Dentists warn sugar tax won't solve chronic child tooth decay crisis

Dentists have warned a sugar tax won't stave off chronic levels of tooth decay among Irish children.

At its annual conference in Galway, The Irish Dental Association (IDA), said every dentist is in favour of limiting the intake of sugar, but said achieving such a reduction would required a multi faceted approach.

Irish children are amongst the highest per capita consumers of soft drinks in the western world and studies show that half of all 12-year-olds and 75 per cent of all 15 year olds have some decay in theirpermanent teeth.