Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1917 — WHAT DECAYED TEETH COST [ARTICLE]

WHAT DECAYED TEETH COST

Are Moro Injurious to the” Health of Humanity Than Strong Drink. Decayed teeth are causing more harm to the human race than alcohol. Dr. Alfred C. Fones of Bridgeport, Conn., says that approximately 95,000,000 of persons in the United States have decayed teeth, notes Popular Science Monthly. Dentistry’s next step, In his opinion, is to wipe out or prevent tooth decay by a systematic campaign of education on the care of the teeth among schoolchildren. How shall this be done? Bridgeport’s plan has attracted wide attention already. Every child in that city submits to a thorough examination of the mouth and is given free treatment. This type of clinic costs about 80 cents per child per year. The city assumes one-half the responsibility in educating and helping the children to preserve their teeth. The other half, which is placed on the child and its parents, consists in providing proper food and in caring for the mouth.