A SCHOOL was all smiles after receiving a Healthy Teeth award for helping children improve their oral hygiene.

Trimdon Village Community Infants School and Nursery is the believed to be the first in Sedgefield to receive it.

Under the scheme, schools are encouraged to use learning and play to promote awareness among small children about caring for their teeth.

Julie King, from the NHS Oral Health Team, said: “Tooth decay is high in the Sedgefield area and this award will hopefully raise dental health awareness in all who are involved, teaching staff, parents or carers and of course the children themselves.”

Headteacher Mandy Fuller said: “It’s thanks to schemes of this nature that children can learn to protect their teeth from an early age and can be shown that this is simple and fun.”