Show X WHAT WHA T to EAT EA T and WHY J Feed Adolescent Correctly or Tragic Tragis Consequences May Result Warns C. C C Houston Goudiss Teeth Must Receive Special Consideration By C. C HOUSTON GOUDISS OFFHAND O it may seem as if there could be bc very little tittle connection between a deficient diet during adolescence and painful childbirth in later years Yet it has been demonstrated demon demon- demonstrated clinically that there is a definite link It has likewise been determined d that the kind of food which is fed adolescents has a significant s si and far- far s reaching influence i upon their teeth in later life and in the case of girls upon the teeth of their children when they in turn become mothers Preparation for Parenthood Adolescence is a difficult period at best And if a girl takes an un un- unbalanced unbalanced unbalanced balanced diet at this time the re re- result result sult suit may be an un un- unstable unstable j stable nervous system system tem tern poor physical c development low v lowered lovered ered vitality and inability to fight t off infections This lack of strong re re- resistance resistance resistance may open the way to dental disease and to a variety of other serious se se- serious serious rious infections as well It has also been established that if a girl is poorly nourished dur dur- during during during ing these years of rapid development develop develop- development development ment there may not be the slight slight- slightest est indication of that fact until she first becomes an expectant moth moth- er Then she will pay for her mothers mother's lack of nutrition knowl knowl- edge Results of Calcium Deficiency If her diet has been deficient in calcium for example her pelvic bones may be imperfectly devel devel- developed developed developed so that she suffers unnecessarily unnecessarily during the birth of her child And if liberal amounts of calcium have not been stored in her body she may be called upon to make needless sacrifices from her own body in the interests of her child It is well known knO that if ifan ifan ifan an expectant mothers mother's diet is not abundantly supplied with calcium the substance will be withdrawn from her ber own bones and teeth in inan inan inan an effort to meet the needs of the developing child An Aid to fo Dental Health For although expectant t mothers are not always aware of this important im im- important important fact it is true that the first or baby teeth are devel devel- developed developed developed within the jaw during pre pre- prenatal prenatal prenatal natal life and the foundations for forthe forthe forthe the second set are also laid at this time Unless the expectant mothers mother's diet is very generously supplied with calcium so as to allow ade ade- adequate adequate adequate quate amounts for the baby's teeth and bones nature will en en- endeavor endeavor endeavor deavor to meet the childs child's require require- requirements requirements requirements ments by sacrificing calcium from the mothers mother's own body If she has no adequate reserve then she may be forced to lose a tooth for every child or suffer even more serious dental ills Rich Calcium-Rich Foods Required Leading nutrition authorities hold that the average American diet is more deficient in calcium perhaps than in any other single nutrient This is especially likely to be the case in the diet of the adolescent For at that time boys develop prodigious appetites and a tremendous capacity for carbohydrates carbohydrates carbohydrates drates or producing energy-producing foods while girls become extremely fin fin- icky Either they do not take enough food at meals or they tend to eat too many rich mixtures be be- between between between tween meals As a result the diet of both boys and girls is likely to contain an abundance of meat fish highly milled cereals ce ce- cereals cereals reals and other refined foods with inadequate amounts of the foods rich in calcium The Adolescents Adolescent's Diet To balance the diet properly these necessary protein and energy en en- energy energy ergy foods should be supplement supplement- supplemented ed by milk and cheese which are rich in calcium by green leafy vegetables which are also a good source by eggs and fruits valued for their minerals and vitamins and by bulky foods which supply sufficient cellulose to help pro pro- promote promote promote mote regular health habits Mothers l of adolescent children should make a conscientious and determined effort to feed them a diet rich in calcium and vitamins A C and D D the the substances re re- required required re- re required especially for maintaining sound healthy teeth If milk and succulent fruits and vegetables figure prominently in the daily menus of the adolescent girl they will go a long way toward helping to correct the choosy attitude toward food from which many old old- older older er children suffer And if it careful attention to diet die is coupled with careful attention to sound hygienic habits the health of our teen age boys and andl l girls will be greatly Improved and they will be more adequately prepared to assume the duties of parenthood Correct Dental Hygiene It is vitally important that the proper care be given to the teeth and mouth But it is quite unlikely that a correct routine will be fol fol- followed followed fol- fol followed lowed unless mothers offer tact tact- tactful tactful ful CuI advice and suggestions very frequently For while the tiny child has his teeth brushed for him hUn and the young school child has his tooth brushing ritual su su- supervised supervised supervised too often the adolescent is left to his own devices in this respect That is a great mistake as adolescents are sometimes careless in the care of their teeth Mothers must see to it that there are two toothbrushes one for night and one for morning so that it is never necessary to use a soggy brush They must watch when the supply of tooth paste or powder runs low and see that it is replaced For it is surprising how few children can be persuaded to brush their teeth properly without an agreeable dentifrice Mothers l t should take care to choose a den den- dentifrice dentifrice dentifrice that will preserve or re re- restore restore restore store luster In the teeth For ado ado- adolescents adolescents adolescents arc are extremely sensitive about their appearance and they must not be bo allowed to permit dingy teeth to spoil their smiles t If mothers will feed their ado ado- adolescents adolescents adolescents a n correct diet and super super- supervise supervise supervise vise their daily dental care the coming generation will not only be more attractive to look at but j should enjoy more abundant J 1 health j |