AN USK dentist has warned of the dangers of hidden sugars in children's 'healthy' snacks which are causing 'middle class tooth decay.'

Miles Gladson, of Usk Dental Practice, said dentists are trying to get the message out about hidden sugars in what are perceived as healthy foods. 

He said dentists have referred to this as 'middle class tooth decay' as parents think they've brought their children up with exceptional diet habits and then find their children need a filling.

He said most people are aware of the ‘classic’ sugary drinks and food such as ‘Coca-Cola’ but said there is as much sugar in Cranberry juice drinks as Coke - around nine teaspoons of sugar is in a can of coke. 

The father of three said there are many examples of high sugar drinks, of little nutritional value, but with names that suggest they might be ‘good’ for you such as Vitamin Water, Quench, Juicy Water.

He said its a similar story with foods such as Go-Ahead bars which are low in fat but usually high in sugar.

The dentist spoke out about hidden sugars after Usk Primary School where his children attend sent a letter home saying they were stopping the fruit tuck as children were bringing in their own and they were proposing to stock a small amount of non-perishable items such as raisins.

But after Mr Gladson raised the issue of high sugar content in raisins the school decided against it. The school said they saw getting rid of the fruit tuck as a positive due to the number of children who brought in fruit from home. 

Mr Gladson said: "People confuse dried fruit with fresh fruit – they think it's much the same. Dried fruit loses many of its vitamins, minerals and fibre, but does retain its sugar. 

"The high sugar content makes the food sticky and it sticks very easily to teeth. The problem compounded in some cereal bars which use sugars to bind the dry ingredients."

He added: "Primary school children lack the ability to keep their own teeth clean – they will frequently have food trapped on the fissures of their teeth and sticky foods will get trapped more easily."

He said children are welcome to eat raisins, dried fruit and chocolate as part of a balanced diet but said grazing on high sugar snacks and drinks through the day leads to dental problems.

The majority of schools follow the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes and have achieved the healthy school award phase six - the highest which includes Eveswell Primary School and Lliswerry Primary School in Newport.

Lynn Phillips, the teacher in charge of the scheme at Eveswell, said the school only has fresh fruit on offer at their tuck shop and not dried fruit due to the quantity of high sugar. Alway Primary School also said their fruit tuck is popular with the children but do not offer dried fruit.