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which requires chewing. Coarse food, like brown bread and
salad, promotes hpalth by increasing the action of the bowels.
Decay of teeth is caused by particles of sweet and starchy
foods sticking to the teeth between meals; these particles ferment
and form acids which eat away at a tooth until the
nerve is exposed.
Sucking sweete (or eating chocolates) is one of the chief
causes of decay.
When teeth begin to ache it is often too late to save them.
Decayed teeth not only cause toothache but prevent the
food being masticated, and produce indigestion and blood
poisoning. Enlarged glands, earache and deafness are often
due to this cause.
Clean teeth do not decay.
After eating hard and stringy foods like crusts, lettuce,
meat and apples, the mouth is left clean. Such foods are
called cleansing foods.
How to avoid Decay.
1. As soon an infant has got any teeth it should have
stale crusty bread or hard crisp toast with butter, in addition
to milk. Don't soak the bread in milk. As the child takes
more solid food, the milk should be mixed with water which
will prevent it from sticking to the teeth.
2. Strong children over two years, and healthy adults,
should only take three or four meals a day, and no food oil
any kind between meals.
2a. Children should be taught from infancy to chew their
food well before swallowing it.