In a recent article on the BBC (see here), the MP for Leicester has urged the famous Coca-Cola Christmas truck not to visit the city in light of the public health issues in the region. In Leicester, the incidence of Type II diabetes is rising and a third of children have tooth decay. In response Coca-Cola have decided they will still be visiting the city, but not handing out drinks to under-12s.

This links back to a video recorded in March 2014 by 2020dentistry.com, discussing childhood decay and the reforms - see what Professor Liz Haye had to say here.

Professor Hunt, dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons, has called for the Government to fund a national public health campaign for children and their parents to have regular dental check ups, oral education on brushing, reduction in sugar consumption and support for the roll out of water fluoridation.

On the regional variations, in September 2014, Public Health England published its survey report on children tooth decay: 12% of children surveyed have evidence of tooth decay, a preventable disease. This highlighted serious regional variations- in Leicester 34% of children surveyed have tooth decay, only 2% in other areas.

Professor Nigel Hunt, appeared before the Health Select Committee of the House of Commons to give evidence on the children’s oral health in England. The evidence based on a report, produced by the Faculty in January 2015, are alarming, it highlighted that tooth decay is the main reason why five to nine year olds in England are admitted to hospital, 25,000 children were admitted over the period 2013-2014 for a preventable disease, with almost a third of children not seen by a dentist.

Would banning the beloved Coca-Cola truck have much of an effect anyway? What do you think?