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For families in Athens, childhood dental health is often a battle against habits and accidental injury. Managing the environmental factors is just as important as brushing and flossing. By identifying and correcting harmful behaviors early, we prevent the need for complex restorative work later.
Our team at Cole Family Dental breaks down detrimental habits for children’s oral health and how to combat them to protect your child’s smile.
Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use past age three exerts consistent pressure on the developing alveolar bone. The pressure physically pulls the front teeth forward and prevents the upper and lower teeth from meeting, which is known as an open bite.
If the thumb-sucking habit persists, we can introduce habit-breaking appliances. The appliances redirect the tongue and thumb posture, allowing the bone to reshape itself naturally while the child is still growing.
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a rapid form of decay that occurs when milk, formula, or juice pools against a child’s teeth during sleep.
Once the first tooth erupts, the child should never be put to bed with a bottle containing anything other than plain water. The reduction in salivary flow during sleep makes nighttime sugar exposure particularly aggressive.
Active kids are at high risk for dental avulsion (knocked-out teeth) and crown fractures. 25% of all school-age children will experience some form of dental trauma.
We provide custom-fabricated sports mouthguards for the ultimate comfort and protection. A custom guard is vacuum-formed to the child’s unique dentition to provide superior shock absorption for the jaw joint.
Most children lack the manual dexterity to brush effectively until they can tie their own shoes or write in cursive (usually around age 7 or 8).
While it’s great to encourage them to take a lead in brushing, parents should provide follow-up brushing. Parental assistance ensures that the high-risk areas (like the back molars) are effectively cleaned.
Protect your child’s smile from habits and injury with the help of Cole Family Dental. We offer all of the services your child needs to maintain a healthy and comfortable smile. Come to us for kid-friendly teeth cleanings, exams, and more.
Schedule your child’s next visit with our kids’ dentist in Athens today.
Here are some additional dental services that may help you reach your oral healthcare goals.
