a? ~
F.
Dental
Three
factors
resistance of the
incorporated
are
significant
tooth,
in
primarily related
in the tooth surface,
intakes
and
generally
to
the
a
Marshallese children
high
sucrose
Significantly increased incidence of tooth decay.
1) the
amount] of flouride
2) the quantity and
consumed, and 3) bacteria in the mouth.
flouride
initiating tooth dbcay:
intake
e of sugar
rave very low
[producing
a
In addition, the typical
attitude toward a cavity is not to seek help until the pagn has become
unbearable.
Though these factors operate throughout the Marshalls, the high
Sugar consumption is greater in the urban centers of Majuro a d Ebeye.
The DMF-S ratio (a standard measure of dental disease) w s calculated
as 6.16 among school children on Majuro during 1966-68.
to 3.68 by 1977.
This had improved
The exact reason for this improvement, w ich reflects
Majuro children only, is not known.
To date no coordinated
dental health on the outer islands has been done.
Previoug
valuation of
attempts at
dental public health, through education, flouride mouth workefs, and early
detection and treatment, have been severely hampered by Jack off
manpower and
finances.
G.
Nutritional
The diet of the Marshallese people living in the outer at 11s consists
mainly of coconut, fish, breadfruit, pandanus and rice.
taro and arrowroot make up a smaller part of the diet.
Bana aS, papayas,
The per
diet made up of each food type will vary depending on locatio
Naidu et.
al. (1980) reported that coconuts constitute up
diet and fish constitute up to 36%.
Vegetables are being adde
by some people who are exposed to them and like them.
ntage of the
and season,
58% of the
to the diet
School children who
get two meals, breakfast and lunch, plus a snack, are being
j|ntroduced to
some of these in order to meet U.S.D.A. recommendations for a
Balanced meal
and this introduction is leading to an acquired taste for morq
vegetables.
The diet of the people living in the population centers
f Majuro and
Ebeye is largely imported and consists of purchased rice, cann d foods, and
flour and sugar, since they have a cash economy and access
variety.
People now living on Enewetak Atoll are also eating
given to them by U.S.D.A.
mported food
There are two reasons for this pro ram.
the islands that are inhabited were nearly completely denuded
during. military
Oo a greater
operations.
After
15
the
resultant
First,
f vegetation
cleanqup
and_
the