It is crucial that parents make decisions for their children that will help to prevent emergency dentistry.
This is according to Dr Gill Davies and Dr Colette Bridgman, writing in the British Dental Journal, who said mums and dads have a key role in ensuring that little ones are not exposed to too much sugar and that they clean their teeth regularly, the Guardian reports.
"It is the parents who have influence over food and diet choices, purchasing and use of toothpaste and the making of appointments for dental care," they pointed out.
Dr Davies and Dr Bridgman warned against giving bottles of sweetened milk, tea and even custard to babies and also said they do not think primary schools should hand out birthday cake.
In addition, they recommended that all families should be given free toothpaste by the government.
In November 2010, a survey carried out by Liverpool John Moores University found that one in three 12-year-olds have bad teeth.
