Sugary drinks and confectionery are heavily marketed in this way and they are the major factors in children's dental caries because of their accessibility and frequency of intake. Parents and other adults frequently yield to this pressure, thus consolidating the poor dietary pattern. Fluoridation of water supplies would greatly help to combat such high levels of dental decay. 6.19 Medicines sweetened with sugars also contribute to dental caries in young children, especially if given at night when reduced salivary flow lowers resistance to caries. Sugar free formulations of several paediatric medicines, though available, are still little used.
Action is needed to accelerate the introduction of sugar free, or low sugar, paediatric medicines.
6.20 Sugar is not the only problem in what under fives eat. By five, their diet has too much fat and salt and too little fruit, vegetable, fish and carbohydrate. Staff in nurseries and play groups, child minders, and health professionals who work with small children, in particular health visitors, can and should deliver that message. They need to understand, first, the basics of good diet. That will mean good information and in some cases training.