Page16-continued

8. Foul odors from the mouth due to decomposition of food material about the teeth, to putrefaction of inflammatory tissue exudates within the crevices and to the growth of certain microorganisms (especially spirochetes) in the blood enriched material in the crevices, is avoided.

9. Much satisfaction is derived from the sense of oral cleanliness which one enjoys, after he once understands the conditions and learns how to clean his teeth effectively.

Comment

Every person who has teeth to save and everyone who desires to maintain reasonable oral cleanliness must learn and follow the personal oral hygiene procedure herein described. People go to dentists for treatment of the advanced stage of caries and periodontoclasia from which nearly all loss of teeth results. They do not know or properly evaluate the fact that the lesions, representing more or less irreparable damage, could have been prevented. Neither do they recognize the presence of existing earlier stage lesions, further progress of which can be prevented by personal oral hygiene. They need to be instructed.

Dentists should be interested in teaching this necessary personal oral hygiene to their patients not only for the purpose of prevention but also to greatly improve the success and durability of their treatment of existing lesions and conditions. To fill a cavity without making certain, at the same time, that the patient knows how to maintain the necessary cleanliness of the area in the future reduces, on the average, the usefulness and success of the work done. To clean the accumulations of foreign material from the teeth or to treat his periodontoclasia without, at the same time, teaching the patient how to keep his teeth clean in the future, greatly reduces the value of the service. The value of the periodical visit to the dentist for check up and "prophylaxis" is very greatly increased if the patient is also taught this necessary personal oral hygiene.

It is evident that the practicing dentist should teach the necessary personal oral hygiene to his own patients. However, to teach it he must first know it himself. It is axiomatic that one cannot teach what he does not know himself. Except for anyone who may have already learned how to clean his teeth right, as here indicated, the dentist who still has teeth left now has more or less suppuration within the gingival crevices, and therefore active periodontoclasia, about some or many of his teeth. This will be confirmed by microscopic examination of properly collected material from his interproximal gingival crevices. He is losing his own teeth from the same conditions for which his patients need advice and treatment. Until he learns and practices the necessary personal oral hygiene to save his own teeth, he is not very well prepared to instruct his patients how to save theirs. Therefore he should first learn and practice the right method himself. Then he will realize how necessary it is for his patients also and can instruct them correctly and effectively.

Summary

The necessary personal oral hygiene for prevention of caries and periodontoclasia has been presented in some detail. It conforms to the two fundamental facts: "a clean tooth does not decay" and "periodontoclasia does not occur about a clean tooth." The essentials are embraced in the teaching slogan which the author has formulated, uses, and recommends that others use: You must clean your teeth right with the right kind of both toothbrush and dental floss every night before retiring.

References

1. Bass, C. C.: A demonstrable line on extracted teeth indicating the location of the outer border of the epithet/al attachment. J. Dent. Research, 25:401. 1947.

2. Bass, C. ~C.: The enamel cuticle. I, in relation to the early stage of caries; II, in relation to the early stage of periodontoclasia. To be published soon.

3. Bass, C. C.: The optimum characteristics of toothbrushes for personal oral hygiene. Dent. Items Int. 70 :697, 1S)48

4. Bass, C. C.: The optimum characteristics of dental floss for personal oral hygiene. Dent. Items Int. 70: Sept., 1048.

5. Bass, C. C.: The habitat of Endameba buccalis in the lesions of periodontoclasia. Proc. Soc. Imp. Biol. and Med.61:9. 1947.

6. Frisbie, H. E., Nuckolls, J. and Saunders, J. B.: Distribution of the organic matrix of the enamel in the human