This substantial reduction in dental disease would arise if the soft drinks industry were simply to cut the amount of sugar they add to soft drinks, according to the authors of ‘The health impact assessment of the UK soft drinks levy: A comparative risk assessment modelling study’.
It’s unknown how the soft drinks industry will respond to the new government tax, but the authors of the Lancet study believe that the greatest health benefits would be achieved from reformulation. The BDA believes cutting sugar at source – and before the rot starts – would be a win-win situation for industry and consumers alike, and would help turn the tide on an epidemic of tooth decay.
The latest survey from Public Health England shows that one in four children in England are still living with tooth decay. Tooth decay – a preventable disease – is the number one reason children are admitted to hospitals across the UK. This painful and distressing condition causes untold misery including severe pain, sleepless nights and missing out on education from lost days from school.
The BDA has called on the Government to adopt a genuinely preventive approach to improving the nation’s oral health and has pushed for joined up action to tackle the sugar crisis including sugar levies, reformulation, public education and upfront clear labelling of sugar content.
Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association, said: “Health research shows that sugar sweetened drinks are a major cause of tooth decay, with some young people consuming the equivalent of bathtub full of these drinks every year. As these contain up to nine teaspoons of sugar per can, cutting back on sugar ought to be a no-brainer.
“The industry could do itself and its customers a favour by putting the brakes on the unacceptably high numbers of children filling up our hospital beds for extractions. At the cost of £834 per child, this would save the NHS hundreds of thousands every year.
“We urgently require industry to play its role in weaning Britain off its addiction to sugar.
“Industry now has the opportunity to act responsibly and a real reason to cut the dose.”