Help make children’s oral hygiene products VAT free

17 December 2025 (Last updated: 17 Dec 2025 16:20)

Earlier this year the Oral Health Foundation and other organisations joined forces with ORDO to launch a petition to make children’s oral hygiene products VAT free: 

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2025-12-06/petition-launched-to-make-childrens-oral-hygiene-products-vat-exempt

Hygiene poverty is damaging children's oral health. Some families are struggling to afford everyday essentials like toothbrushes and toothpaste. No parent should have to choose between keeping warm, feeding their children, or buying basic items to keep them clean and healthy.

More than half of families facing hygiene poverty say they are cutting back or buying cheaper products because they have no choice. This means many children can’t look after their teeth properly, and that can cause serious problems later on.

It’s also worrying that one-in-five children living in hygiene poverty have missed school because of dental problems. This affects much more than their health – it can hurt their confidence, their friendships and their learning. 

Toothpaste and toothbrushes are not luxuries. They are everyday essentials. That’s why we support removing VAT from children’s toothpaste and toothbrushes. Making them cheaper would make a real difference for families and help prevent avoidable dental problems.

Every child should be able to care for their teeth, no matter what their family earns. The government should act now and remove VAT on children’s oral care products.

We are calling on our members to sign the public petition 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/746402

 

Image courtsey of Piqsels

 

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