CAMBRIDGE, UK: Dental caries is the primary cause of elective hospital admissions among UK children aged 5–9 years, and the disease accounts for nearly 90% of tooth extractions in the age group. Given that consuming soft drinks is a risk factor for caries, UK researchers have examined whether a levy introduced in 2018 on sweetened drinks has reduced hospital admissions for carious tooth extractions. According to their findings, the added tax may have led to 12% fewer extractions in children.