Stronger government action is required to reduce sugar consumption.
The NZ Dental Association (NZDA) has warned that current food environments have driven preventable oral disease, worsening the prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, and widening health inequities.
According to the NZDA Director (Dental Policy), Dr Robin Whyman, improving New Zealanders’ oral health requires more than clinical care. It demands national policy measures that make healthier choices easier and reduce the pervasive presence of sugar in everyday diets.
“Tooth decay is largely preventable, yet it remains one of the most common chronic diseases in New Zealand. Reducing sugar consumption must be a central priority for national health policy,” he said.
The Association’s Oral Health Roadmap emphasised population-level strategies that create healthier food environments.
These include stronger regulation of sugar in foods and beverages, policies that discourage high-sugar products, and broader preventive public health measures that address the root causes of poor oral health.
NZDA aren’t alone in its thinking, as global evidence supports these approaches. A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on sugar-sweetened beverage taxes showed that fiscal policies can play a powerful role in reducing sugar consumption.
As of 2024, at least 116 countries have implemented national taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, reflecting growing international recognition of their health impact.
The WHO report also found that increasing the price of sugary drinks through excise taxes is an effective way to reduce consumption, particularly when policies are designed to target sugar content and encourage reformulation.
Health economists estimate that a 10 percent increase in the price of sugary drinks can reduce consumption by about 12 percent, demonstrating the potential of fiscal policy to shift dietary behaviour.
Despite this growing global momentum, New Zealand has been slow to adopt comprehensive policies to reduce sugar intake.
Oral disease has remained a significant burden, particularly among children and communities facing socioeconomic disadvantage.
Dr Whyman added that prevention must be prioritised if New Zealand is serious about improving long-term health outcomes.
“Dentists see every day the impact that high sugar consumption has on people’s oral health,” he said.
“Treatment alone cannot solve this problem. We need policies that reduce sugar in our food environment and support healthier choices across the population.”
In an election year, the NZDA has urged the Government and all political parties to consider a range of evidence-based policy measures, including a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, national sugar-reduction strategies, and reforms that promote healthier food environments in schools and communities.
Such measures, Dr Whyman said, would align New Zealand with international public health practice and help address the preventable drivers of oral disease.
Prevention must sit at the centre of health policy.
“By tackling excessive sugar consumption, we can improve oral health, reduce obesity and diet-related illnesses and reduce pressure on the health system. That would give every New Zealander a better chance at lifelong wellbeing.”
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