Pyorrhoea alveolaris and its relations to general medicine / by John Fitzgerald.

  • Fitz-Gerrald, John.
Date:
[1900?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Pyorrhoea alveolaris and its relations to general medicine / by John Fitzgerald. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/100 (page 14)
    into the mouth. The parotid saliva differs from the secretion of the other glandular tissue in the mouth in containing a relatively small proportion of organic material, and this in the form of a globulin rather than a mucin. The consequence, as we should expect, is that the calculus formed by its aid differs in character from that deposited upon teeth in other situations, and is softer and more easily broken down. But in order that tartar should be deposited in this situation another factor is essential, and that is that the pai'otid secretion should have an opportunity of remaining undisturbed in contact with the teeth on which the deposit is to take place. This happens when from defect of the lower molars the upper ones are practically not used in mastication. In such cases the saliva remains, and stagnates in the pocket formed by the reflection of the mucous membrane outside and above these teeth, and this region not as a rule being reached by the tooth-brush, every condition requisite for an abundant deposition of tartar is afforded.