Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
PERSONAL HEALTH SERVICE


1t is the common belief that Neg oes
have finer teeth than white people Has
this belief any foundation in fact? Or
is it fancy based on the contrasting
wihteneSS of the teeth against the
brown pigment of the Negro skin? If
Negroes have better teeth than white
people, how come? Do Negroes take
better care of their teeth than white
people do? Are Negro children more
carefully instructed in the regular
brushing of the teeth than white chill
dren are?
The census showed that there were
nearly 10,5000O0 Negroes in the United
States in 1920. OF these 2,50O,O0O were
between 5 and IA years of age. In
1925-26 Federal, State and city health
departments co-operated in a study of
the physical and mental status of 5.170
Negro school children in Atlanta, 1885
of whom had lived in the city most or
all of their lives, SO that they fairly
represented the urban Negro child.
Thirty-one per cent of the 5000 Negro
children were entirely free from dI--tal
carries (decayed teeth, cavities). Com
pare this remarkable showing with
group of Negro children in South Swa-
ziland, South Africa, of tie Bantu tribe,
only Is per cent of whom were found
free from dental carries. The doctors
who studied the native children living
in kraalS believe the evidence favorS
the view that the diet of the mother
before the child is born and the diet of
the child in infancy and early childhood
are responsible for the poor teeth of
the Negro children in Africa.
OF the 3400 Atlanta Negro school
children with defective teeth 80 per cent
had only one or two small cavities
Ordinarily we consider teeth that show
only one or two small cavities good
teeth, SO that it is fair to assume that
81 per cent of the Negro children living
in cities or towns have excellent teeth
and probably such children living in the
country have still better teeth.
The examiners who gathered the data
say nothing about the standard of care
of the teeth among these children
Probably the rite of brushing the teeth
is here, as among children generally
more honored in the breach than the
| observance. like washing behind the
| ears. Negro children are singular for
tunate in both respects.
Such dental surveys or tabulations
are interesting and stimulate specula-
ton, but I shall draw no differences
now. This is a good time, however. to
| remind prospective mothers of some sa-
|
the teeth.
l. The theory that brushing or daily
cleaning of the teeth prevents decays
(caries) Is unsupported by scientific evil
dence.
2. The diet of the expectant mother
has much to do with the quality of
teeth the child will develop.
3. The most important essential of
this diet is an adequate supply of vita
min D (antirachitic). which enables the
body to utilize calcium Oime). This
vitamin is present in butter and in egg
yolk, but nowadays it is good custom
for the expectant mother to take daily
dose or two of cod liver oil. which is
the richest known source of vitamin D.
4. A liberal quantity and variety of
foods containing calcium Qime) must
be included in the diet of the expectant
mother, and here are some of the best ::
Cheese. milk, eggs. cabbage, beans, tur-
nips carrots, prunes. oranges, oatmeal,
peanuts, almonds, walnuts.