FOOD AND TEETH

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1927, Page 1

FOOD AND TEETH

VALUE OF FRUIT. LONDON, Aug. 6. Professor W. H. Gilmour, Professor of Dental Surgery at Liverpool, and president of tho British Dental Association, in his presidential address to the Association, at Liverpool, said that the increase of caries was said to bear a direct ratio to the increase of tho consumption of sugar.

Dealing with sweets, lie said, that more were consumed to-day both by adults and children. “Easily soluble, boiled sweets,” he declared, “do no harm, hut sticky and tenacious sweetmeats certainly do—chocolate most of all. The habit of giving a child a chocolate before going to sleep is most damaging—worse, perhaps, than the use of comforters, the lazy mother’s resort. Both should be condemned. “What part heridity plays in the incidence or otherwise of dental disease is difficult to define,” continued Professor Gilmour. “Tho fact remains, however, that the teeth and tissues should naturally remain sound through life, regular and perfect in form, and beautiful in appearance. As great a moral obligation as to habits of living rests on the father as is popularly thrust upon tho mother. I do not suggest that children inherit dental caries, but I do believe that may inherit certain conditions and forms of both teeth and jaws, which may predispose to dental sbaries, or, on the other hand, may favour resistance. It is not contended that this dental disease is entirely due to our modern civilsation. Though it is ns old as the dawn of civilisation, I consider, however, tliat it is more pronounced now than at any previous period, particularly in this country. MORE SALADS AND FRUIT.

“From the dental point of vievv notliing is more essential for ensuring strong healthy teeth than suitable diet for the child from its birth to maturity. lam convinced that tlie most useful correctives we have to modern coking are fruit and salads, and that they are not as freely consumed in this country as they ought to he. On the Continent they form the termination of almost- every meal, and the more simple the dressing the more beneficial they are.

“'['lie consumption of fruit has for years been advocated both by the medical and dental professions,” concluded Professor Gilmour, “and has received a groat deal of attention in the Press. But wliat strikes me as curious is that the more fruit it advocated, the dearer it apparently becomes. AVhv should not the fruit-grower and dealer show the same spirit of altruism as the professional man ? In Canada I saw thousands of acres under fruit and the ground literally covered, and I was told the price they received would hardly pay for picking. Yet consider the prices which wo have to pay when it arrives in this country. The same applies at home, when the crop is abundant. Tho grower can hardly realise his expenses. Surely Some means might be adopted to preserve it, and make fruit available for rich and poor at all seasons.