The cause and prevention of decay in teeth : an investigation into the causes of the prevalence of dental caries : to which are appended some suggestions on its prevention / by J. Sim Wallace.

  • Wallace, J. Sim (James Sim), 1869-1951.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The cause and prevention of decay in teeth : an investigation into the causes of the prevalence of dental caries : to which are appended some suggestions on its prevention / by J. Sim Wallace. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    RECESSION OF THE GUMS. I wish now to refer to a condition predisposing to the occurrence of caries to which I have hitherto not alluded, and though it is not always recognised it is mentioned by Dr. Miller as a predisposing cause. I refer to the recession of the gums. This condition is often accompanied by the formation of a deposit of tartar at the neck of the tooth, and as long as this remains the subjacent tooth is not attacked by caries. Nevertheless as the recession of the gum takes place, whether caused by this tartar or other- wise, it is obvious that the part of the crown of the tooth which is normally near to the edge of the gum gradually becomes more or less distant from it, and so becomes less subject to the beneficent effect of the alkaline secretions at the edge of the gum. Moreover the spaces between the teeth gradually become larger on account of the recession of the gum, and more food is apt to lodge in such situa- tions. Although the irritation of this slowly formed dark tartar may possibly stimulate the secretion in their neigh- bourhood, still when the gums have receded a certain distance, the amount of food which lodges in the inter- stitial spaces gives rise to too much acid fermentation for even this to control ; consequently caries takes place. As