FOOTBALLERS are all smiles after joining a dental health programme as part of a 12-month partnership between Middlesbrough Football Club and a Teesside clinic.

Players in the North-East squad will receive treatment from Billingham-based Queensway Dental Clinic, with dentists and hygienists regularly visiting the club’s training ground at Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington.

The clinic has been tasked with ensuring all players and Middlesbrough FC staff are given regular dental health screenings throughout their upcoming season in the Championship League.

Dr Ian Lane, partner at Queensway Dental, said: “I’m proud to be working with a football team here in the North-East to improve oral hygiene.

“I’m delighted the club is taking a proactive approach to the players’ dental health care, especially as footballers have been reported in a recent study to be at risk from higher levels of tooth decay.

“The club also a strong sense of community responsibility and hopefully we can promote good oral health across the whole club, teens and junior players.

“The overall health message we hope to deliver is something I think fits very well with the great work that is already being done by the club and its academy.”