Sugar Tax
The distributional and financial impacts of the soft drinks industry levy on childhood dental caries in England
Is the sugar tax helping reduce differences in tooth decay among children?
Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases affecting both children and adults. Soft drinks are a major contributor to this issue. Since the introduction of the sugar tax in the UK in 2018, research has shown a drop in the number of children needing hospital treatment for tooth extractions caused by tooth decay. However, it is still not known whether the tax has helped reduce the gap in tooth decay between children from different backgrounds.
To help answer this question, researchers from the Institute of Dentistry, led by Prof. Eduardo Bernabe, have received grant funding to investigate how the sugar tax has impacted inequalities in children’s tooth decay.
Key Information
Prof Eduardo Bernabe (Principal Investigator), Institute of Dentistry.
Dr Veronica Toffolutti (Collaborator), Wolfson Institute of Population Health.
Professor Jianhua Wu (Collaborator), Wolfson Institute of Population Health.
Dr Candy Salomon (Project manager), Institute of Dentistry.
Rebecca Harmston
Mohammad Rahman
Israel Dominic
Araya Guatam
This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR, Award number 159649).
The following link will take you to some advice from the NHS on toothbrushing and caring for your child’s teeth.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/
The Oral Health Foundation offers guidance on dental care for people with special needs.
https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-care-for-people-with-special-needs
NHS Find a dentist.