Swansea Bay dental professionals express concerns over the impact of the Coca Cola truck

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Dental professionals from Swansea Bay have expressed concerns over the impact of the Coca Cola truck advertising campaign. Nurses believe the truck, which is synonymous with Christmas, is encouraging children to drink more fizzy drinks over the festive period.

Dental nurse, Mandy Silva and public health visitor, Jane O’Kane, from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, claim that the drinks magnate is setting a bad example for youngsters at a time when rates of decay are rising, and thousands of children require hospital treatment each year.

The health board representatives claim that multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns “drown out” the message that fizzy drinks carry health risks. Many children end up in hospital needing extraction under general anaesthetic because they consume too much sugar, and fizzy drinks are one of the most common offenders.

Mandy Silva, a dental nurse and lead for the board’s Designed to Smile campaign, said that it’s worrying that many towns are inviting the Coca Cola Christmas truck to visit, and handing out free samples to families. The board doesn’t want to cast a shadow on festive fun, but promoting unhealthy products, especially to young children, goes against the fundamental messages of the Designed to Smile campaign. It’s fun to get involved with Christmas celebrations, but families need to be reminded that it’s not fun to have decay.

Fizzy drinks don’t just contain a lot of sugar. They’re also very acidic, which contributes to erosion of the protective enamel, explains public health visitor, Jane O’Kane. The board is encouraging parents to make healthy choices for their children, so that they can enjoy the festive period with healthy smiles.

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