PRICELESS GIFTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 9

PRICELESS GIFTS

OF PARENTS TO CHILDREN. In a glnss-fron' cd cupboard in a building in Whitmore Street are small plaster records of veiy beautiful presents that thoughtful parents have given to their children. The casts bear no trace cf tho familiar inscription *To a good child,” because Hie gifts have this mysterious and unusual quality—that even bad little girls and wicked little hoys are justly entitled to receive them. Another thing is that ihe gifts, need cost tho parents nothing; a fairy godmother will furnish means. Thero need bo no withholding on tho score of expense. The little plaster casts, it may as well be admitted, are dainty impressions, ot perfect sets of natural teeth, belonging to children who would never have possessed such a splendid endowment but for the wisdom anil kindly forethought of their parents. Tho perfection of the teeth from which tho impressions were taken is attributed entirely to preventive methods endorsed by the State, and to such treatment as is practised in the fßato dental clinic, in Whitmore Street, by thirty young women students. These young women are the first of tho denta nurses who, upon the completion of a two years’ course are to work among th® children of the "primer” classes in the schools. , They «ro to be "missioners, as the Director of the Division of Dental HjgTeno expresses it. They will apply simple treatments where decay has begun; but above all they will strive to convince parents everywhere that good teeth are a debt owed by the parent to tho child, and that, with a proper seltcleansing” diet and avoidance of use ess luxuries, decay may be prevented al together. . . . . Already, under the supervision of tneir instructor, they have commenced their mission ’among parents with children or less than school age, with whom mos can be done. These parents have been invited to bring their little ones to the clinic between two and four on tho alternoon of any day but Saturday or Sunday. Treatment is free (and there the fairy godmother stands revealed in tho august personality of the b.ate). The mothers who have accepted the invitation—and it is open to all with children under school age—have been told what mistakes they are making in the care of their children s teeth. 1 hey have been warned that teeth, like other parts of the human system, will not develop properly and grow strong unless they are given plenty to do. There is too little chewing to Tie done at many tables, they are told; too much of the food served to the child is mere mush Moreover, it is easy to' give a child too much milk after weaning; and it is easy to spoil little teefh (and large ones, too) by using preparations which might very well give way to plain salt and water The children’s teeth are cleaned by expert fingers, and where toe teeth have shown a little weakness they are treated with silver nitrate, which further applied at intervals, will probably save them from further trouble. Some children, of course, have been presented whoso teeth are in a very bad state. Tho clinic has done its best for them. Others have been brought in time .o ensure them— subject to the practise of what tho clinic tenches—the enjoyment of good tooth for life. Thero is room for the attendance of many more parents. All arc made web come by the supervisor and Ins students. The students are gaining valuable professional experience and learning to win the confidence of the little ones;, the latter arc enjoying the privilege-denied, in general, to their elders—of perfectly comfortable and painless sessions in a dental chair.