A coalition of oral health groups has called on the UK government to remove VAT from children’s oral hygiene products, arguing the tax is worsening dental inequality and harming children’s health.
The campaign — led by ORDO, the Dental Wellness Trust and the Oral Health Foundation — cites a survey finding that half of parents (50%) now view children’s toothbrushes and toothpastes as unaffordable. Nearly as many (49%) said their child needed medical attention for an oral health problem in the past year.
More than eight in 10 parents (82%) told researchers that making children’s oral-care products tax-free would help prevent dental complications, the campaign said.
To publicise the petition calling for the change, a group of children gathered in Parliament Square to urge the public to sign. The organisers said removing VAT would reduce financial pressure on households and make basic oral care more accessible.
Linda Greenwall, founder of the Dental Wellness Trust, warned that tooth decay remains the leading cause of childhood hospital admissions in the UK. “This is a public health challenge that disproportionately affects our most vulnerable families,” she said, adding that poor oral health causes pain, disrupts sleep and schooling, and can harm children’s confidence and social development.
Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, described the situation as a national crisis worsened by financial barriers. “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,” he said.
Oral Health Foundation ambassador Ben Atkins said the proposed VAT removal would “make an immediate difference” by allowing more families to buy basic essentials. “Every child deserves the chance to look after their teeth, whatever their family income,” he added.