Report Title:

Dental Health; Tooth Decay; Chewing Gum

Description:

Requires the department of health to review the feasibility of distributing certain sugar- and aspartame-free chewing gum to parents to protect their children's teeth.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1672

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to dental health.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the rate of tooth decay among children in Hawaii has reached alarming levels. One way to address this problem is a recent proposal, which has been welcomed by the British Dental Association, to give parents free chewing gum in a bid to protect their children's teeth.

In particular, it has been suggested that the city of Glasgow, Scotland, introduce a plan using certain sugar-free chewing gum as part of a strategy to prevent children from getting tooth decay instead of treating the problem after it arises. The proposal follows the release of figures showing that sixty-four per cent of pupils in Glasgow schools have at least one decayed tooth, rising to almost eighty per cent in certain areas.

The legislature finds that chewing gum containing xylitol, an artificial sweetener, may help to reduce the levels of decay-causing bacteria. Combined with a program of changing children's diets to include less sugar, sugar-free chewing gum may offer a useful alternative to eating sweetened foods by helping to ensure the flow of saliva, which can act as a buffer against acid in the mouth that attacks teeth.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of health to review the feasibility of distributing certain chewing gum to parents to protect their children's teeth, as well as to review other methods of reducing and preventing tooth decay in Hawaii's children.

SECTION 2. The department of health, pursuant to section 321-62(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall:

(1) Review the feasibility of distributing certain sugar- and aspartame-free chewing gum, such as chewing gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, to parents to protect their children's teeth;

(2) Review other methods of reducing and preventing tooth decay, including an education program directed at both parents and children to reduce the purchase and consumption of highly sweetened foods; and

(3) Report findings and recommendations, including a cost-benefit analysis of the distribution of chewing gum to protect children's teeth, as well as any proposed implementing legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2004.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the department of health to conduct a feasibility study of distributing certain chewing gums to parents to protect their children's teeth, as provided in this Act.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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