Trimdon Village Community Infants School and Nursery Unit are the first school in the Sedgefield area to be award the Healthy Teeth Award for helping children care for their teeth.

The school already receives the fluoridated milk to help improve children’s dental health. This proves that the school is already motivated regarding oral health.

The Healthy Teeth Award has been developed as part of the national programme aimed at targeting foundation stage children (under 5s). The aims of the award are to help reduce tooth decay in young children. Statistics show that Sedgefield locality has a high percentage of children under the age of five years who have experience of tooth decay.

Further aims of the award is to raise awareness between the strong link to healthy eating and good dental health, as well as reinforcing the importance of regular thorough toothbrushing for young children with the support of an adult is very important.

Under the awards scheme, schools are encouraged to use a range of learning opportunities and active play to promote awareness among small children about caring for their teeth. These were centered on three main elements, namely: • To help reduce tooth decay in young children • To raise awareness of the very strong link to healthy eating and good dental health • To reinforce the importance of regular, thorough toothbrushing for young children with the support of an adult.

The event will see young children in the nursery using large scale props, such as toothbrushes and teeth to show how to brush their teeth correctly. The children will engage in role play and will also learn how to brush their teeth in a fun and interactive session.

Sandra Laws, Project Lead for the NHS Oral Health promotion Team, said: “It is important that steps are taken to reduce tooth decay in young children. Healthy teeth enable young children to eat and talk as well as having a happier smile. Healthy teeth also lead to ‘treatment free’ visits to the dentist which make a more pleasant experience for young children”.

Julie King, Oral Health Promotion Lead, added: “Within the area of County Durham, the needs of the local population can be quite diverse. Therefore by developing this award using positive achievable steps towards tackling health improvement within schools, allows an ideal opportunity for partnership working within the community.

“It is very important that this award is promoted, not just in the East Durham area but countywide. 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/carers and of course the children themselves.

Mandy Fuller, headteacher at the school, said: “It’s a sad reality that children here in Sedgefield have a poor level of dental health compared to their counterparts living elsewhere in the county.

“Nevertheless, it’s thanks to schemes of this nature that children can learn to protection their teeth from an early age and can be shown that this is both simple and fun!”

ENDS Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend the above event. If you do plan to attend or would like further information please contact the communications department on 0191 333 3386.