DENTAL HYGIENE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1923, Page 4

DENTAL HYGIENE

USEFUL INFORMATION. I WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. Now that the Government’s scheme for the training of dental nurses to treat school children is such a pronounced success, some of those who were its most bitter opponents at the start are now its supporters. Air Alaurice F., Denniston, ol the Wellinglnn Denial Association, is 0110 lof these. At a lecture which he gave here in connexion with “Health Meek lie said that the A-soeiation had decided to give a number of talks during "Health Week." He was not speaking for himself, but for every dentist in Wellington, every dentist in Nev Zeahnul, and every dentist in the civilised world. His object in speaking was to prevent people going to the dentist. The only way to strengthen teeth was to chew hard -tull. boyand girls should tie taught to use their teeth to masticate their too’!. The mouth was a mincing machine, and il people did not use their teeth they would decay, and had teeth meant had lie dill. Acids caused teeth to decay, and penniued microbes to attack the softer tissues in-iile the teeth. ("'lieolaie-. his! nit.-, white bread, and lollies, everything which was nice, caused acids lo loin, in the mouth. The lilies! heritage which parents ,-uuhl give to their children was good lei and il w;e- -ad to think that this heritage was being wasted. Every lime children took ,-wcet 'Lull into' their mouths the wrong kind of saliva came, which destroyed tinteeth. The things which made good saliva were fruit and brown bread. It was only because people asked for white bread that the bakers supplied it. The solution of the bad ieetli problem wa- going to come in ilm future from a study ot iuoil value". People should support local industry, and buy roughly-ground Hour and meal, instead of buying the refilled - lull' w hich came from overseas, out ol which ,dl the vilnminos had been taken. People were spending 100 much money on sweets. They were digging (heir own graves with their teeth. The Government, had established a vrey line scheme for practically giving the children of the country free denial t rent imuil-. He had opposed thi- -Haone at lir-t. hut he was now a linn supnorier of it. because lie realised what a great work it was lining. They had also at the Vfolling'on Hospital as line a dental department as was jo he found in New Zealand. Parents should cut out the sugar habit and give their children healthy food, and see thai the teeth were brushed three or four times a day, and particularly the last thing at niglu.