CHILDREN’S TEETH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 April 1927, Page 7

CHILDREN’S TEETH.

IMPORTANCE OF DIET. WHITE BREAD CONDEMNED. “Although it will be a long aiid difficult ffgnt, i reel sure that m time it will become illegal for bread to be made trom* white flour,”- said Dr. V . M. Thomson at a gathering of members of the Hawera School Committee yesterday for the purpose of bidding farewell to the school dental nurse, in the course of some remark he stressed the importance of diet in the presrvation of children’s teeth. Dr. Thomson spoke of the importance of vitamins in the matter of diet, and said that this discovery had been extremely valuable as it had led to tremendous research, and had been the means of greatly increasing scientific knowledge in the matter. It had been learned that wholemeal bread had a much greater health value than bread made from white flour, -but the spreading of the propaganda to- urge a wider use of the wholemeal bread was very difficult. Not only was the public apathetic, but in some countries —fortunately not- in the Dominion—it had been found necessary to fight -against organised capital which was leading an antagonistic movement. Mr. H. W. Swinbum, who was present on behalf of the local dentists, referred to the appalling condition of modern children’s teeth. He felt that little could be done t-o- improve the condition without the co-operation _ of the medical profession in educating the people in the matter of diet-. The headmaster of the school, Mr. F. A. Bates, -said that strenuous endeavours to make the wholemeal bread more popular among the children were made by the teachers, but a casual examination of the children’s lunches proved' most disheartening, as white bread, sweet sandwiches, sweet biscuits and c-ake- predominated. He stressed th unfortunate effect of such a diet on the health of the children.