Show WHAT to EAT and WHY feed adolescent correctly or tragic consequences may result warns C houston goudiss teeth must receive special consideration by C HOUSTON GOUDISS 0 OFFHAND it may seem as if there could be very little connection between a deficient diet during adolescence and painful childbirth in later years yet it has been demonstrated emon clinically that there is a definite link it has likewise been determined that the kind of food which is fed adolescents has a significant and far reaching influence upon their teeth in later life and in the case of girls upon the teeth 0 of f their children when they in turn become mothers preparation for parenthood adolescence is a difficult period at best and if a girl takes an unbalanced diet at this time the result may be an unstable nervous system poor physical development lowered vitality and inability to fight off infections this lack of strong resistance si may open the way to dental disease and to a variety of other serious infections as well it has also been established that if ag a girl irl is poorly nourished during 11 g these hese years of rapid development there may not be the slightest indication of that fact until sh she e first becomes an expect expectant ailL mother then she will pay for her mothers lack of nutrition knowledge results of calcium deficiency if her diet has been deficient in calcium for example her pelvic bones may be imperfectly developed so that she suffers 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child it is well known that if an expectant mothers diet is not abundantly supplied with calcium the substance will be withdrawn from her own bones and teeth in an effort to meet the needs of the developing child an kid ad to dental health for although expectant mothers are not always aware of this ii important fact it is true that the first or baby teeth are developed within the jaw during prenatal life and the foundations for the second set are also laid at this time unless the expectant mothers diet is very generously supplied with calcium so as to allow adequate amounts for the babas teeth and bones nature will endeavor to meet the childs requirements by sacrificing calcium from the mothers own body it if she has no adequate reserve then she may be forced to lose a tooth for foi every child or suffer even more serious dental ills 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 or energy producing foods while girls become extremely finicky either they do not take enough food at meals or they tend to eat too many rich mixtures between meals As a result the diet of both boys and girls is likely to contain an abundance of meat fish highly in milled ed cereals and other refined foo foods d s with inadequate amounts of the foods rich in calcium the adolescents diet to balance the he diet properly these necessary protein and energy foods should be supplemented 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 promote regular health habits mothers of adolescent children should make a conscientious and determined effort to feed them a diet rich in calcium and vitamins A C and D the substances 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 older children suffer and if careful attention to diet is coupled with careful attention to sound hygienic habits the health of our teenage teen age boys and 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 followed unless mothers offer tactful advice and suggestions very frequently for while the tiny child has his teeth brushed for him and the young school child h has his s tooth brushing ritual su ler e too often the adolescent is 3 left to his own devices in this respect that is a great mi mistake slake as adolescents are sometimes careless in the care of their teeth mothers must see to it that there are two toothbrushes one tor 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 bow few children can be persuaded to brush their teeth properly without an agreeable dentifrice mothers should take care to choose a dentifrice that will preserve or restore luster in the teeth for adolescents le are extremely sensitive about their appearance and they must not be allowed to permit dingy teeth to spoil their smiles if mothers will feed their adolescents le a correct diet and supervise their daily dental care the coming coming generation will not only be more attractive to look at but should enjoy more abundant health |