Four in five UK parents believe oral hygiene products should be exempt from value added tax (VAT), according to a new campaign.
Half of the parents (50%) also said that these oral hygiene essentials such as children’s toothbrushes and toothpastes had become unaffordable. A similar number (49%) reported that their children had required medical attention for an oral health issue in the past year.
The new campaign, led by ORDO, the Dental Wellness Trust and the Oral Health Foundation, calls for the government to ‘axe the tooth tax’. The collaborators argue that removing VAT on oral hygiene essentials would ease financial pressure on the public and help to address inequalities in children’s oral health.
More than eight in 10 (82%) parents surveyed as part of the campaign agreed that making children’s oral hygiene products tax-free would help to prevent dental complications.
In support of the campaign, a group of children gathered in Parliament Square to encourage the public to sign a petition. The petition can be found here.
Tax abolishment as a ‘crucial opportunity’
Linda Greenwall, founder of the Dental Wellness Trust, highlighted that tooth decay remains the leading reason for childhood hospital admissions in the UK.
She said: ‘This is a public health challenge that disproportionately affects our most vulnerable families, deepening health inequalities. Poor oral health often leads to significant pain and discomfort for children, impacting their ability to eat, sleep, and concentrate at school, and for many leading to a loss of confidence that can affect their social development and wellbeing.
‘Removing VAT from essential oral hygiene products would be a hugely impactful step, and it’s clear that there is overwhelming public support for this move.’
Nigel Carter, chief executive of The Oral Health Foundation, added: ‘Children experiencing dental problems is a national crisis, which is worsened by too many families facing financial barriers to buying essential products like toothbrushes, with almost half of UK parents agreeing that children’s oral care products are now unaffordable.
‘This petition provides a crucial opportunity for people across the UK to collectively show the government that oral care products should be accessible to every child. We are passionate about amplifying the message that basic oral health is a right, not a luxury.’
Oral Health Foundation ambassador Ben Atkins said the proposed change would make an ‘immediate difference’. He said: ‘Too many children are missing out on basic oral care because families can’t afford everyday essentials. Removing VAT from children’s toothpaste and toothbrushes is a simple step that would make an immediate difference. Every child deserves the chance to look after their teeth, whatever their family income.’
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