An Announcement From The N.Z. Department of Health

Te Ao Hou, December 1956, Page 63

An Announcement From The N.Z. Department of Health ARE BABY TEETH IMPORTANT? Baby teeth are made for hard work and they should be given plenty to do. Good chewing promotes good digestion and good health. Decayed baby teeth will impair the child's health and prevent proper chewing. Decayed baby teeth may also damage the permanent teeth growing next to them. If baby teeth are last too soon, the spaces close and the permanent teeth, having less room, may come through crooked and ugly. CLEAN YOUR TEETH AFTER EATING … AND HAVE SOUND HEALTHY TEETH! * Parents are requested to cooperate by seeing that the treatment service given at the dental clinic is backed up by proper dental care at home.

District Nurse or Chest Clinic doctor should be able to get a copy for you. The booklets are available from the Health Education Branch of the Department of Health at Wellington. In the booklet I have touched on a variety of other aspects of the tuberculosis problem which I could not deal with in this article. However, I have tried to show two things which are of great importance in the dealing with tuberculosis, namely, a wide use of X-rays and paying heed to the Warning Signals. So don't forget! Make use of X-rays as requested! Patronise the Mobile X-ray Unit when it visits your district! Heed the Warning Signals and do something about them! Lastly, do carry out the doctor's advice! Don't forget that team work—doctors, nurses and the Maori people—is essential. The Maori death rate from T.B. has fallen greatly of recent years. With team work, all pulling together, T.B. amongst the Maori people could be wiped out, and that before so very long.