Dentists welcome Childhood Obesity Plan update
25 Jun 2018
In response to the launch of ‘Chapter 2’ of the government’s Child Obesity Plan, Professor Michael Escudier, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, said:
“We warmly welcome the measures that have been announced by the government today. Excessive sugar consumption is a major cause of both obesity and tooth decay, so these new policies will make a significant contribution to addressing the poor state of children’s oral health in this country, where nearly a quarter of five year olds have decayed teeth.
“The Faculty, along with many organisations across the health sector, has been calling for action on advertising and price promotions for some time. We are therefore delighted that the government has recognised the need to put our children’s health first and act on this.
“However, it is important that we don’t lose focus in our battle against tooth decay. Recent statistics have shown that decay is on the rise in parts of the country where it is already high, including the North West, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber, so there is still more work to be done to ensure no child has to endure preventable dental pain.”
Notes to editors
The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.
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