DIET AND TEETH

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 444, 26 December 1947, Page 5

DIET AND TEETH

Sir,-In view of the findings of Dr. Hearman and other researchers abroad that the cause of tooth decay has been traced to the use of white flour and sugar, it would be interesting to know what other troubles are due to the same cause, The teeth are but a part of the

body as a whole, and it seems unlikely that a substance adversely affecting them should have no effect on the rest of the system. I had an irterview recently with a school doctor which surprised me. In the course of routine questions as to what my child was being given to eat, I was asked whether she had cakes and sweets. On replying in the negative, I was told to "Give her some; give her a piece of barley sugar every day." Presumably the idea was to increase energy, but as she has more energy at the moment than any of us knows what to do with, the use of any "energiser"-always provided that it worked in the way of in-tended-is completely unnecessary. Not many weeks ago advertisements were appearing in your columns and in the daily press drawing attention to the fact that New Zealanders eat far too many cakes and sweets for their

health. Is it wise, then, for a school doctor in contact with the parents and presumably with a greater influence than any radio or newspaper announcement, to ‘give advice contrary not only to the findings of research, but also to the Health Department’s own advertised principles? "If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare in the day of battle?" Recently the Minister of Health expressed a hope that something would be done to lessen the amount of medicine consumed in this Dominion; but while school doctors are handing out advice such as I received, the need for bigger and better bottles of medicine will grow instead of diminishing.

I.M.

HEYS

(Wellington).

(This letter was submitted to the Health Department, and brought this reply from Dr. H. B. Turbott, Director of the Division .of School Hygiene: "The cause of dental caries has not yet been established, diet being just one factor in a chain, the various links of which are still in a tangle. While diet is not the whole story as yet, it does have marked influence on the well-being of the whole body, including teeth. Hence the Department advocates a diet balanced in body building and protective elements, agreed to by nutrition authorities as best in the light of present knowledge. If that balanced diet is the home standard, the right proportion of carbohydrate foods-fiour, bread, sugar, etc.is eaten. In fact, priority being given to the correct bulk of milk and dairy products, meat, €ggs or substitutes, vegetables and fruit, thereafter appetite may be safely satisfied on carbohydrate foods. The virtue of the balanced diet is that the taste and desire for cakes, sweets, etc., is reduced because other foods that are better for health are really more satisfying. School doctors are not ‘handing out advice contrary to this teaching’ as a group; they believe in and teach the balanced diet. Steps are being taken to see that any one individual’s personal views contrary to our nutritional expert’s (Dr. Bell’s) advice are not aired in Health Department clinics. Your correspondent may rest assured we agree heartily with the Biblical quotation in the letter." --Ed.).