p. 13 | STARVING THE TEETH by American Analyst

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 23.

STARVING THE TEETH.

By American Analyst

TEETH are just as easily starved to death as the stomach. In one way it is a blessing to have been born of poor parents. What food the poor give their children is of the variety that goes to make strong bones and teeth. It is the outside of all the grains, of all cereal foods, that contains the carbonate and phosphate of lime and traces of other earthly salts which nourish the bony tissue and build the frame up. If we do not furnish the teeth of the young that pabulum they require, they cannot possibly be built up. It is the outside of corn, oats, wheat, barley, and the like, or the bran, so-called, that we sift away and feed to the swine, that the teeth actually require for their proper nourishment. The wisdom of man has proven his folly, shown in every succeeding generation of teeth, which become more fragile and weak. These flouring mills are working destruction upon the teeth of every man, woman, and child who partakes of their fine bolted flour. They sift out the carbonates and the phosphates of lime in order that they may provide that fine white flour which is proving a whitened sepulcher to teeth.

Oatmeal is one of the best foods for supplying the teeth with nourishment. It makes the dentine, cementum, and enamel strong, flint-like, and able to resist all forms of decay. If you have children never allow any white bread upon your table. Bread made of whole wheat ground, not bolted, so that the bran, which contains the minute quantities of lime, is present, is best. To make a good, wholesome, nourishing bread, take two bowls of wheat meal and one bowl of white or bolted flour, and make by the usual process. Nothing is superior to brown-bread for bone and tooth building. This is made out of rye meal and corn meal. Baked beans, too, have a considerable supply of these lime salts, and should be on your table, hot or cold, three times a week. In brushing the teeth always brush up and down from the gums instead of across. Brush away from the gum and on the grinding surface of the teeth.