By Albert Countryman Jr.
Kimberly Meehan, who lives in Brooklawn with her husband, lifelong resident and electrical engineer James Meehan, was recently named Mrs. New Jersey.
This July she will travel to Chicago and compete for the title of Mrs. International 2008.
\”My platform is Children\’s Oral Health Awareness,\” said Kimberly, a dental hygienist who has been volunteering her time and traveling to schools in Philadelphia and South Jersey to teach young students how to care for their teeth.
She works for Dr. Ken Cirka, DDS, in Center City Philadelphia, and finds time to visit schools every week.
\”I talk to our children about dental health,\” said Mrs. Meehan, who grew up in Darby, PA.
Pediatric Dentist Dr. David Bresler, who has six locations in Philadelphia, has been a big help.
\”He donated 10,000 toothbrushes. He is an amazing guy who is involved in Community Dentistry,\” she said.
When going to schools, including Cold Springs in Gloucester City and Alice Costello in Brooklawn, her topics include brushing for two minutes twice a day, eating healthy snacks, and the risk soda and bubblegum present to a young child\’s teeth.
She also talks about preventive dentistry, particularly dental sealants.
These sealants last for about 10 years, cost $30 to $50 per tooth, and prevent children from getting cavities on the chewing surface of their molars.
\”Children from affluent neighborhoods are more likely to get sealants,\” she said.
For the past 13 years, Kimberly has worked as a dental hygienist, and is certified in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
If she wins the Mrs. International title, she will be able to bring her platform worldwide.
Kimberly and James Meehan enjoy the hometown feel of living in Brooklawn.
\”We love Brooklawn. It is a small, quaint, little town close to the City,\” said Kimberly, adding that they enjoy going to Philadelphia for the theater, the ballet, and dinner.
For summer vacation, they like Wildwood Crest.
Kimberly has been nominated for the National Community Dental Service Hygienist Hero Award. The winner will be honored at an upcoming convention this May.
Meanwhile, she will continue to visit area schools and help K-3 students learn to take care of their teeth.
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