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The simple rules which clinic staff and parents can follow to help reduce dental disease
are as follows:
(i) Avoid eating sweet and sticky drinks and foods, especially between meals.
(ii) Never give children undiluted black currant, orange or similar vitamin syrups.
These are exceedingly harmful to teeth if taken from a spoon or miniature feeder.
(iii) Clean teeth immediately after breakfast and supper.
(iv) Finish meals with a fibrous food such as apples, carrots and nuts, and then rinse
mouth with water.
(v) Eat full meals at regular intervals throughout the day, but avoid between-meal
snacks and sweets whenever possible.
(vi) Eliminate sticky toffees and long lasting sweets from the diet. It is not unreasonable
to allow children the occasional sweet but reasonable restrictions can make
a big difference.
(vii) Above all regular attendance at the dentist from two years on to obtain advice,
establish a pattern, achieve minimal treatment as soon as it is necessary and to
obtain topical application of solutions which will strengthen the teeth against
potential future decay.
The service meets the small demands made upon it. This year 361 children and 13 mothers
were treated, a total of 598 fillings being provided and 5 teeth extracted. It is obvious
that greater stimulation of demand for treatment from the pre-school child must be established.
Now that we have a staff of three dental auxiliaries who are particularly trained to
treat children in this age bracket, it is hoped that a considerable improvement will be seen in
next year's report. During the year talks were given to mothers'clubs and to clinic personnel
by all three dental auxiliaries.
Details of dental treatment provided for expectant and nursing mothers and pre-school
children will be found on page 97.
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