MISSION
Sugar-free Smiles advocates for public health policies and regulatory initiatives to reduce sugar consumption and improve the oral health of all Australians.
GOALS
- Introduction of a minimum 20% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Ensure that revenue derived from this tax is used to fund health promotion programs, and targeted to health expenditure for oral health, diabetes and obesity.
- Reduce the amount and frequency of marketing and promotion of high sugar food and drink products to children and adults.
- Improve food labeling to allow people to make healthy food choices with respect to sugar.
- Reduce the sugar content of their food and drink products.
- Reduce price promotions and marketing of high sugar food and drink products.
- Reduce sponsorship of sporting and recreational activities by companies promoting high sugar food and drink products, particularly those activities directed at children.
- Raise awareness about the impact of sugar levels in diet, with a focus on oral health.
SUGAR TAX
A sugar-sweetened beverage tax would:
- Reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Reduce the incidence and burden of dental disease, overweight and obesity, and subsequent chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
- Reduced subsequent health costs.
- Provide increased funding for implementation of public health and prevention strategies and management of disease.
- Pressure industry to reduce sugar content in processed foods and beverages
- Raise awareness and education in the community about health affects of sweetened foods and beverages
ORAL HEALTH FACTS
- 1 in 2 children aged 12 years old have tooth decay in their adult teeth
- 10% of 12-year-old children have 5 adult teeth (out of 28) affected by tooth decay
- 55% of children aged 6 years have tooth decay in their baby teeth
- 10% of 6 year old children have 10 baby teeth (out of 20) affected by tooth decay
- 1 in 2 children aged 5 years old have tooth decay in their baby teeth
Tweets from @SugarFreeSmiles
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RT @adavbceo: Dr Angela Diviach talking to the graduating dental class from @UniMelbMDHS about what lies ahead. Welcome to the pr… https://t.co/bRy7iBkYJ0 -
RT @OPCAustralia: Orgs across Vic are taking action to tackle sugary drinks & #RethinkSugaryDrink has mapped them. Any near you?… https://t.co/ujZoxMRRpe
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Often foods in nursing homes are high in #sugar and detrimental to dental health. @BreakfastNews @LaTrioli @maggie_beer
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Looking forward to @LaTrioli interview the amazing @maggie_beer on @BreakfastNews this morning - healthy eating & #alzheimers
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