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115
namely:—
1. Diet.
2. Oral hygiene.
3. Certain operative procedures.
The influence of correct diet on the promotion of dental health
is well known, and has been referred to by me in many annual
reports, including that for the year 1937. With regard to oral
hygiene, there is some divergence of opinion as to the preventive
value of brushing the teeth, but if one accepts the generally held view
that carbo-hydrate stasis is injurious to the teeth and surrounding
structures, it would seem that considerable benefit must be derived
from the regular and correct use of the tooth brush. It is at any
rate a habit universally adopted by all who value their teeth, and
for psychological reasons, quite apart from any good that may
fol'ow its practice, should occupy a prominent place in dental
propaganda. Probably only a few children on leaving school pay
regular visits to the dentist in order that necessary conservative
treatment may be carried out, but of those who do so, one feels
that practically all will have formed the habit of brushing the
teeth regularly, while still at school.
An increasing number of children in Enfield take a pride in
the appearance of their teeth—an improvement which is naturally
more noticeable in children whose parents are in good financial
circumstances. In the case of children who come from homes
where the family budget is strictly limited, the purchase and periodic
replacement of a tooth brush for each child is not possible. Children
attending the clinic are shown, while in the chair, the correct method
of brushing the teeth, and on the conclusion of treatment are handed
a printed form dealing with this preventive measure, together with
tooth paste or powder, samples of which are regularly received
from the manufacturers for ftee distribution.
In addition to correct diet and oral hygiene as important
factors in the prevention of dental disease, there are certain
operative procedures of preventive value to which reference may
be made.
In a recent report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of
Education, it was pointed out that teeth should be treated during
the earliest stage of the carious process, in order that the fillings
inserted might be small. Dr. Hyatt of America, well-known for
his work on preventive dentistry, goes a step further and recommends
the treatment of certain teeth by means of fillings before
dental caries has begun. This treatment is restricted to teeth
which, although not actually attacked by dental caries, are found
on inspection to present certain structural defects. Dr. Hyatt
states "A study of the liability of these enamel defects to decay