Keeping smiles white!

Farima Mehrabi from the Dental Academy in Portsmouth, during a screening with Neil McAvery from Southsea.

Picture: Sarah Standing (160659-6776) — Farima Mehrabi from the Dental Academy in Portsmouth, during a screening with Neil McAvery from Southsea. Picture: Sarah Standing (160659-6776)

Fratton Tesco Community Champion, Gemma Morris, brought together charity Business in the Community as well as students from the dental academy at the University of Portsmouth for the event at LifeHouse Support Centre.

Students and a dental nurse gave checkups and tried to take away the fear that sometimes goes along with the dentist.

Andrew Sayer, from Business in the Community, said: ‘This was very important because so many homeless people don’t have access to dental care.

‘Being homeless strips away their confidence. We wanted them to know that there is free dental care available for them at the university.

‘When they came along they weren’t aware and we are hoping that through this we can make more homeless people familiar.’

Gemma Potts, outreach officer at Portsmouth Dental Academy, said: ‘When you are struggling to find a place to live or put food on the table, dental hygiene doesn’t rate highly.’

Those attending received free toothpaste and a toothbrush. The LifeHouse is run by Portsmouth Vineyard Life Church and also offers food, as well as clothing, toiletries and provisions.