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107
of young children, the prospects of an advance on preventive lines
would appear to be small. For the maintenance in health of any
part of the body exercise is essential, and the teeth can be no
exception to this rule. That large numbers of young children
between the ages of 2½ and 5 years are brought up almost exclusively
on soft pappy foods cannot be doubted. Since with such
a diet the teeth receive no exercise, and are in fact not necessary,
Nature, in accordance with a universal law, will not permit them
to be retained in health. It is not submitted that the whole problem
of dental caries is explained by a diet largely deficient in elements
requiring the proper use of the teeth. The view is advanced,
however, that no further explanation need be sought when a child
is seen at the age of 3 or 4 years with all temporary molars so far
decayed that extraction is the only remedy. The problem of complete
immunity to dental caries may remain unsolved for many
years. While awaiting its solution, it is advocated that all who are
concerned in the promotion of dental health in young children
should concentrate on known facts, and teach parents the importance
of the simple dietary rules laid down in the leaflet on the
prevention of dental caries which is approved by the Society of
Medical Officers of Health.
A report has recently been issued by Dr. Arthur Collett, of Oslo,
on an investigation he undertook into the dental condition of
children living in an institution, where the diet was regulated, and
of children living under ordinary home conditions. The ages of the
children ranged between 3 and 7 years. The diet of the institution
children consisted of home-baked whole meal bread, plenty of
vegetables, some fruit, margarine in place of butter, and milk, but
very few sweets, with a desert spoonful of cod liver oil daily. Uncooked
fruits or carrots at the end of each meal were relied upon as
natural tooth cleaners, and tooth brushes were not used ! As a
result of this investigation, it was found that each institution child
had on an average 1.7 carious cavities, while the children living at
home with an unregulated diet had 14.6 cavities per child. These
figures are interesting and instructive for those not yet convinced
of the part played by a faulty diet in the production of dental caries.
For dentists who have been familiar over a long period of years
with the results of many similar investigations, they are unnecessary
as further proof of facts already known.
The sum received in fees from elementary school children
amounted to £50 8s. 3d.
In conclusion, Mr. Bradbury and I wish once again to thank all