POOR STATE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 1, 9 January 1942, Page 6

POOR STATE

N.Z. DENTAL HEALTH

COMMENT IN AMERICAN PAPER

The poor state of dental health in New Zealand, with decay in the teeth of 97 per cent of the children and false teeth in the mouths of 50 per cent of the adults, is the subject of comment in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which states: —

"New Zealand has the reputation of being a country that j:>roduces a healthy and virile people. Recent inquiries have tended to throw some doubt on this generalisation. The 'protective foods' are still fairly expensive and, as a consequence, New Zealanders tend to consumc meat as their main first-class protein and to bulk their diet with white bread, cakes, cane sugar and tea. New Zealanders are the largest meat eaters in the world (about 2501b a head annually) . This statement. is amply borne out by. a survey of food consumption for the last few years. Total food consumption divided by total population shows that each person consumes daily from six to seven ounces of sugar, approximately one pound of red meat, half a pound of white flour, twor-thirds of a pint of milk, two-thirds of an egg, one-third ounce of cheese, and from two to three ounces of butter (no margarine). Most of the milk is takcn( by adults in tea and the eggs in cakes. Heailth of Children

The available evidence suggests that about 97 per cent of the school children show signs of dental caries, and that more than 50 per cent of the adults have false teeth. It is also reported that one in every 20 persons in the country is in hospital every year, chiefly for such complaints as appendicitis, tonsils and goitre. The adult population also suffers to no inconsiderable degree from digestive complaints, rheumatism and neuritis. It is interesting to note at what age the breakdown in the health of the children begins to occur. Up to the age of eight or ten months, most of the children seem to be in good condition. After that age it is customary to cut down the amount of milk, cod liver oil and orange juiecj with the result that the calories are obtained mainly from refined starches and the resistance of the child tends to decrease.. By the time the children arc going to school, dental decay has become common. But for the past two years an additional half-pint of milk has been supplied daily in the schools, and this is having a beneficial effect.

Another factor which lias an inlluence on the nutrition of New Zealand is the quantity of cakes and pastry that is consumed. No morning, afternoon or evening gathering is complete without an array of delicacies, and with the great majority of the population (largely female) they constitute the mainstay of the day. The tea drinking habits are the surprise of every visitor ; strong tea, often plentifully sugared, accompanies every meal, even dinner.

Cakes and Sweets

More recently Dr E. H. Wilkins, assistant school medical officer, Birm ingham, reaffirmed tlie fact that the dental problem in New Zealand is more acute than anywhere else. He considers the explanation of this is to be found in the food habits of the people.

Discussing the problem of poverty, custom and food in relation to caries, lie claims that while a rise in income might bring a considerable increase in the quantity of protein and also an increase in all the vitamin and mineral nutrients which in turn should be reflected in the structure and resistance of the teeth, it also, in many cases, brings about an increase in all types of sugary confectionery. Thus, these two effects neutralise each other.

He then goes on to suggest that the small percentage of caries found in the mouths of very poor children might be attributed. to the complicity and spnrseness of their food. On the other hand, the high ineidcnce of caries noted in the families of the more prosperous wageearners may be attributed to a dis-

proportionate increase in confectionery. Finally, lie considers this at any rate, to be the potent factor in the causation of' caries in New Zealand, Avlierc sugar and cakes and sweets are eaten in almost unbelievable proportions, and Avhcrc food is taken seven times a day.