CHILDREN’S TEETH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5247, 5 March 1928, Page 2

CHILDREN’S TEETH.

DISTRIBUTION OF

“ A PERNICIOUS PRACTICE.”

The following is a. copy of a circular received by the Paeroa District High School Committee through, the Auckland Education Board, from the director of the division of dental hygiene, Public Health Department, ’Wellington:— “Letters of complaint from parents have reached me drawing my attention to a. pernicious; practice that prevails throughout the Dominion. I refer to the distribution to children of manufactured concentrated sugar in the form of sweets and highly sweetened cakes at all school breakups, picnics, and parties.

“In these days, when so much thought is given and money expended by the Government in the best interests. of the children, it is much to be regretted that thesie efforts are nullified to a great extent by, shall I say, the mistaken kindness of local, bodies and school committees in the manner in which I have indicated. Besides being very unfair to the department concerned, it must be extremely irritating and discouraging to sensible parents who are doing their best to bring up their children in a rational, healthy manner. It is considered that when local bodiesi and school committees do realise the great harm that is d'one to the health of children by such foodstuffs they will co-operate with the department in the interests of the children my eliminating such and substituting food to which exception cannot be taken. . With regard to the work of my department, it is surely absurd for the Government to train dental nurses for the purpose of not only providing expensive dental treatment for children, but also of instructing parents and children in the methods of preventing dental disease, if local bodies, school committees, and others are going to do their best to assist in producing the disease. “I trust your board will see its way to bring this, very important 'matter 1 before all school commitees in your district in the hope that they will cooperate with us in our endeavours on behalf of the children of the Dominion.”