TOOTHBRUSH DRILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2147, 8 July 1920, Page 3

TOOTHBRUSH DRILL.

MAKES THE CHILDREN

HEALTHY.

A very interesting address on the subject of the care of children’s teeth Avas delivered to the Teachers’ Conference, at Palmerston, by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, medical inspector to the Education Board. The speaker dealt Avith the subject along the lines of the best methods of instructing children to look after their teeth. In this connect ion, she spoke of the instigation of toothbrush drill as (he most effective Avay of dealing Avith the mutter. She emphasised the difficulty of instituting the drill in the schools, hut at the same time she urged that it'Avas essential that a system of that kind «hould be introduced into all our schools. The natural tendency among children was to evade, if possible, cleaning their teeth, or to forget that necessary duty. She considered that the care of the teeth was among the most important subjects in the education of a child. She mentioned that the system of toothbrush drill had been in.force in Taranaki for some months, with very beneficial results to the children, and considerable satisfaction lo (he teachers. Dr. Gnmi urged that unhealthy mouths meant unhealthy children, as had teeth were largely responsible for the spread of disease, and were, in many cases, the cause of ill-health in the children. For these reasons Dr. Gunn urged the teachers to put tooth-drill into operation in their schools,. She pointed out that the drill could he carried out in six minutes, and Avonld result in general benefit to (he health of the children, and Avonld he also to the groat advantage of the teachers.

The chairman (Mr F. G. A. Stuckey) staled that the inspector-; generally Averc in hearty accord Avith the system as outlined by Dr. Gunn, and would urge the teachers to take it up.