Dental decay and sugar
Dental decay is the most common chronic disease in the world New research calls for very low added sugar intake throughout life e.g. two – three per cent of energy intake – four teaspoons per day (15g) – to help reduce dental decay in adulthood Previous analyses based on children have misled public health analyses on sugars Letter in the Lancet calls for dentists to be at the forefront in the fight against sugar
A new paper published in Public Health Nutrition Journal by two expert advisors of Action on Sugar calls for sugar intake to be less than three per cent of energy intake, which is even less than the recent draft World Health Organisations guideline of less than five per cent of energy intake (25g teaspoons of sugar).
Sugars are undoubtedly the most important dietary factor in the development of dental decay - the most common chronic disease in the world.
Treating dental decay accounts for six -10 per cent of total health costs in industrialized countries, even though there has been a decline in dental decay levels in many countries].
Nutritionist and campaign director of Action on Sugar, Katharine Jenner says:
"Added sugars are completely unnecessary in our diets and are strongly linked to dental decay as well as to obesity and Type II Diabetes. We urge the World Health Organisation and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in the UK to take this evidence on board.”
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