YOUNG children across the district are being helped to brush-up on their oral health skills.

More than 30 nurseries have signed-up to a scheme supporting children and families to look after their teeth.

Behind the initiative is the oral health improvement team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Participating nurseries receive oral health training, and guidance on how to start daily tooth-brushing with their youngsters.

Also, childcare providers are offered information on nutrition for young children and the harmful impact of sugar on teeth.

And tooth-brushing equipment is provided.

Each nursery is encouraged to nominate an 'oral health champion'.

Sharon Walker, oral health improvement lead at the care trust, said: "Targeting the early years plays an important part in helping address tooth decay in young children and teaching important life skills.

"Tooth decay is almost always entirely preventable with appropriate interventions."

In recognition of its work on the initiativehttp://bdct.nhs.uk, the oral health improvement team has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year's Clinical Dentistry Awards. Winners will be announced next month.

For further information about the team and its work across the district, go to the oral health improvement page on the care trust's website – at bdct.nhs.uk.