The Faculty of Dental Surgery urges Schools to go Sugar Free

Schools in England are being called on by the Faculty of Dental Surgery to go sugar free, to combat the high tooth decay rates that are amongst school children.
“The levels of tooth decay amongst children in England is really worrying.” Said Professor Michael Escudier, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery. “There are a few simple steps that can be taken to help prevent the levels of tooth decay.”
As well as reminding parents how often their children should be visiting the dentist, the faculty have produced recommendations to reduce the prevention of tooth decay including:
• Supervised teeth brushing schemes to be introduced to all schools in England by 2022
• Limiting advertising and promotions on high sugar based products
• Extending the soft drink levy to sugary dairy drinks
• Reducing the sugar content in commercial baby foods
• All schools to become sugar free
According to analysis of NHS Digital data by the Faculty of Dental Surgery, six in ten children between the ages of one and four didn’t visit an NHS dentist, with nearly 42% of children up to the age 17 not going to the dentist at all in 2018.
Professor Escudier commented, “it’s really disappointing the number of children who didn’t see a dentist in 2018. It’s so important for children’s’ first interactions with a dentist to be simply for check-up rather than a more serious treatment. Early stages of tooth decay are more likely to develop into subsequent problems if not treated early enough.”