A child in England has a tooth removed every ten minutes due to tooth decay that can be prevented, according to Public Health England.

According to new research, around 141 children a day are being admitted to hospital to have teeth extracted – some as young as just one year old.

Tooth extraction is also named the main reason for hospital admissions in children aged five to nine in England.

As the Government introduces its so-called ‘Sugar Tax’ on soft drinks, PHE’s Change4Life campaign is outlining guidance for parents on how to cut down on sugar in their children’s diets.

It has identified fizzy, sugary drinks as one of the main contributors to high sugar content in children’s diets, and a leading cause of tooth decay and obesity.

Among the more shocking statistics about sugar content are that an average energy drink contains 13 cubes of sugar, with just one can of coca cola packing in nine cubes.

The health body’s top tips for parents to reduce sugar intake in their kids are:

• Swap out sugary drinks for low sugar alternatives such as milk

• Limit fruit juices to just 150ml every day

• Make sure they brush their teeth in the morning and at night with a fluoride toothpaste – but remember to ‘spit, not rinse’ because rinsing can wash away the fluoride.