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

 

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