DENTAL HYGIENE FOR THE CHILD

Abstract

T HE CONDITION of the teeth and mouth has an important relation to the physical well-being of the child. Dental caries is the most prevalent of all human diseases, and it is largely a disease of youth. Tf an individual can be brought up into. t.Ae twenties free from dental decay the incidence of caries is greatly lessened after that unless some ulterior factor which results in a profound impression on the resistance upsets the balance, such as a prolonged and depleting illness, or a period of severe mental stress. The importance of dental hygiene for the child therefore becomes a matter demanding our most earnest consideration, and this subject should have a place on every health program. There are so many significant things having a direct bearing on mouth hygiene that it will be necessary to merely touch on a few in the most incidental way at this time. With this, as with all other health matters, the question most to the fore is that of prevention. To be able to prevent even in a limited sense a disease which is more widespread than any other in the human family is a profound desideratum. We have so far merely touched the fringe of the problem; but we have learned something of what the problem is, and we are beginning to find how best it may be approached. If dental caries is ever to be prevented it must be done by the people themselves, rather than by the physician or dentist. The function of the professional man is to so educate the people that they may know what to do, and in the light of our past experience this may be considered only the half-way