DUTY OF PARENTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 113, 5 January 1932, Page 7

DUTY OF PARENTS

SHOULD ASSIST DEPARTMENT IN CARE OF CHILDEN'S TEETH. IN STRU CTION A NECSSITY. An appeal to parents to give greater attention to the care of children's teeth and not merely to rely on clinical treatment, is made by Mr. J. L. Saunders, Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, in his annual report. ! Treatment of children for dental , troubles continues to play a large part I: in the activities of the Health De- ' partment, although this social service was one affected by- the Government's recent econoniy measures, and it will be made more self-supporting thaii in the past. Healthy teeth count for much in the physical fitness of a child as in a~i adult, and for this j reason Mr. Saunders points out that ] actual operative treatment is not suffieient. "Modern research has amply proved that dental dis ease is, to a great extent, preventabie, and every opportunity is taken in instructing both . children and pe ents in the fundamental principles of dental hygiene," he says. "The interest shown by teachers in supervising the children's lunches is a pleasing feature of this aspect of the work. It is very gratifying to find that so many parents take a keen and practical interest in the teachings of the department, with the result that the dental standard of their children steadily improves. This is evidenced by a decrease in the amount of recurrent treatment required during successive years. Where Parents Fail. 'Unfortunately, there are still some parents who fail to realise their re-

sponsibility in this matter. They allow their children to attend the clinics for treatment, but they fail to take any active steps on the lines indicated by the department to preserve the teeth and prevent dental disease . In consequence, no diminution is apparent in the amonnt of ^ treatment required at successive periodical inspections.- A continuance of treatment in such cases is not warranted. "During the year much has been done to bring the principles of dental hygiene to the notice of children and parents. Apart from chair-side instruetion and the distribution of literature many talks have been given by dental nurses to classes- in the schools, and many addresses have been given to meetings of mothers of patients and to various women's organisations. "As in previous years, the trained nurses' post-graduate course arranged by the department included a series of lectures on dental hygiene by oflicers of this division. Engaging as they do in various forms of public health work, these nurses. come into close touch with both parents and children, and though primar'ly concerned with general health problems, their work must nltimately result in a higher standard of dental health as well."