p. 12 | Use Your Teeth by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1903

Use Your Teeth

By L. A. S.

L. A. S.

ATTENTION is being called by the papers to some statements made at a recent convention of dentists at Asbury Park, N. J., regarding the deterioration of human teeth, which, at the present rate of progression, bids fair to result in a toothless race of human beings at a comparatively early date. One dentist declared that “predigested foods, toothpicks, and tobacco” have about ruined all the good teeth in the country. Another affirmed that the popularity of outdoor sports has been the only salvation of the teeth of children. A third speaker said that children are “insulted by a lot of stuff called food,” which was not worthy the name.

Certainly the teeth are capable of throwing considerable light on the question of the kind of food best adapted to the health of human beings, when common sense is exercised on the subject. Nature intended that man should eat food that must be chewed. Nature provided man with teeth; teeth can be kept sound and healthy only by exercise, like any other part of the body; and the exercise can be had only by chewing. Eating soft, mushy foods, or foods already ground fine, provides no exercise for the teeth. Something having a certain degree of hardness and necessitating the use of the teeth to prepare it for the action of the digestive fluids, is the thing required. And nature provides an abundance of such foods. Nature makes no mistakes, and has made none since time began, in the production of foods; for the operations of nature are only the working of the laws of God.

He who made man knew what to make for man's food.

A more simple diet; more eating of foods that must be chewed, and more thorough chewing of foods that are eaten, would work wonders for the health of many. Good sound teeth are a prime requisite to health. Use your teeth.