A DENTAL practice is getting children to say 'Cheese' in the fight to improve a town's appalling record for tooth decay.

Youngsters in the Burnley have the seventh-worst record for the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth in the North West by Year 6.

Now as part of National Smith Month, the Standish Dental Practice in Standish Street has teamed up with the British Dental Health Foundation and the British Cheese Board to promote the best ways of ensuring a healthy grin.

Research has shown that cheese, rich in calcium, is one of the best weapons in counteracting sugary foods.

Dentists at the Burnley practice will be issuing a 20 gram portion of the dairy product to every young patient who attends for a check-up.

Vicki Lung, from the practice, said: "It is increasingly important to look after children's teeth from an early age and diet is a key factor.

"As soon as we were approached by the British Cheese Board to take part in the campaign, we were keen to help by making sure that children in the Burnley area become more aware of how to look after their teeth."

Cheese is known to combat plaque acids and prevents bacteria from forming on the surface of teeth.