The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21, 1909 CHILDREN’S TEETH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2612, 21 September 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 21, 1909 CHILDREN’S TEETH.

The matter which is published, in another column, regarding children’s teeth emphasises the necessity of some practical steps being taken to cope with an evil which, if not counteracted, is certain to have a- most deteriorating effect upon the physiq.u© of the community. An inspection of a school in North Melbourne has disclosed a most alarming condition of affairs in regard to the condition of the children’s teeth, for no less than 95 per cent, were found to be more or less defective. Occasional examinations in. New Zealand schools have produced similar unwelcome results, and in this respect statistics simply confirm what is a matter of common observation, namely, that the teeth of the rising generation are not to be compared for soundness with those of their parents. It is rare, indeed, to find a child retaining even the majority of its first teeth for any length of time and the permanent set seem to show signs of decay almost from tho date of their appearance. It has Leon aptly said that a person digs his grave with his teeth, and if the nature of the food one eats is of such importance it is obvious that the teeth must play an important part in tho health of a community. The biting equipment of the average man or woman of the present day is shockingly bad as compared with that common to our ancestors, and it is not a good sign to note the large number of people who are compelled to lose whole rows of teeth because of their decayed condition, and accept in place a set of artificial molars. Unfortunately the next generation seem likely to be worse off, and the obvious heritage of their present dental defects will be considerable pain and torture, followed by an almost universal adoption of artificial substitutes. The matter is sufficiently grave to constitute a national menace, and the time is undoubtedly ripe for the State to take preventative action through the public schools. This is the course which is being urged upon the Minister of Education in Victoria, and Mr. Fowlds has been approached on several occasions by New Zealand deputations on tho same subject. Mr. Cato, a local dentist, in writing Upon this matter, advances technical reasons in support of the theory that if children can be compelled to ohew more they will keep their natural teeth longer. Doubtless he is right, and if the fact could be proved we would probably find that tho national decadence of teeth is largely attributable to tho .practice of adopting luxurious methods in eating.' Nowadays the majority of people aim at tho preparation of food in such a way that the necessity for chewing is almost done away with. Science may yet demonstrate that the much despised crust which at present finds its way to the side of the plate, is the most valuable part of* tho meal, and that even the hard visaged lady who dispenses the typical boarding-house steak is entitled to the gratitude rather than to the sarcastic reproaches of her grumbling patrons.