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This year lots of people will be staying at home instead of traveling like they normally would for the holiday season. It's been a tough year for all of us, and there's no mitigating some of that disappointment. But there are still ways you and your kids can still keep the season fun within your immediate family.

• Watch holiday themed movies together. There are tons of holidays shows and movies available on streaming services. From old black and white classics to holiday baking shows, snuggle up on the couch together with your family for a little cheer.
• Spread bits of joy to your neighborhood. Social distancing means you can't go to as many social gatherings as normal, but that doesn't mean you have to be a stranger. Make a small gift bag or leave little notes for your neighbors wishing everyone Happy Holidays.
• Do a family holiday craft. Replace holiday parties with a craft night. You could make a set of 2020 ornaments for your tree or enjoy cooking traditional dishes.
• Put on a family talent show. Instead of just a traditional Zoom call with your extended family, suggest a talent show. It's especially fun for the kids to show off a musical or athletic talent. You can even record videos before them and screen-share them during the call.
• Find ways to enjoy the outdoors. We're fortunate to live in an area where we can still enjoy being outside. Plan a holiday hike or drive around town looking at holiday decorations from the comfort of your car.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to keep your child's smile healthy.  If you have any questions for our office, feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are doctor spouses who have been working as kids dentists in Tucson for years.  They have deep ties to Tucson, as well as the surrounding Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and other areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children. If you’re looking for a general dentist for kids in Tucson, contact us today at (520) 544-8522.

We get a lot of questions about fluoride here at Northwest Children's Dentistry. There are lots of myths about its use out on the Internet, but the truth is that fluoride is one of the best ways to protect your kids' teeth.

Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Pediatric dentists love it because it reduces the harmful effects of plaque, one of the leading causes of children's tooth decay. Preventing disease is way easier than treating a problem, and we want your kids to have healthy teeth for as long as possible.

Many people falsely believe fluoride is unsafe. However, unless you misuse fluoride, science finds it to be safe for kids. You can prevent fluoride misuse by not letting your kids swallow fluoride toothpaste.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to keep your child's smile healthy.  If you have any questions for our office, feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are doctor spouses who have been working as kids dentists in Tucson for years.  They have deep ties to Tucson, as well as the surrounding Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and other areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children. If you’re looking for a general dentist for kids in Tucson, contact us today at (520) 544-8522.

Given the rise of COVID-19, many families are wondering how to keep their families safe.  Because many of us on staff at Northwest Children's Dentistry are also parents, we completely understand those concerns.  We already have a page dedicated to how we have changed our practice to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but we'd also like to share our basic health principles with you.

• The health of our patients and staff is our number one priority.  Last spring, we were closed longer than many other local pediatric dental offices because we wanted to ensure we could reliably minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.  We take the health of our community very seriously.
• We keep abreast of the latest COVID-19 procedures and guidelines.  Several agencies are providing guidelines on best practices on how to reduce COVID-19 transmission within the dental field.  We keep track of them diligently and make changes to how we operate as needed.
• We're here to listen to your concerns.  Being a health care provider means juggling COVID-19 risks while promoting routine care.  If you have any questions about your child's dental health, we want to hear about it.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to keep your child's smile healthy.  If you have any questions for our office, feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are doctor spouses who have been working as kids dentists in Tucson for years.  They have deep ties to Tucson, as well as the surrounding Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and other areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children. If you’re looking for a general dentist for kids in Tucson, contact us today at (520) 544-8522.

Everyone knows about the tooth fairy, who comes in the night to whisk away baby teeth and leaves behind small gifts.  But there's a less known entity out there who helps our children with dental hygiene: the pacifier fairy.

The pacifier fairy does much of the same work as the tooth fairy, except they take pacifiers from children who've outgrown them instead of baby teeth. Many of these fairies promise to redistribute old pacifiers to newborn babies who might need them. (We, of course, do not recommend sharing pacifiers between children. This is simply to make it easier for a sympathetic child to kick the habit.) Pacifier fairies also often leave a modest gift in the form of a toy or treat appropriate for toddlers.

While we know not everyone wants or needs new make-believe traditions, this fairy could be a good option to a family who's struggling to wean their young child from pacifiers. While mostly harmless for infants, long-term pacifier use can cause dental issues such as misaligned teeth.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to keep your child's smile healthy.  If you have any questions for our office, feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are doctor spouses who have been working as kids dentists in Tucson for years.  They have deep ties to Tucson, as well as the surrounding Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and other areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children. If you’re looking for a general dentist for kids in Tucson, contact us today at (520) 544-8522.