Allowing children to drink only bottled water could result in them developing cavities and needing emergency dentistry, it has been claimed.
Dr Matt Hansen, a dentist in the US, told KIMT.com that although mineral water does not damage teeth directly, it could prevent youngsters from getting the fluoride they would normally have got from the tap.
"If we're drinking only bottled water and we don't really know what the fluoride content of that water is we could be missing out on essential nutrients to build our teeth and strengthen our teeth for a lifetime," he warned.
Dr Hansen recommended that parents should make sure their children supplement bottled water with that from the taps and said they should brush with this too.
Earlier this month, Dentistry.co.uk reported on a survey carried out by Philips Sonicare which found that 18 per cent of parents admitted their children only clean their teeth once a day, if at all.
