Scottish health bosses are warning parents to be aware of the problems with fruit juice consumption after a report revealed almost half of all five-year-olds in Scotland needed treatment for tooth decay.

Parents are being urged to give their children fruit rather than fruit juices for the nutrition.

The findings, which revealed one in eight children in their first of primary school are in “urgent need” of intervention by a dentist, has prompted warnings that even health-conscious parents should be aware of the dangers posed to teeth by ‘healthy’ - but sugar-laden - drinks such as fresh fruit juice.

Experts said that although fruit juices normally do not contain processed sugars, they are still high in naturally occurring sugars, such as fructose and sucrose. While these are seen as healthier for general nutrition, they are still damaging to teeth.

Dr Josie Beeley, an oral biochemist from Glasgow University, said: "Parents should not assume that just because children brush their teeth there is no need to be careful.

“They should still be very aware of what their children are eating and drinking. Fruit may seem very healthy, but in reality it is full of sugars, and it adds to the problem by having a low pH, in other words it’s acidic, and that is again damaging to teeth.”

“If you want to get the nutrition from fruit juice, then you should eat the fruit instead of drinking large glasses of juice.”