FDS supports Change4Life campaign to help parents reduce the amount of sugar their children consume
02 Jan 2019
Commenting on the Change4Life campaign which is asking parents to “Make a swap when you next shop” to halve their children’s sugar intake from some everyday food and drinks, Professor Michael Escudier, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, said:
“We fully support this campaign by Change4Life to help parents reduce the amount of sugar their children consume. We know that having a balanced, healthy diet reduces the chance of an individual becoming overweight and it also improves oral health.
“Tooth decay is 90% preventable and NHS dental treatment is free for all under 18s. Yet shockingly, it remains the number one reason why children aged 5 to 9 are admitted to hospital. In 2017-2018, more than 26,000 children aged 5 to 9 were admitted to hospital for this reason. It is likely these children will have had teeth removed, under general anaesthetic – which is a serious procedure.
“This is why it is so important that parents and carers encourage children to eat less sugar, visit the dentist regularly, and brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.”
Notes to editors
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is a professional membership organisation and registered charity, which exists to advance surgical standards and improve patient care.
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