Campaign launched to tackle 'sugar epidemic' among Liverpool children
Tooth extraction is the most common procedure in five to nine-year-olds at Alder Hey
A huge health campaign has been launched in Liverpool as shocking new data reveals that children could be having up to 20 sugar cubes A DAY in cereals, drinks and snacks.
Liverpool's Public Health team says that's leading to 1,000 youngsters having teeth removed every year.
43.5% of five-year-olds in Liverpool have decayed, missing or filled teeth and 45% of 11-year-olds across the city are overweight or obese.
Parents are being urged to keep tabs on how much sugar their children are having every day and to work on reducing it.
Dentist Stuart Garton, from the Dental House in Old Swan, ran a session with Year 4 children at Lister Junior School in Liverpool, where he got them to guess how many sugar cubes were in different drinks.
They found out that some drinks, including Lucozade, have more than 13 in them.
That, along with sugary breakfast cereals and snacks, mean some children could be consuming up to 20 sugar cubes a day.
Some cereals contain more than three and a half sugar cubes in a small serving - which is leading to some children having more than half the recommended daily sugar allowance before they even get to school.
This is leading to concerns that more children will suffer with tooth decay, pain, sleepless nights, time off school, unhealthy weight gain and other health problems later in life.
Mr Garton, who has seen an increase in the number of children visiting his practice who need rotten teeth removed under anaesthetic, said:
"This is such a preventable problem, but unfortunately, the situation isn't getting any better.
"When you are seeing children of just three and four, with up to eight or nine decayed teeth, it has to be because of the amount of sugar in their diet, and it is very sad to see.
"They often need to go under general anaesthetic to have their baby teeth removed, which can be very traumatic for both them and their families. Oral surgery at such a young age can cause problems such as gums sealing over when baby teeth are removed, which delays adult teeth coming through.
"Children starting school with lots of teeth missing may also experience bullying and this could affect their confidence and self-esteem.
"I’m really encouraged that Liverpool City Council is committed to this issue, as I’m sure it will have a big impact."
Advice to reduce children's sugar intake includes:
- Offering them water or semi-skimmed milk instead of fizzy drinks, cordials and fruit juice.
- Reading labels and not buying sugar foods and drinks
Director of Public Health, Professor Matt Ashton, said:
"We are facing a sugar epidemic which is having a shocking impact on our children and young people.
"Sugar is not just bad for your teeth, it also can lead to unhealthy weight, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers in the future.
"Even food that is perceived as healthy, such as cereal and flavoured yoghurts contain an unhealthy amount of sugar that can mean your child has had their recommended daily amount before they leave the house for school.
"If we are to stand any chance of tackling this ticking time bomb, we must give parents as much information as possible so they can make informed decisions.
"Most people don’t have the time to read labels when racing around the supermarket to complete their weekly shop and so we have launched our handy tool to support them to make healthier choices."
The Save Kids from Sugar website features a tool that allows parents to see how much sugar is in different cereals, drinks and snacks.