Looking after children’s teeth – concerned dentists call for a ‘sugar tax’

A survey [1] last year revealed that staggeringly 1 in every 8 three year olds had tooth decay, a preventable disease.

There is perceived to be a critical shortfall in the budget for NHS dentistry and a tax on cheap sugary foods has been suggested as a way of increasing the funding available to deal with the consequences of diseases linked to sugary foods.

Now, leading dentists are calling for what has been termed a ‘sugar tax’ to obtain funding needed to treat dental decay within the NHS.

Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, the Chair of the British Dental Association’s committee on general dental practice, made the comment at the conference addressing over 300 dentists:

“The underfunded service only allows dentists to see 56 per cent of the population over a two year period so we need the sugar tax to increase this capacity so more people can be treated on the NHS.

The widespread availability of cheap sugary foods and drinks is expanding the nation’s waistline and also rotting our teeth.”

A tax on sugar – the source of most tooth decay – would provide vital funding needed to treat disease now and invest in a prevention programme to ensure everyone benefits from good dental health.”

There have been calls for the Government to consider levying a tax on unhealthy foods in a bid to deal with increasing obesity rates, though these were previously refused. However, as pressure mounts from other groups of professionals it seems likely this is something which will warrant further consideration by the government.

How should you look after your children’s teeth?

Diet is not the only factor which affects dental decay.

There are a number of recommended practices for maintaining healthy teeth in children, including:

– You should start brushing your baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through

– Brush your child’s teeth for about two minutes, twice a day: ensuring that one of these occasions is just before bedtime

– Help them to brush their teeth properly

– Take your child to the dentist when the first milk teeth appear

If you are concerned about dental treatment that you or your child have received and wish to speak to a specialist dental lawyer then please contact a member of the Dental Negligence Team.