teeth as inevitable.
Statistics reveal the inescapable truth that dental caries occurs
in 98% of the population, the cost of which is in excess of £65
millions per annum. In a "normal" child the chances are that it
will have as many decayed teeth as years and if, at 16 years, an
adolescent has no cavities he/she will be alone among 1,000 others.
By the age of 50, the overwhelming odds are that a person will be
wearing some artificial denture.
What happens to the undoubted pride which greets baby's first
tooth and why doesn't this interest persist when all the teeth are
through? Why is it when parents of school children are notified of
the necessity of dental treatment (which is provided free) so few
make the effort to reply, much less acquiesce? In such circumstances
a child's first visit to a dentist is often at the "abscess"
stage which can be a painful and frightening experience and renders
the establishment of a happy relationship between dentist and
patient less propitious.
How do we stop the "rot"? It goes without saying that the
first step in prevention is education but what practical methods are
to be used to deal with the present situation? There would appear
to be three main avenues of approach: —
1. Refraining from eating acid-producing foods. This is impractical
although the return to a more natural and fibrous
diet would be beneficial.
2. Controlling acid-producing bacteria. Rinsing the mouth or
brushing the teeth after meals although useful practices are,
unfortunately, not nearly effective enough and coating teeth
with various substances has, so far, been unsuccessful. In
controlled experiments it has been found that the addition
to the diet of calcium glycerophosphate leads to a significant
reduction in dental caries.
3. Strengthening the teeth to withstand the ravages of the acids.
Attention to diet in the pre-natal period is essential but adding
fluoride to the water supply remains the only efficient method