Parents could be creating a future health time-bomb for the country, by not making sure their children's teeth are looked after.
A survey reveals parents are giving up on their battles in the bathroom, with 85 per cent struggling to get their children to brush.
More than half of pre-schoolers have never even been to a dentist.
Promotion of Oral Health Chairman Professor Hans Zoellner has told 2GB's Luke Bona parents have to take charge.
"Small children just don't have the manual dexterity that it takes to brush teeth properly."
"That's why a lot of people advocate that parents should be helping their children with their tooth brushing."