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 @AimeeBrownbill: Published today in the @HealthProm_J_Au Health Star Ratings: What's on the labels of Australian beverages?… https://t.co/AWWCaYZ41G -
RT @alikjones: Coke continues its shift away from unpopular full-strength cola. I'll keep brewing my own kombucha at home for a f… https://t.co/aQlDnTxqk2
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RT @ACFFGlobal: Read all about it! Great recap of our 9th Annual ACFF Summit at @fdiworlddental online via @DentalTribuneIn… https://t.co/ltx3C9ht63
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RT @JLacyNichols: Malaysian Dental Association says a "sugar tax" would save "millions of teeth." Just remember, everyone, it's not… https://t.co/b1e5lZVYHn
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RT @ParentsVoiceAu: Nicely illustrates that while you’re 'feeling good' after a sugary drink, strange things are going on inside your b… https://t.co/ISzeS22ItS
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