However, one in five had evidence of serious decay, where the whole of the outside layer of tooth enamel has disintegrated. And half of these had the same problem affecting at least five of their teeth. In Salford, a neighbouring city which has greater problems with deprivation, the situation was even worse. Dr Gill Hawley, senior dental officer at Mancunian Community Healthcare NHS Trust, who carried out the survey, said sugary drinks were the number one culprit. She said some parents sent their young children to bed with a bottle full of sugary squash to keep them quiet, causing the maximum damage to their teeth.
Experts say even natural fruit juices in a bottle can rot the teeth.
They advise never to put juices in a bottle and to phase them out after the age of one in favour of beakers. Another problem is that parents won't go to the dentist until the child is in pain, by which time most of the damage has already been done. Childcarers can have a great influence on the diet of cared-for children. The British Dental Association is calling for the fluoridation of water supplies, as there is evidence that fluoridation reduces the average number of diseased and filled teeth. A survey carried out last year of five year olds found that of the ten best areas of the UK, eight had entirely fluoridated water.