A University of Calgary health care economist says treating tooth decay in children under the age of five is becoming a significant drain on the medical system.

The latest statistics show the most common procedure in the operating room at the Children's Hospital is the extraction of children's teeth under general anesthetic.

Herb Emery said 600 Calgary children under the age five require dental surgery each year.

"If you think of this as a completely preventable situation just with earlier care of the teeth the direct cost of treating this just in fees and facility billing alone is about $1.5-million a year."

Pediatric dentists say some parents put their children to bed with a bottle that contains juice, formula, pop — or even alcohol. Some children end up with chronic mouth pain and infections.

Pediatric dentist Dr. Leonard Smith said too many children are given too much sugar.

"These children are being exposed to a sugar source over an extended period of time while they're sleeping," he said. "Parents are putting soothers into their mouths and these soothers are dipped in honey or sugar."