Average sugar consumption in Sri Lanka is more than three times higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), raising concerns over growing oral health risks, a dental specialist has warned.
Consultant Dental Surgeon Dr. Chandana Gajanayake stated that the average person in the country consumes about 34 kilograms of sugar per year, compared with the 10 kilograms annually recommended by the WHO.
“The WHO recommends that a healthy person should consume about 10 kilograms of sugar per year, but an average person here consumes around 34 kilograms annually,” he said during a media briefing.
Dr. Gajanayake noted that excessive sugar intake significantly contributes to dental diseases, including gum disease. “If we look at gum disease among adults, the percentage is about 50%. That means one out of every two adults suffers from gum disease,” he added.
He made these remarks at a briefing on the fifth National Oral Health Survey, which is scheduled to begin on March 10 and continue until November.
The previous national oral health survey was conducted in 2015–2016. The WHO recommends that countries conduct such surveys every 10 years to assess oral health conditions and trends.
According to findings from the earlier survey, about 30% of 12-year-old children had tooth decay, a significant decline from nearly 70% recorded during the first national oral health survey conducted in 1982–1983.
