CARE OF CHILDREN'S TEETH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 26 February 1909, Page 4

CARE OF CHILDREN'S TEETH.

NKOLF.CTKD BY PAItFNTS. [United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Wednesday. Di- \ K Svkas, dental professor of Sin Kla'ncisfo.'who attended the Dental Conference in Wellington last mouth, made some interesting remarks to a reporter to-day concernim; the need IV.r ihp cars of children'.? teelli. Dr Sykes said that since he had been in New Zealand he ha, l been -'iskfil hi.w it was that tin- people .if this Do minion hud su.-h p''Oi teeth. ■■I have noticed myself." he ivinarkeil. ' "Ihat Very few' people here are without nrtjliiia! woik in their mouths. This is verv noticeable. J have seen beautiful young girls wiring full dentures. I have been aslied whether I the bad teeth of the people of New Zen--1 land arc due to lack of lime salts, or i whether the children are improperly | fed, or what- the cause is. I can say, in reply, that the principal cause is the neglect of the teeth ul children o{ three years and older. Everyone knot's how little children suffer with toothache and with little abcesses on ths gunis long before the second set begins to "appear. This inflammation causes impeded circulation of \h( ves-?->\s that supply the formative organs of the second teeth. As the formative <i|'gan* depend on the blood supply tor | ihe lime " o r.lts which are deposited in them, they will h: imperfectly formed owing to the non-receipt of nourishment. When parents recognise the fact that jt is just- as necessary to keep their children's first tpetli perfectly clean, and take the children 10 the dentist to fill the Ihtle cavities, they will find that they will bring about a normal ffcj'inntion of the jaws and more strongly formeji permanent teeth. If the lirst or temporary teeth are neglected, the child cannot niasticnte its food properly, awl the digestion is interfered with. 'Ihe food is not- being properly assimilated, the elements do not ge^ iiito the blood that arc necessary to form f-ond, hard teeth structure. 1 ' The New Zealand Denial Association. Dr Sykes went on to say, is compiling a lecture which it hopes to haw read to school children in the Dominion, and also to put into the hands of parents, so as to instruct them how to take care of the teeth. The association also intends to have certain dentists in each town deputed to examine the children's teeth, at school, and report on their condition to the various parents through the headmasters. This reform should he in hand before the end of the year, and he hoped it would be supported by the Minister and boards of education.