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44
Speaking generally, not more than a few children out of
every hundred will be found who fail to bear evidence of present
or past dental disease. Among the infants examined in the Acton
School in 1912, there were none without some caries, and 37 per
cent. had four or more decayed teeth.
Moreover, the prevalence of dental caries is as great among
the children of parents more fa\oured as regards their social
position in life as among the children of the poor.
Of even greater moment is the fact that probably the
majority of school children suffer more or less serious disability
in some form or other, sooner or later, from dental decay.
Although the facts are now known, the effects of dental disease are
but imperfectly recognised, because the effects on the health of
the child and the adult are mostly of indirect character. It is
probably true to say that there is no single ailment of school
children which is responsible, directly or indirectly, for a larger
proportion of the delicacy and disease which is found at every
turn to handicap efficiency, both physical and mental. It is only
of recent years that the influence of the teeth upon the general
health has been realised. Decayed teeth entail diminished mastication,
and diminished mastication brings about indigestion and
impaired nutrition. But the decreased biting power reacts upon
the jaws and face bones, which, owing to the fact that they onlywork
half-time, fail to develop to their full size. The nasal air
passages share in the mal-development of the jaws, and contract.
The lining membrane of the nose and nasal cavities becomes
unhealthy, from time to time inflamed and blocked up, mouth
breathing becomes habitual, reacting upon the nasal condition, so
that the congestion or state of inflammation passes on to the
formation of adenoid tissue.
It is also held that a connection exists between diseased teeth
and consumption. Some authorities claim that consumption can
be, and is, contracted through diseased teeth.
Apart from any unproved effects, it is undoubtedly true that
the mouth is responsible for a multitude of sins so far as disease