Fiji Dental Association calls for price increase on junk food
Representatives from the Fiji Dental Association have called for a price increase on junk food to try and reduce the number of people suffering from dental health problems.
Dr Vikash Singh, president of the association, has spoken out after people started to question the price of private dental care. Dr Singh said that dentists had to import dental equipment from other countries, as the instruments they need are not available in Fiji; he added that rental costs for the instruments and dental devices were also increasing, which meant that dentists had no choice but to increase their fees.
Dr Singh claims that the problems lie in people’s lack of oral hygiene and poor diet and not in the cost of dental care; he claims that most cases of gum disease and decay can be prevented but people do not take proper care of their teeth and gums and many people are eating a diet rich in sugary and fatty foods. Dr Singh said that parents are neglecting their responsibility to teach their children about oral hygiene and healthy eating; as a consequence, an increasing number of children are suffering from oral health problems.
Dr Mansoor Ali, national oral health advisor and former FDA president, has urged the authorities to increase the price of junk food to discourage people from eating foods high in fat, salt and sugar and encourage them to eat healthier, cheaper alternatives. Junk food is becoming increasingly popular in Fiji, with fast food outlets popping up all over the country; as a consequence, obesity is on the rise and a large proportion of people have oral health problems.
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