DENTAL DECAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 8

DENTAL DECAY

CAUSES DISCUSSED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 28. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo) paid a tribute in the House to-day tu the fine work being earned out by the dental clinics. He attributed a part of the dental troubles throughout the Dominion to lack of calcium in our food, and advocated the liming of pastures as a contributory factor towards the elimination of such troubles. Mr W. J. Polson (Nat., Stratford) said that if the Minister could bring about the provision of facilities 'r better dental care for country school children he would earn the deep gratitude of thousands of country people. The Hon. P. Fraser replied that 60 per cent of the dental clinics at present were working in country districts, and the remaining 40 per cent in the cities.

Mr H. E. Herring (Lab., Mid-Can-terbury) attributed the prevalence of dental decay to over-soft foods ad over-indulgence in sweets. He advocated a greater use of fruit in he daily diet. Mr Fraser said there was no doubt that a superabundance of sugar in u..e diet had a bad effect on health, and he considered that it was the duty of the Health Department, medical profession and Education Department ‘o make the facts known on health without fear or favour and whether it suited commercial interests or not.