Universal dental care is being touted as the best way to improve oral health

The Salaried Medical Specialists Association and Auckland City Mission are jointly calling for it.

They suggest it could be funded by a tax on sugary drinks.

Association Executive Director Sarah Dalton says each year 250 thousand adults have teeth removed because of decay.

She says making dentists free makes economic sense.

Dalton says for every dollar we put in we'd get one dollar and sixty cents back.