Babies should not be fed from bottles over the age of one or they risk rotting and decayed teeth, parents are being warned.

And from the age of six months babies should be encouraged to drink from free flowing feeder cups and should never be given fruit juice in a bottle at any age.

These are the key messages of a new campaign to help parents give their babies healthier drinking habits and cut the number of children under five in the district with decaying teeth.

Pharmacists and oral health staff across the district are teaming up for the campaign, to run during the last two weeks of January, across Bradford and Airedale.

The campaign will help raise awareness of the impact on dental health of different baby drinks and the sort of cups babies are given to use.

The oral health of young children in Bradford and Airedale is very poor compared to neighbouring areas and is ranked one of the worst nationally.

More than half of under fives in the district have experienced dental disease and much of the decay can be blamed on inappropriate feeding and drinking habits.

"We want to promote the use of free flowing feeder cups, with babies aged six months and above," said Lynn Owen, senior oral health promotion officer at Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust.

"And we want to let people know that milk and water are the best drinks for teeth. Diluted fruit juice should only be given to children at mealtimes."

Pharmacists across the district will be displaying posters and leaflets as well as providing help and advice to ensure parents look after their baby's and children's teeth appropriately.

Rachel Urban, community pharmacy development and clinical governance pharmacists for the tPCT said: "Pharmacy staff are in an ideal position to give advice and guidance to parents of young children and help them choose the best drinking cups for their babies.

"You can pop into your local pharmacy for help and advice on dental health or any other health related issue."