BITTERSWEET

Excessive sugar consumption plays a major role in tooth decay. While the sugar itself doesnt do any damage, acid is produced when bacteria in your mouth
breaks down the sugar its this acid that starts to dissolve the enamel creating holes or cavities in the teeth. This infographic explores food and drink habits
around the globe to look for patterns in sugar consumption and tooth decay. Measuring decayed, missing or filled teeth at 12 years of age is one of the most
common methods for assessing the prevalence of dental cavities

GLOBAL COMPARISON OF SUGAR INTAKE AND TOOTH DECAY

LATEST AVAILABLE DATA

TOOTH DECAY (Average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth at 12 years old) SUGAR CONSUMPTION (Daily grams of sugar consumed per capita) SOFT DRINK CONSUMPTION (Daily calorie consumption of soft drinks per capita per day )

0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.9 1 1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.4 2.5 3

4cal
104cal

104cal
140cal
109cal

109cal
148cal
142cal
133cal

192cal
159cal

118cal
116cal

116cal

40cal
60cal

43cal

84cal

45cal
98cal

83cal

55cal
49cal
93cal

62cal
32cal

74cal

81cal
51cal

100g
104g

103g

103g
152g
133g

132g

147g
137g

115g
121g

112g
60g
111g

64g
45g

36g
89g
95g

93g

93g

92g
59g

62g
72g
16g

91g

51g
61g
g
k

e
na

en

co

ic

l ia

UK

al

at ed

ria

y
le

il

ia

re h
el
nd
an

az
ar

ar
ec
ai
or

pa

Ko ut
ric
si

di
n

an

ad

bl

hi
ra
iu

ss
ug

a
es
i

ra
ed

St i t
Ko

hi

st
ay
ex
Sp

In
m

ap

ng

So
Br
C
la

pu
lg

re
m

Af

Ru
Is
Ja
al

Un
an
C

rt

Au
st
Sw
en

al
er

er

Be
ng

G
Ze

Hu
ng

Po
Re

Au

h
C

M
G

th
D

ut
Ho

Si

sh
Ne

So
Ne

I ri

World Health Organization/Malm University/OECD/Food and Agriculture Organization/Euromonitor International

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF TOOTH DECAY CURRENT AND GUIDELINE INTAKES OF FREE SUGARS
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DECAYED, MISSING OR FILLED TEETH AT 12 YEARS OLD FREE SUGARS ARE SUGARS ADDED TO FOODS BY THE MANUFACTURER, COOK OR CONSUMER, PLUS SUGARS NATURALLY PRESENT IN
HONEY, SYRUPS AND FRUIT JUICES
Decayed Missing Filled Total
Current global average World Health Organization recommendation to minimise the risk of tooth decay
High income 0.06
Percentage of daily Volume of sugar equivalent
0.77 0.69 calories from free sugars
66g/16 teaspoons 30g/7 teaspoons
1.52

Upper-middle income

1.46 0.25 0.5 8%

Glasses of orange-juice equivalent Cans of cola equivalent
2.21

Lower-middle income

1.31 0.14 0.09 >5%

3.2 2
1.54

Low income 0.02

0.02
0.83
>1.4 >0.91

0.87 FDI World Dental Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization

POLICIES TARGETED AT REDUCING SUGAR CONSUMPTION

Clear and
accurate
food labelling
for informed Simplified nutrition
consumer guidelines, including
choices sugar intake, to
promote healthy eating
Higher taxation Regulated sugar Limits on marketing and availability of and drinking
on sugar-rich in baby foods and sugar-rich foods and sugar-sweetened
food and sugar- sugar-sweetened beverages to children and adolescents
sweetened beverages
FDI World Dental
beverages