Launch of new sugar tax leaves ‘bitter taste’ when it comes to oral health

But its introduction has left a bitter taste in the mouths of oral health campaigners, who feel that it does not go far enough in addressing Britain’s current dental health crisis, which has been largely caused by sugar.

The government has guaranteed that every penny of the money raised will go towards improving children’s health, including by doubling the primary sports premium to improve the quality of PE in schools.

Yet campaigners are angry that no funds have been pledged towards improving education on oral health or on action to help reduce the impact of sugar on teeth.

Nigel Carter, chief executive of charity the Oral Health Foundation, said, “The sugar tax falls short when it comes to oral health and it does not do enough to address the crisis we have seen develop as a result of excessive sugar consumption in the UK over recent years.

“Tooth decay is the number one reason why children have a general anaesthetic in hospital in England. The Local Government Association (LGA) have recorded that there were nearly 43,000 hospital operations to remove unhealthy teeth in children in the last year alone. It is an utterly heart-breaking situation and something no child should go through.