Medical and dental officials in Norway say they want to ban soft drink dispensers on the country's military bases.

Dr. Oystein Asmyhr, chief military dentist, said he wants to remove the vending machines to improve soldiers' dental health by reducing the amount of soft drinks consumed, Aftenposten reported. A report published in a medical journal indicates about half of Norwegian troops have cavities or acid-damaged teeth.

We did a major survey of 2,000 national service recruits in January this year, Asmyhr said. Forty percent had acid damage to their teeth. This is a dramatic result. Major acid damage is hard to repair once the irreplaceable enamel has gone, says Asmyhr.

The Norwegian Diabetes Association said it agrees with the dentist, suggesting bases install water fountains and distribute fresh fruit.

Let those who want to drink soft drinks go to the shops, the organization's General Secretary Bjoron Allgot told Aftenposten.

Military officials said a decision about soda vending machines should be done on a camp-by-camp basis.

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