Save Those Teeth (1949)

[Music] that out of my mouth oh bet it does you can rinse your mouth out now it wasn't bad was it no it h a little bit but not near as much as I thought it would that's fine by the way Dan these x-rays we took the last time you were here show two teeth that have signs of Decay they don't need filling yet but we'll have to check up on them soon here you can see the spots they mean that decay is just starting sometimes very early decay can be stopped for a long time then they don't have to be filled of course you have to take proper care of your teeth to stop Decay and prevent future Decay but what do I have to do first you have to brush your teeth properly do you brush them every day oh sure twice a day well that's fine but the important thing to remember is when do you brush them well the first thing in the morning when I get up and just before I go to bed you ought to brush them as soon as possible after eating especially in the morning and in the evening if you aren't where you can brush them at noon you should at least rinse your mouth with water right after you eat I'm sure I can do that Dr orfield I wonder how you brush your teeth there are some ways of brushing teeth that don't do much good let's show them the right way I've used this hundreds of times to show fellas like you and grown-ups too first you clean the cheek side of the upper teeth and the gums too brushing away from the gums that helps remove the food particles next you brush the tongue side of the upper teeth next brush the lower ones finish up with the chewing surfaces it's easy just takes practice to get the Knack of it sure I can do that any day would you like to look at them Dan yeah you know Dan to help you remember what I've told you I'd like to see you practice on your own teeth in fact I'm going to give you a present here's a brush you can keep gee that's a Dandy thanks a lot those bristles are just right for you is this right yes that's good now work around to the other side and be sure to give your gums a good brushing too couldn't I I use toothpaste when I brush my teeth well correct brushing is more important than the dfis of course Dan brushing alone won't stop Decay you need well balanced meals they are just as important to a healthy mouth as they are to a strong body oh yes we learned that in our science class you need meat milk eggs vegetables and minerals too well that's true but I wonder if you know there's one thing that will cause your teeth to the Kay in spite of good food and proper brushing there is what's that it's sugar refined sugar sugar may cause tooth decay sugar yes sugar from foods you eat and some of the things you drink you do drink pop and eat candy don't you oh sure I eat that well there's a lot of sugar in soft drinks and of course there's sugar in candy and gum and many foods in your mouth that Sugar changes to a kind of acid and that may cause your teeth to Decay I didn't know that pop and gum and Candy could hurt my teeth well most people don't know it but sweets can harm the teeth of almost anyone that's because most sweets have refined sugar in them is that the kind we have at home that's right it's the kind you put on cereals to sweeten them then I'm going to take tell you some things I think your mother ought to hear Miss Taylor will you ask Mrs Adams to step in here for a minute please thanks doctor you see Dan there are lots of things with refined sugar in them and as I told you this sugar changes to acid in the mouth I don't see how it can do that oh Mrs Adams Dan and I were just talking about how refined sugar harms the teeth I thought maybe you'd like to hear about it too well I've heard a little Dr orfield but I'd like to know more I was telling Dan that Sugar changes to acid in the mouth and this acid causes tooth decay some of the bacteria in the mouth changes the sugar bacteria in the mouth how do they get in the mouth well they're there all the time Dan but it's when we eat sugar that they make acid you've probably never seen any bacteria under a microscope before have you no I haven't well let's take a look at some shall we okay but first we'll have to get some bacteria out of your mouth Miss Taylor may I have a slide please now we'll have to scrape just a little you'll hardly feel this Miss Taylor will you stain this please staining the bacteria takes a few minutes while we're waiting do you have any questions you'd like to ask about the care of teeth yes I have doctor there's a question I've been meaning to ask you I've heard a great deal about a chemical that can be used on the teeth to help help prevent Decay is that a good thing to use it certainly is we use a fluide solution and we have evidence that for some people this fluide treatment helps prevent Decay as a matter of fact I was going to suggest to you that at Dan's next visit we start giving his teeth this chemical treatment chemical you're going to put some chemical in my mouth won't that hurt no not a bit as a matter of fact it doesn't even taste bad here let me show you how it's done first I'd have to clean your teeth and then I'd take a little of this solution these cotton pads keep your mouth free from saliva we paint the surfaces of the teeth very carefully all over and we let it dry for about 3 minutes and that's all there's to it of course this solution won't stop Decay but it will help prevent it from getting started he's the slide doctor oh the slides ready thank you let's step over this way and take a look at this through the microscope all right Dan thank you there you are Dan Rose are bacteria from your own teeth wow would you like to have a look Mrs Adams yes I would say that was something I've never seen bacteria through a microscope before and there are a lot of them in my mouth yes there are millions of them in everyone's mouth but they only make acid when there's sugar in the mouth they can change to acid what can I do about them well I don't suppose you'll stop eating sugar all together but is the next best thing I would suggest that you stop eating sweets between meals don't forget that toothbrush I gave you Dan you know everyone should have at least two brushes so we can always use a dry one thanks a lot you're welcome you know I've been thinking if I'm going to have to give up soft drinks and candy and cookies and cake between meals I'm going to get awful hungry oh you're wrong about that Dan there are a lot of treats that you can eat without hurting your teeth like popcorn nuts meat sandwiches and cheese oh I'll admit taking care of your teeth is a big job but it's worth it do you think you can handle it well looks like i' better try my best I'm sure you will Dan we'll check your teeth again in about 6 months now be sure you avoid sweets between meals and do a good job of brushing your teeth after meals well I'll try my best Dr orfield that's fine then goodbye goodbye doctor [Music] goodbye