Our Blog

Whether you’re here on vacation or a long-time local, you probably think you know all that New Hampshire has to offer. However even those born in this beautiful state can find new things to do and explore every day!

Everyone loves to go boating on the many lakes, ski and hike the ancient mountains, and splurge a little with the tax-free shopping, and all of that is enough to fill many years, but what if there was just a little bit more? A few things that were just a little different?

Disc Golf
Have you heard of this sport yet? It’s been around for decades, yet still seems to be unheard of (unlike the rise of pickleball!). New Hampshire has 73 courses, many of which are located in wooded area so you can keep in the shade while you play! Loon (Lincoln) and Tenney (Plymouth) Mountains have courses starting at the top, all it takes to start is a gondola ticket up! Franklin, Franconia, and Claremont have really nice public courses with Franklin and Franconia being great for beginners. Local golf courses have started adding trails and baskets to expand their offerings. The added bonus is courses that are pay-to-play have a very low fee, usually around $10, with an optional play all day fee or if you buy a disc from the pro shop you get your round for free!
Check out the top 10 courses in NH: https://udisc.com/best-disc-golf-courses/united-states/new-hampshire

A Hidden Gem
Lately when chatting with patients and parents we're amazed at how many haven't heard of Lost River Gorge in North Woodstock. It's a wonderful hike (lots of stairs!) through part of Kinsman Notch, following the paths and caves formed by glaciers millions of years ago that lead mountain waters south to the Pemigewasset River.
Along the way you'll learn the history of the area, how the caves were discovered, and be able to take in some amazing views of the White Mountains. And don't worry, the caves are totally optional (that lemon squeeze is tight!).
Check out their website to learn more: https://lostrivergorge.com/

Our Office Locations
We are blessed to call three beautiful areas of NH home.
Our Laconia office is perfectly situated in the Lakes Region, with Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam on our doorstep. But while you're boating or playing at a local beach don't forget to check out the down town area! Laconia's main street has locally owned eateries, shops, and the acclaimed Colonial Theater (did you know at one time the Colonial was a 3 screen movie theater?).
Our Plymouth office not only enjoys the close Squam and Newfound Lakes, but is also at the entrance to the stunning White Mountains. Locals and frequent visitors can plan on summiting our 48 4,000 footers, but there are so many trails that are suited to beginners and first time vacationers. While hiking the trails you'll discover hidden waterways and breathtaking views, and when you're back in you car take the time to drive through the nearby small towns that so many trails start from. You may just find the juiciest burger you've ever had, the best pizza north of Boston, or the biggest ice cream sundae your kids have ever seen!
Our northern most location is in Littleton, the Glad Town! Why is it so glad? Well, it was the home of author Eleanor H. Porter and her classic children's novel heroine, Pollyanna! And you too will be glad walking around town- find wonderful things to pass a rainy day or time at the beach at Little Village Toys and Books, enjoy lunch at one of the many spots along the Ammonoosuc River, and satisfy your sweet tooth at Chutter's (home of the worlds longest candy counter- 112 feet!).

We hope that, even if you're a long time resident, you get to enjoy ALL that our wonderful state has to offer, and always feel free to ask the team what their favorite thing is that New Hampshire has to offer!

Happy June and happy summer! We've all waited for this, especially since this past winter was extra long and extra cold! But before you jump all in to swimming, campfires, cookouts, and starry nights we at Kennell Ortho want to make sure you can enjoy everything without having to call us for that dreaded broken bracket or lost Invisalign tray.

Hard or sticky and chewy foods can break a bracket by getting up and under the bracket or applying too much pressure to the wire, causing the bracket to pop off your tooth. Lots of yummy food at that family or neighborhood BBQ falls in this category. You'll want to make sure of the following:

•Make sure any meat is off the bone and cut up into smaller pieces

•Fruits and vegetables should be broken into smaller chunks, and sorry, you’ll have to take that corn off the cob

•Break up any cookies, granola, sub rolls, and crackers

•Be careful with trail mix or anything similar, nuts and popcorn love to pop brackets off

•Avoid sticky, chewy candies like starburst and taffy, and hard to chew foods like slim jim’s and jerky

We all hope you have the best summer, and we’ll see a lot of you soon!

What does Orthodontics have to do with your mental health?

A LOT!

Having orthodontic treatment is more than just straightening your teeth to help with your overall oral health, or helping correct any problems with your bite. The smile you leave our office with at the end of treatment will have you walking a little taller and socializing more. Smiling is linked to dopamine and serotonin, which help lift you mood, and smiling has also been known to lower stress levels!

But what happens when you don't like your smile- you hate how your teeth overlap or you have a big gap that you just *know* people stare at while you're talking? When you're self conscious about something that is so front and center, lots of things can happen. You end up participating in conversations less and less, and you may seek out situations and jobs where you have limited or no contact with the public (like a work from home possibility). Not liking your smile and how you see yourself can also lead to lowered confidence in other aspects of your life. This can really start to impact your overall mental health and potentially lead to depression.

If you're noticing your smile is impacting your daily life because you feel self conscious about your teeth, give our office a call to schedule a complimentary consult with Dr. Kennell. He, along with our amazing team, can help you start your journey to a more healthy, confident you!

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health dial 988 or text "HOME" to 741741 for 24/7 support.

Dr. Kennell and the KO team love showing appreciation for our patients. We would not be able to be the Orthodontic office that we are without them! This year we celebrated our patients with a super fun tubing night at Gunstock Mountain. Our patients, and their family and friends, checked in with the team, grabbed some KO Swag (super warm winter hats!), and then entered our raffle to win all sorts of prizes- light up scooters, snow tubes, gift cards, and more! Then they were free to enjoy endless runs down the hill, cookies, hot chocolate, and the fire pit.

We had a professional photographer on hand to capture all the fun! To see all the photos from the event head over to our Facebook page, click "Photos", and check out the whole album!