CARE OF THE TEETH

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 10

CARE OF THE TEETH

VALUE OF REGULAR MEALS TOO MUCH SUGAII CONSUMED. “ Dental disease is a luxury disease —a diet disease,” said Mr T. A. Hunter, director of dental services, at the opening of the clinic at the Edendale School on Saturday. “ And we have a lot of very stupid dietetic habits,” he added. It was realised by the medical profession that where dental disease occurred in the very young such conditions did not stop there, but other organs of the body became affected, he said. Appendicitis was probably responsible for the largest number of operations annually, and overfeeding was often a contributing factor. Three meals a day for young, persons was ample. A great mistake was made in giving children five or six meals a day. Wholemeal or brown bread should be eaten more-than it was by the young. Children should be taught to eat their crusts, and toast was good. Mr Hunter referred to the vast amount of manufactured’ sugar that was consumed in the. form of sweets. He mentioned the case of one factory in the dominion which boasted that :t turned out thirty-five tons of chocolate sweets every week. “ Add to that what is imported and you get some idea of the huge consumption' of one form of sweet alone,” he said. “We can get all the sugar required fropi our rfuits and cereals’. These' manufactured- sweets are not the natural form of sugar: We get'the latter, and we use 100 per cent, more.” Mr Hunter referred to what t he called “the objectionable habit’ of .toiling ladies at theatres and concerts rnuncjiing away at concentrated food sweets, such as chocolates, etc. This is to be strongly deprecated,” ho said. “If they could only get the idea that it is extremely had form, a very horrid habit, and, moreover, rather an insult to the performers, somegood might result.” .