Opinion: Kiwi families need to learn the real meaning of moderation

If toddlers are drinking fizzy, juice and chocolate milk out of sippy cups, is it really any wonder their teeth are rotting?

A story in our Saturday edition reported 78 preschoolers (0-4 years old) had at least one tooth removed at hospital in the 2013/14 year, 414 had tooth-coloured restoration and 136 had other restorative dental services. There were 27 procedures for dental caries - rotten teeth.

In total, preschoolers were discharged from hospital 707 times for dental services in Lakes DHB in the last full year statistics were available, the 2013/14 year.

The main reason cited by experts? Sugar. Chocolate milk, juice, fizzy - it's rotting Kiwi kids' teeth before they can even spell their own names.

The story got quite a bit of attention on social media. Most said tooth decay in children that young was disgusting and parents should be more sensible with the things their children eat and drink.

Others said it was about moderation and parents shouldn't be slammed for allowing their children to have half a cup of fizzy or a slice of cake every now and then.

Absolutely I think things should be done in moderation. There is no harm in putting the odd treat in your child's lunchbox or having ice cream for dessert once and a while.

But surely the line should be drawn at giving fizzy drinks to a 2-year-old. It's made up of almost purely sugar and has no nutritional value whatsoever.

We're at a point where our children are among the most obese in the world and are in need of serious dental care before they turn 5. Fizzy aside, do we, as a nation, even know what moderation is?

Ultimately what a child eats and drinks comes down to parental choice and I respect that. But as a taxpayer who is paying for this child's dental care, which could have been avoided, I have to say this cannot continue carrying on unchecked.

Families need to be re-educated about nutrition and this cycle of over-indulging needs to be broken.

Kiwi kids and their parents need to learn what moderation actually is if we have any hope of rectifying the situation.