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
-
Great to see a big π°boost for health services - no mention of extra dental funding, the seemingly forgotten area ofβ¦ https://t.co/zRYU1Xanr3 -
RT @ParentsVoiceAu: 'Itβs about saying to the food industry weβre keeping an eye on you and weβre not happy with what weβre seeing.'β¦ https://t.co/W2XNmiVmF9
-
RT @CancerCouncilWA: Our CEO @AshleyReidWA and Professor Jonathan Carapetis, penned an opinion piece in the @westaustralian this morning⦠https://t.co/k3sAoBu2jh
-
Frustrating π‘ Delays mean that consumers continue to suffer. Hopefully Santa π will be kind to public health, and wβ¦ https://t.co/a6ROQasAGu
-
Lovely afternoon for #gin tasting at Craft & Co in Fitzroy. Australian gin scene is kicking goals - so many great l⦠https://t.co/2k9CDu1W6l
AbouT US
Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of advocacy.
Take Action
Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor to our cause, or participate yourself.