A groundbreaking analysis by researchers at the University of Cambridge suggests that the UK’s soft drinks industry levy, commonly known as the ‘sugar tax,’ may have played a pivotal role in preventing over 5,500 hospital admissions for child tooth extractions. The study, published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, sheds light on the potential positive impact of the sugar tax on the oral health of children, particularly those aged five to nine.
According to the researchers from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge, the sugar tax, introduced in 2018, may have contributed to a 12% reduction in tooth extractions for individuals under 18 due to decay. This reduction is particularly significant in younger children, with the most substantial impact seen in those aged up to four years and five to nine years.
Nina Rogers from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the study’s first author, emphasized the importance of this finding, stating, “This is an important finding given that children aged five to nine are the most likely to be admitted to hospital for tooth extractions under general anaesthesia.”
Sugar-sweetened drinks are recognized as a major contributor to added sugars in children’s diets, accounting for approximately 30% in the age group of one to three years and over 50% in late adolescence. Nearly 90% of all tooth extractions in young English children are attributed to decay, leading to around 60,000 missed school days annually.
The World Health Organization’s endorsement of a sugar-sweetened drinks tax to curb sugar consumption found resonance in the UK government’s introduction of the soft drinks industry levy in April 2018. Aimed at encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products, the sugar tax has been a focal point in the battle against childhood obesity and dental issues.
The researchers based their analysis on real-world hospital admissions data for tooth extractions due to decay in children up to 18 years old in England, covering the period from January 2014 to February 2020. The study revealed an absolute reduction in hospital admissions of 3.7 per 100,000 population per month, translating to a relative reduction of 12%.
Although this observational study couldn’t definitively establish causation, the researchers contend that the sugar tax, alongside other national interventions, may have collectively influenced public awareness of sugar consumption and purchasing behaviors.
Despite acknowledging the need for further research, the study’s conclusions highlight potential health benefits beyond obesity that stem from the UK’s sugar tax. Professor David Conway, co-author, and professor of dental public health at the University of Glasgow, emphasized the study’s significance, stating, “This study shows that ambitious public health policies such as a tax on sugary drinks can impact on improving child oral health.”
Funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, this research underscores the potential positive influence of public health policies in safeguarding the oral health of the younger generation.
