A year on from the sugar tax, what about junk food ads?

If you have an opinion about junk food ads, sugar tax or junk food in general, then follow this link to the Department of Health and Social Care so that you can have your say.

The government aims to cut obesity levels

The government aims to halve current child obesity levels by 2030. As that’s over ten years away, however, it will be too late for some children. Yet it’s important to tackle the commercial giants who are selling products that damage both children’s health, and adults’ health too.

• Government action plan targets childhood obesity.

In the rather long questionnaire issued by the Department of Health, you’ll come across the term “HFSS”. It refers to products that are High Fat Salt and Sugar. These are the dangerous calories that are easy to consume. Our bodies and our taste-buds love the combination, but it means that too many children (as well as too many adults) are consuming more calories than their bodies can burn off. Obesity levels are rising, and type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed in more younger people than in the past.

• Younger people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
• The sugar tax – helping us to kick the habit.

Government action plans to improve general health has already brought us the sugar tax which is encouraging manufacturers to rethink the ingredients of products. Advertising already has some restrictions, the question now is, “how far should junk food ads be restricted?”

Junk food ads don’t help good dental health

A diet that is high in fat, salt and sugar is bad for our overall health, leading to medical complications. As dentists, we’re concerned about the impact a high sugar diet has on children’s teeth. While cutting down on advertising will make a difference in the long term to the quality of foods on our supermarket shelves, at SpaDental we’re taking action now to help children to access good dental care.

SpaDental Chard in Somerset, SpaDental Plymouth in Devon and SpaDental Whitchurch in Shropshire are registering children as new NHS patients. We’re supporting government campaigns to reduce the number of children who are suffering from dental decay.

A dentist will risk-assess a child’s teeth during a systematic oral assessment, to determine what needs to be done to ensure your child is able to maintain a good level of dental health.

• Information about fluoride varnish for children.
• Answers to 10 FAQs about children’s teeth

Three steps for healthy teeth

It’s important to:

• reduce the presence of bacteria, through brushing and oral hygiene advice,
• reduce sugars so that bacteria have nothing to metabolise, through diet advice, and
• strengthen the enamel, through the use of fluoride toothpaste, mouthwashes, and varnishes.

Regular dental appointment help children to access expert dental advice and care. Children with zero fillings can be a reality.

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