SUGAR is everywhere you look at the moment: breakfast, lunch, snacks… I mean, everywhere in the media. Every day there seems to be a new story about children going to hospital to have their rotten teeth removed under general anaesthetic, a comparison of sugar content in everyday products like breakfast cereal or ‘child-friendly’ drinks, or of course the role of sugar in the ‘obesity epidemic’. I myself have a sweet tooth (a whole mouth full of them) but take the greatest care to look after them, armed with the advice of the many dental articles I have read over the years. But will a tax on the quantity of sugar in soft drinks make a difference to the levels of decay in children's teeth? Led by Sharif Islam, known for his strong, sometimes controversial opinions, this issue of BDJ Team collates the views of dental professionals and associations on George Osborne's planned tax on sugar in fizzy drinks.

We are keen to present as wide a range of articles as possible here at BDJ Team, which is why this issue includes a focus on child protection in relation to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). While you might at first think ‘what has that got to do with dentistry?’, by reading our article you will learn that all health professionals have a responsibility to report suspected incidents of FGM, and what to do if you are concerned about a patient who comes to your practice.

Our CPD article for May is all about what sort of waste is generated by dental practices and how we can help the environment by processing it correctly. We also include BDJ Team's first article by Emma Male, practice manager and highly experienced dental nurse: an introduction on handling HTM 01-05.

This month sees the highlight of the dental calendar take place up north: the British Dental Conference and Exhibition, so be sure to check out our advice piece on preparing for a CQC inspection, and how you can learn more on this topic in Manchester.

We also unveil a brand new competition: should you be named our first DCP of the month?! Don't be shy, nominate yourself.