THE GLOBAL dental profession has a new rallying cry.
Its stand: sugary diets are no longer just a cosmetic concern—they’re a major threat to both oral health and overall well-being.
In its recently adopted “Position on Free Sugars,” the FDI World Dental Federation formally calls for decisive action to reduce consumption of free sugars worldwide.
As the FDI succinctly puts it, “Excessive consumption of sugars … is one of the major factors causing worldwide increases in oral disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.”
The evidence is unambiguous, it says: untreated tooth decay remains the most prevalent non-communicable disease globally, affecting about 2 billion people in permanent teeth and about 510 million children in deciduous teeth.
The FDI uses the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of “free sugars”: monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods or drinks by manufacturers, cooks or consumers, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and concentrates. It excludes intrinsic sugars in whole fruits, vegetables and dairy.
According to WHO guidelines cited by FDI, free sugars should be limited to less than 10% of total energy intake, and ideally reduced to below 5% for additional health benefit.
The FDI’s policy statement outlines multiple strands of action, spanning individual behavior, professional practice and public policy. Among its recommendations:
Incorporate free-sugar reduction as a core component of an integrated food and health policy.
Target sugar-sweetened beverages in prevention efforts, since they are high in added sugars and contribute strongly to caries, obesity and non-communicable diseases.
Encourage governments to implement regulatory and fiscal policies: e.g., taxes on sugary beverages, front-of-pack labelling, restrictions on marketing to children.
Equip dental professionals with education and tools to support sugar-reduction in their practices and among their patients.
Emphasize that all stakeholders—governments, healthcare organizations, schools, families and individuals—share responsibility for reducing sugar consumption.
The link between sugar and tooth decay is among the strongest in public-health dentistry: a clear dose-response relationship exists between sugar intake and dental caries.
The FDI emphasizes that while tooth decay is sometimes treated as a secondary concern in nutritional policy, it is in fact a pervasive illness globally.
Furthermore, sugar intake doesn’t only affect teeth—it is a common risk factor shared with other non-communicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
With this position statement, FDI is positioning the dental profession not just as caregivers but as key players in broader public-health advocacy. National dental associations and other oral-health stakeholders are encouraged to engage in multisectoral strategies—working with nutrition, education, policy and food-industry actors.
The FDI annual report notes that case studies from countries like the United Kingdom, Norway, India, Colombia and Australia are already emerging, highlighting successes in taxation, marketing restrictions and public campaigns.
For FDI, the message is clear: “Less sugar” is not just a slogan—it is a necessary component of a global agenda for optimal oral health and wider systemic health.
In the coming years, dental professionals and partners will increasingly need to champion policies and practices that curb sugar consumption, identify high-risk behaviors and engage communities in healthier choices.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
