In a recent article on the BBC (see here), the MP for Leicester 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 decided they would still be visiting the city, but did not hand out drinks to under-12s.

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

Professor Nigel 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's tooth decay: 12% of children surveyed have evidence of tooth decay, a preventable disease. It also show serious regional variations- in Leicester 34% of children surveyed have tooth decay, only 2% in other areas., serious disparity of disease between areas which I referred to in my December post (see here).

Professor Hunt, appeared before the Health Select Committee of the House of Commons to give evidence on 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?