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To this end, therefore, all children whose mouths have been made dentally fit have
it brought to their attention in no uncertain manner that regular six monthly inspection,
followed by treatment where necessary, is absolutely essential and that they are not
to wait until the dentist visits the school.
In this way the limited staff is ensuring that as many as possible leave school
dentally fit, trained in the care of the teeth, and without the loss of permanent teeth.
DENTAL HYGIENIST
Unfortunately the Dental Hygienist (Mrs. Thurston) left the Service during the year
to take up a teachers training course. Lecturing and demonstrating the care of the
teeth having been one of her strong points, she is greatly missed on that account.
The clinical side of her work is now carried out by the dental officers who also
give a talk to the child on mouth care at the time of treatment.
DIETETIC HABITS
For some considerable time now the dental profession has been concerned about the
amount of fermentable carbohydrate taken by children in the form of sweets and sugary
cakes, much of it eaten between meals, and some of it obtained from School Tuck Shops
and eaten during the 'break*.
School dental officers have periodically remarked upon the impossibility of
accurate examination of the teeth following the mid-morning break, when for anything
up to an hour the occlusal and interstitial surfaces of the teeth - particularly the
molars, are covered by a soft, sticky, pabulum.
A factor of importance arising from between meal snacks is the longer time taken
by the saliva to regain its maximum 'Cuffering* effect, that is, its ability to counter-,
act the additional acid production in the dental plaques after the injestion of carbohydrates
where the snack is rich in sugar.
During the year, therefore, the co-operation of head teachers and their staff was
sought to ensure that as far as possible, and within reason those articles less harmful
to a child's teeth should be stocked in the school tuck shops.
Such articles as salted and/or roasted nuts- particularly for the older children,
raisins, raw fruit and vegetables such as carrots being the least harmful, but also if
desired potato or cheese crisps.
To this end a meeting of head teachers with members of the School Medical Staff
was held to air views,to hear one anothers point of view and to agree upon a common
policy. Much goodwill having been shown on both sides, many advantages should follow
from the new agreements.
From the dental health point of view it should be noted in passing that it is the
apples eaten as dessert which are so valuable for general oral hygiene and that this
Country consumes only about half the quantity of apples per head of the population
compared with Europe as a whole, and only about one quarter compared with Switzerland.
i
The last published figures were for 1958 and showed that the United Kingdom
consumed 291bs. per head, against the average for Europe of 591bs. per head, whilst
Switzerland's average consumption stood at 1201bs. per head.
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