Dr. Price reported that, in a large number of cases, even when root filled teeth which appeared perfectly normal and without symptoms were extracted, a high percentage of the patients who had been experiencing heart problems found their conditions totally or almost totally subsided.
The physicians who understand the harmful role teeth can play in their patient's lives will, I trust, keep in mind that none of this information in any way condones the wholesale condemnation of all teeth. Early in my practice I was horrified to find a number of patients whose physicians took the focal infection theory too literally and advised them to have all their teeth out, teeth that were in no way involved in their arthritic condition.
Because dentists construct dentures which look and act so much like natural teeth, people have come to believe that they are just as good as their own. While dentures are among the best of all body replacement parts, they are never good at masticating food as natural teeth in good repair. Most patients with full dentures are enthused about them and insist they can eat everything.
Then, too, bad this very revealing research of Dr. Price's not been buried, there is a good chance by now we would have solved the problems of how to sterilize bacteria trapped in dentin tubules.
It is extremely disturbing to think about all the degenerative diseases which exist and are bankrupting our people and our country. Worst of all is the fact so many people are dying of afflictions which could be alleviated.
In this chapter about degenerative diseases, I have included some of the more common ones Dr. Price presented in his two books, and pictures illustrating these conditions.
The degenerative diseases mentioned in this chapter with accompanying pictures were:
* Eye infections: picture of a patient, rabbit and tooth x-ray
* Kidney disease (nephritis): picture of a kidney swollen to five times its normal size.
* Stomach ulcer: picture of ulcer perforation and x-ray pictures of the offending teeth.
* Ovarian cysts: one very large cyst.
* Testicles: acute pain and swelling
* Bladder: paralysis, ulceration and swelling to 2o times its normal size
* chorea: now called hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder
* Hysteria and lassitude: x-ray pictures demonstrate the cause in one patient
These exmaples should give you some idea of the thousands of different degenerative disease cases which were extensively studies. Because Dr. Price's investigations indicate those who have root canal fillings and/or periodontal gum disease have a higher incidence of degenerative diseases than do those free of such conditions, it behooves us to adopt sound preventive measures in our day to day lives.
