View report page

The annual reports for the past three years have reviewed many aspects of the
dental service which will not be repeated here. The main features of the service
described therein still apply and it is again hoped that the following remarks under
similar headings will be read in conjunction with those reports.
Prevention
The prevention of dental disease is a feasible possibility where time, knowledge
and enthusiasm exist together in individual cases but it still remains a rather
insuperable problem when considered on a community basis. The only really safe and
effective measure for controlling dental caries is fluoridation of our water supplies,
but this has still not been made available to the Borough's children in spite of the
Council's recorded support. The overwhelming majority of local authorities within the
Metropolitan Water Board area favour fluoridation and the following paragraph appeared
in the 1966 report ''In view of the Council's wish to improve the dental health of our
children by the fluoridation of water, it is hoped that strong pressure will be applied
in the near future in concert with other London Boroughs to reduce the present position
of stalemate and achieve the introduction of this simple, safe and effective public
health measure.'' This still applies. Whilst complete agreement may never be reached
between the thirty five Local Authorities supplied by the Board, it is hoped that the
will of the majority will be met and that every Authority that favours fluoridation
will press for early legislation which would make fluoridation mandatory.
In schools and in our surgeries children are taught the following four rules for
dental health and this oft repeated message makes the problem of dental disease
apparent and better understood:
1. Sugar rots your teeth so cut down on sweets and lollies and all sugary things.
2. Brush your teeth after breakfast and last thing at night with fluoride toothpaste
and no more eating after the bedtime clean-up.
3. Swish and swallow or eat an apple after each meal if you cannot clean your teeth.
4. Check up with your dentist at least twice a year and he will give you your Dental
Heal th Stamps.
It must be acknowledged that it is still the fourth rule involving regular
attendance at the dentist which is the most effective preventive measure of all. The
benefit of individual personal instruction, the early detection and elimination of
dental disease and the application of measures to strengthen the teeth and to reduce
the danger can only be achieved by those children who go to the dentist. It is the
main aim of our service to get all our children to their own dentists regularly and to
develop the understanding that this is a normal routine requirement demanded by our
20th century dietary habits. The co-operation of parents and teachers has increased
enormously and the element of fear is overcome more and more by the Children's fuller
understanding of all that is involved and the mechanics of treatment.
-73-