1923

Children’s teeth

The Irish national school programme is sadly behind those of other countries. It does not provide for periodical medical inspection which would include attention to the care of children’s teeth.

How much the health of the child depends on a good set of teeth it is unnecessary to state. It was mentioned at the opening of the International Dental Exhibition in London this week that there are in England and Wales 3,000,000 children who need dental treatment.

It has been stated on reliable authority that only one school-going child out of ten in Ireland has good teeth. This is particularly true of the rural districts.

The following presentations made by Mr. T. J. O’Connell, Labour T.D. for Galway – The Free State Government contemplate the introduction of legislation to provide for dental clinics for school children. It is about time that the Government took action in a matter of such vital importance for the children who will be the future men and women of the nation.

Pictured: The flooded road beside the Owenriff River in Oughterard following the torrential rain in 1999.