February has reason to smile

Friday, February 12, 2010

Amy Browning of Lindner Dental talks with a class at Noah's Ark Child Care Center about the importance of brushing teeth.

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Amy Browning of Lindner Dental, gets help from Anna Browning, 4, of Manchester, to demonstrate to the class good teeth brushing techniques.

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Amy Browning of Lindner Dental talks with a class at Noah's Ark Child Care Center about the importance of brushing teeth.

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BEDFORD – When kids think of February, they picture Valentine’s Day candy: boxes of chocolates, and small candy hearts with phrases like “Be Mine” and “I Love You.”

But the one thing most people don’t realize, is that February is also about avoiding candy-caused cavities.

February is National Children’s Dental Health month.

“Problems are preventable. (Kids) can achieve cavity-free mouths and beautiful smiles with daily consistent effort supervised by parents and dentists,” said Dr. Gary Lindner, of Bedford-based Lindner Dental Associates.

Lindner Dental Associates started an awareness program designed to educate young students about the importance of good oral hygiene in 1985. Each year, company employees see an estimated 2,000 children from Bedford, Manchester and Goffstown through the educational program.

“We recognize the earlier the intervention, the most lifetime effect we can have,” Lindner said.

In Bedford, six educational facilities, including the Bedford Montessori School and RainbowLand Child Development Center, experienced a hands-on presentation from employees of Lindner Dental Associates. In the next few weeks, an estimated three facilities are expecting a visit.

Presentation topics include oral hygiene methods, dental disease and prevention, nutrition and diet, and a friendly introduction to dental visits. Programs are designed based on the age of the children. Younger students receive hands-on interaction and printed material for their parents, along with stickers and coloring books. For older students, the level of information is increased to the science behind teeth and plaque.

“Our staff has a great time going into classrooms and educating children on the importance of good oral hygiene; we look forward to answering their questions and showing them that going to the dentist can be fun and beneficial for them,” Lindner said.

For more information about Lindner Dental’s educational outreach program, or to schedule an in-class presentation, call Amy Browning at 624-3900.