Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-04-26
LOCAL DENTIST TALKS ON
TEETH.
DR.. TOpliff Pleads for Dental Test of
Children Entering
School.

medical society, paper was read on
the dental phase of preventive medI-
cine. The advantage of attacking di-
sease at its source is not a new dis
|covery. The value of that method
Of attack has long been recognized
by those who have made special stu
dy of health and disease, but in the
democratic environment in which we
live it is possible for that group
merely to suggest, to advise, to
teach and to await orders from the
dear people. 1t takes time for the
idea which the group brain grasps
first to become working idea in the
community brain.
The people must first be convinced
that the scheme is for their good and
then persuaded to spend the money
to make it good. 1t is a way that
groups have, this projecting of their
views into the glacial stream of hu-
manity. The heaviest load that the
medical coup has to carry, said the
late DR.. Favill, is in enlisting the in
terest of the public in their own bust
ness and for is own welfare. 1t is
with that object in view that the me-
dical society gave place in it's recent
program to the topic, THE Child's
Teeth" says DR.. J. j. Daily and now
offers an abstract of the dentists pap
er to the readers of Public Opinion.
Following is DR.. Topliff's address:
Viewed from every standpoint it is
plainly of great Importance that def
mite action of some kind should be
taken toward alleviating the tremen-
dous sacrifice of health that is due
to preventable disease. Millions of
dollars are being used in research to
find out the causes of these disord-
ers. Among these investigations that
of oral hygiene is most important.
There has developed a movement
for the better care of children
teeth which has reached almost ev-
cry town in the country from coast
to coast.
1t is an established fact that fes-
terings all over the body inside and
out, are due to pus germs. Germs
cause plmples, eczema, erysipelas,
polls and assesses, assesses at the
roots of the teeth or in the knee, in
the tonsils or in the appendix. We u.s.
ed to say that these things indicated
bad blood" and children were dosed
with sulphur and molasses, sarsapar-
lila and many other so-called blood
purifiers.
Now we do not blame the blood and
| call it bad simply because germs
float in it, we look rather for abra-
sions in the surface of the body where
these germs may have entered and for
points where they have lodged to
breed and multiply. Most often the
teeth are at fault, the mouth is the
great portal of entry for germs.
The lack of care of the teeth of the
child seems to me in view of all that
has been published to teach parents
these facts to be the great sin of to-
day. Data from every dental chairi
and statistics from many sources
SHOW the condition to be appalling. In
Bridgeport, Conn, only three chill
a
dren in hundred have good teeth.
the others average six cavities per
child. OF boys at fourteen only half
would prove later to be eligible for
enlistment in the T. S. army. SINH
lar facts from other towns show that
the school population of tie country
| is growing up with imperfections
that might easily have been prevent
ed
There is as much reason for a den
tai clinic in schools as for the teach
| ing of arithmetic or geography. For
obvious reasons it is not practical at
present to do all the dentistry need
ed in all the grades at public expense.
But 1T is reasonable and practical 20
insist that all children in the earlier
grades shall on admission pass thru
a dental clinic for examination. II
at this time cavities are found in the
permanent teeth they are filled. Tenn
porary teeth having assesses are
pulled. Ii needed the teeth are clean
ed and polished. The child is in
structed how to care for the teeth at
home. There will thus be secured
reasonably clean environment for the
permanent teeth which are erupting
at the age of six to twelve.
town may handle the matter in
this way at very little cost. That it
can be done has been demonstrated
over and over and always with salts
flying results"
4