Public measures to reduce the consumption of added sugars and their impact on the occurrence of oral diseases: an integrative literature review

The consumption of added sugars has increased globally, influencing the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including oral diseases such as tooth decay and periodontitis, highlighting the need for effective public policies to control the consumption of sugary products. This work aimed to identify whether external public interventions to reduce the consumption of sugary products impact the occurrence of chronic oral diseases, being an integrative literature review. The electronic search was carried out in the SciELO, Cochrane and PubMed databases, using the English descriptors “sugar sweetened drink”, “sugar, public health” and “oral health” and their Portuguese counterparts. The application of taxes on sugary products, especially drinks, was the most investigated public measure, showing a positive effect on caries control. However, more studies are needed to draw concrete conclusions about its effectiveness in preventing and controlling periodontitis. Although taxation is effective for cavities, public policies that facilitate access to a healthy diet for the vulnerable population