A top dentist has described a rise in 18-month-old tots needing rotten teeth pulled as “one big horror story”.

Prof Helen Rodd MBE, 55, pleaded with parents to stop giving their children sugary drinks – even fruit squash.

The University of Sheffield expert, who has 31 years’ experience, said: “There’s been an increase with more extractions of teeth from children under general anaesthetic.

“You will see 18-month-olds having their front teeth out because they’ve just gone to bed with bottles of juice and their teeth are rotten down to the gum. 

And the world renowned expert with 31 years experience, is pleading with parents to cut out all sugary drinks. 

She says they have a 600-strong waiting list of children who need their teeth removed because of the pandemic in South Yorkshire.

“I have seen a long timespan of children and the things that really strike me is I sadly have not seen a reduction, in fact, there's been an increase with more extractions of teeth from children under general anaesthetic.

“These children are aged four, five, six years old and needing their teeth out.

“You will see 18 months old having their front teeth out because they've just gone to bed with bottles of juice in and their teeth are rotten down to the gum.

“They can't eat or sleep. It's impacting on their health.

“The general anaesthetics is the one big horror story for dentistry in this country

“All 20 of their baby teeth are generally through by two and a half years old.

“It's very disturbing that by aged three or four, a few children will need all 20 of these teeth out.

“It's very shocking. How can this be true in this day and age? But it is.

“There is a small proportion of the population who are the most deprived whose dental health is very, very, poor. Mostly baby teeth we are talking about.

“But it is not unusual for us to see children aged 8 or 9 needing adult first molars out and they've only had them two or three years

“There is a pattern of those who've had their teeth out at aged two or three or four who come back to have adult teeth out because nothing has really changed, their diet or access to dentistry.

“That's sad because those children are really deprived and their oral health is very very poor.

“However, on a more positive note are many children who haven't had any fillings and they have lovely teeth and access to dentistry. That has been brilliant, that the NHS dentistry has provided for everybody.”

The hospital dentist based in South Yorkshire told The Mirror the pandemic has caused a backlog.

She said: “It is difficult because we just can't get through the numbers that we did.

“We have in Sheffield about 600 children waiting to have their teeth removed under general anaesthetic. That's a big backlog

She said it causes great upset but can so easily be fixed.

“Children will MIH (poorly mineralised teeth) will have a big mark on their front tooth,” she explained.

“The impact that has on them in terms of not wanting to smile and being bullied at school is very very upsetting.

“We have quite a simple treatment but our research shows a massive effect on their confidence and self esteem.

“Some parents have cried when they've seen the improvement”.