Extractions, drillings, and cleanings, these are some of the activities that make people dread the dentist, but today these acts are giving teens a real reason to smile. Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Health, the Northern Dental Access Center and Evergreen Youth & Family Services have teamed up to provide dental health and services to teens.

On the first Tuesday of every month, Northern Dental packs their bags and sets up a portable dentist office onsite at Evergreen for dental cleanings. As an added bonus, each teen gets to take home a bag with a toothbrush and other dental items to help continue their oral care in the future.

That preventative care can improve both inner and outer health. Erin Messer, the program coordinator for Northern Dental, said, “If you have good oral hygiene, chances are you’re going to have good health throughout your entire body.” Evergreen Executive Director Becky Schueller added, “The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to be social and engaged.”

Schueller and Messer hope that these teens continue to look after their dental health for years to come.

By — Lakeland PBS

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