A sugar tax on soft drinks helped prevent more than 5,500 hospitalizations for teething in children, a study shows.
The levy encouraged manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar in soft drinks, which is a leading cause of tooth decay in children.
Experts estimate that the tax, introduced in 2018, reduced the number of under-18s who had a tooth removed due to tooth decay by 12 percent.
Based on a population of nearly 13 million children, this represents a decrease of 5,638 hospitalizations due to tooth decay.
The biggest impact was on people under the age of nine, researchers at the University of Cambridge told the BMJ.
Experts estimate that the sugar tax on soft drinks introduced in 2018 reduced the number of under-18s who had their teeth removed due to tooth decay by 12 percent (stock photo)
Sugar-sweetened beverages make up about 30 percent of the added sugar in the diets of children ages one to three and more than half of older teens (stock photo)
Sugar-sweetened beverages account for about 30 percent of the added sugar in the diets of children aged one to three and more than half of older teenagers.
In England, almost 90 per cent of teething in young children is due to tooth decay – leading to 60,000 days missed from school each year.
Eddie Crouch of the British Dental Association believes the sugar tax should be extended to other products, saying: “It does a good job in the fight against spoilage.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
