Diet and Dental Health

Abstract

A survey of mothers of 5-year-old children in the West Midlands showed that virtually all the mothers thought that apples and raw carrots were beneficial to the teeth and sweets harmful. Attitudes towards blackcurrant syrup were more varied, those from the higher social classes having a greater awareness of its possible danger to the teeth. However, this knowledge was not found to be reflected in consistent behaviour, especially with regard to sweet-eating. Nearly two-thirds of all the mothers admitted that their child ate sweets, with a frequency regarded as ‘often’. It is suggested that a greater effect may be produced by encouraging the spending of pocket money on lasting toys as an alternative to sweets which are soon finished, rather than the more negative approach of giving strict lectures to avoid sweets.