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The Health of Barking
Dental Workshop.
Dental Service.
On one of the first visits of Mary to the ante-natal clinic she was advised
by the doctor to see about her teeth, and the Health Visitor, finding that the dentist
at the clinic had a spare moment, arranged for Mary to see him there and then.
Fortunately Mary had been brought up in Barking and she had attended the
dentist regularly whilst at school, so that, although the intervening years had left
something to be desired, she found there was not very much after all that needed
to be done. As a matter of fact, until she saw the dentist on this occasion she
didn't know anything wanted doing at all, which only shows the value there is in
having the teeth regularly inspected. Two or three fillings were all that were needed
to put her mouth in really good order, but Mary, like other people, was a bit shy
about having her fillings done. Somehow there are very great misgivings about
having teeth filled, and alas how many people want to have a tooth out instead
of having it filled, and anyhow people who are not so foolish as to have the tooth
out will use every excuse possible for putting off the day when the filling is to
be done.
The dentist explained to Mary that having a baby was a very serious thing
so far as her own teeth were concerned. The dentist told her that her unborn baby
would be taking from her a good deal of calcium in the building of its own body,
and an expectant mother should take enough of those special foods which are so
necessary for the growth and development of her baby and at the same time
sufficient for her own needs.
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