The association, that represents 600 dental therapists throughout the UK, believes that health professionals need to have a joined-up approach in tackling dental decay and related health issues caused by a high sugar diet.
Action on Sugar is made up of across the board health experts, united in their concern about sugar and its effects on health. It leads with an unprecedented call to tackle and reverse the obesity and diabetes epidemic.
Now, BADT president Fiona Sandom is offering the support of members in the campaigners’ bid to raise the awareness of the harmful effects of a high sugar diet.
Earlier this year, figures from the latest Children's Dental Health Survey revealed huge inequalities in the dental health of children, with children in lower socio-economic families:
- Almost twice as likely to have decay
- More likely to experience toothache
- Having difficulty in finding an NHS dentist
- Facing problems caused by their oral health.
Across the UK, three in 10 five year olds have visible signs of decay and by the time they reach 15, this increases to nearly one in two.
At the time of the release, Public Health England's director of dental public health, Sandra White, said the survey highlighted “the need to urgently reduce the amount of sugary snacks and drinks in our children's diets”.
According to the British Dental Association, Brits eat around 700g of sugar a week: that’s an average of 140 teaspoons per person.
A study published in September 2014 said that this global recommended sugar intake should be halved to combat dental cavities – and taken even further down to an ideal target of 3 per cent.
In March, a new World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommended adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of their total energy intake.
A further reduction to below 5 per cent or roughly 25 grams (six teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits.
Additionally, the WHO and the UK Health Forum predicts that the proportion of overweight and obese males and females is set to increase in most European countries by 2030, leading to an obesity crisis.
In the UK, 33 per cent of women and 36 per cent of men are forecast to be obese in 2030.
On May 22, life science minister, George Freeman, became the first minister to back a sugar tax, warning food companies of penalties should they continue to produce food that could lead to unhealthy lifestyles.
Also this week, Tesco became the first supermarket chain to commit to reducing sugar across its entire sugary soft drinks range.
Kawther Hashem, researcher and nutritionist of Action on Sugar said: “Tooth decay is one of the most widespread health problems and it is thought around a third of UK children aged 12 have visible tooth decay. Added sugar has found its way into almost all food, and the use of sugar as a means to calm, entertain, or reward children has become normalised, whereas sugar should be an occasional treat. The government must stop acting in the best interests of the food and drink industry rather than individuals, and take action on sugar now.”
Commenting on the BADT’s support for Action on Sugar, president, Fiona Sandom, said: “There is a real appetite for change over the unnecessary and unhealthy amount of sugar in our diets and it is up to all health professionals to ensure we educate our patients of the full health benefits of cutting sugar out of diets.
“Dental therapists are well placed to offer guidance from an oral health perspective but, in doing so, can also help to reverse this alarming obesity and diabetes epidemic that threatens the wellbeing of a nation hooked on sugar.”
For more information about Action on Sugar, visit www.actiononsugar.org