@Irish, this is what we do, for the same reason:
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we use sweet liquid as you do (sugared water, or, more frequently, milk)
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we use a sealed container with a long straw (a kid’s straw glass in heavy plastic) so that, when my son drinks sugar at night, he can swallow straight to the bottom of his throat so that it does not hit the teeth.
If you can look at the infamous picture of the diabetes night watchman, you will see the glass I am talking about 