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and mineral salts which are essential to the proper development
of the teeth) and, secondly, a sound standard of dental
hygiene by which the onset of dental caries may be prevented.
Medical and dental authorities are convinced that the
real cause of the increase in dental decay among children
since the end of the war is the increased consumption of
sweets, " lollies," fruit drinks, ice cream and biscuits indiscriminately
throughout the day. Debris collects between the
teeth and the fermentation which results produces harmful
substances which attack and break down the tooth enamel and
create cavities which may render extraction inevitable.
It is not suggested that children should be denied these
things—they enjoy sweets which are a source of energy. What
is important is that they should get them at a time when it is
possible for them to clean their teeth afterwards, either by
toothbrush or by eating an apple or similar fruit. Children
should, of course, clean their teeth after breakfast and last
thing at night (nothing more being eaten after that).
Much lip service has been paid to this matter but few
authorities appear to have considered any practical steps to
implement this requirement. I have discussed with the Borough
Education Officer whether routine brushing of teeth
and subsequent rinsing could not be made a regular practice
in schools and it appears that the problems raised by this
suggestion are not insuperable. Certainly it is both desirable
and possible that children having dinners in school should
be required to clean their teeth before resuming lessons. A
start might be made, experimentally, in the primary schools
and it is suggested that a circular letter be sent to parents
asking, among other things, that each child be provided with
a toothbrush in a plastic container for use in school. It would
be an enormous step forward if the practice of dental hygiene
could become a regular feature of school life.
The number of school dentists during the year was maintained
at two whole-time and one part-time officer (two days
per week) and it is anticipated that, in the near future, a
' dental ancillary' will for the first time be appointed to work
in the School Dental Service. This new class of dental officer
came into being as a result of the Dentist Act, 1956, his
function being to carry out extractions and fillings etc. under
the close supervision of the dental surgeon. The training of
these officers entails a two years whole-time course in an
approved hospital.
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