YOUNG PEOPLE’S TEETH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 4

YOUNG PEOPLE’S TEETH

Examining Doctor “Appalled” “As a medical officer examining tor one of the State departments, I am appalled at the condition of our young peoples teeth.” said Dr. H. M. Wilson in an address to a meeting of -the Plunket Society and kindred organizations in Hastings. “Last year I met a Samoan on a train journey. I just sat back and looked at his beautiful teeth, all there, no disease, and such a wonderful colour. We talked of our diets. On that small island the babies are brought up on the breast and at an early ago arc given a small boiled banana, and then with their fish, their vegetables, their fruit and their coconuts they carry on with a good mixed diet. . . , , .. “Gunther, in his ‘Latin-America, talks of the Mexicans and their wonderful teeth There, when the flour is being milled, they throw in powdered lime. What is the matter here? “The Maori had beautiful teeth; now they are bad. The Americans have wonderful teeth. Here it is proved that it is not a matter of soil. as_ the Maoris teeth were so Rood, but'it is u Question of diet. , ~ “Is it not time that a thoroughly qualified scientific committee was set up to unravel the question of bad teeth. Det us pay 'rood men and women good salaries and let the scientist tell us what to do. If successful, as I am sure they would be. what an investment it would be. loday, we have dental clinics and we end up' with no teeth. The treatment is preventive.”