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Teenagers have busy lives, and sometimes things fall to the wayside.  One thing you don't want to let slide regular visits to the pediatric dentist.  Here's a few reasons why:

• Teenagers are still at risk for tooth decay. 59% of children between the ages of 12 and 19 years old have experienced tooth decay. 20% of them are left untreated. Seeing a dentist will ensure that the problem will be fixed at its source so that they can enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth.
• Regular cleaning keep their teeth more clean. Seeing a pediatric dentist twice a year supplements their normal cleaning routines at home and helps reduce the risk of decayed or otherwise damaged teeth.
• Catching dental problems early. Your teenager may be developing less common dental problems that can only be caught by regular check-ups. Reversing a problem early means less invasive corrective procedures.
• Setting the bar for a lifetime of dental health. Even adults should be seeing a dentist twice a year. Getting into the habit of good dental hygiene will increase the odds that your teenager's teeth will survive into their golden years.

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.

Summer is in full swing, and in between all the camps, playing, and outings, it's good to keep your kid's dental health up to par.  Here are some tips on how to keep your child's teeth healthy over the summer:

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Kids will get hot running around, and it may be tempting to let them drink whatever's in the fridge. Stick to water, though, to reduce the chance of cavities. It's best not to let your child drink more than 4-6 oz. of juice a day.
• Wear mouth guards for contact sports. If your child is going to a summer sports camp for an intensive sport, consider getting them a mouth guard to protect their teeth.
• Don't throw your dental routine out the window. With a summer schedule or while you're on vacation, it may be tempting to skip brushing and flossing regularly. Make sure to keep this up even if your day is completely different than during the school year.
• Come in for routine dental check-ins. Summer is often a popular time for us to see kids who are active during the school year. Make sure to schedule an appointment so we can give you personalized advice on your child's dental health.

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.

Your baby might be getting old enough to start using a sippy cup. Congratulation! Did you know that there are good ways and bad ways to use a sippy cup that will affect your child's teeth?

Here is a list of common do's and don'ts when it comes to sippy cups:

• Do fill the sippy cup with water. Your child's hurt can never be harmed by drinking water. So let them drink water whenever they feel like it.
• Don't let the child sleep with a sippy cup with milk or juice. In contrast, if you put a sippy cup with juice or milk in your child's crib, they can fall asleep with the liquids pooling in their mouth, which can cause cavities later in their baby teeth.
• Do allow milk or juice at meal times. If you want to give your child something other than water, the best time is during meals when they will be consuming other foods. (Note: We recommend never giving a small child more than 4-6 ounces of juice a day.)
• Don't stick with the sippy cup forever. It's best to get your child learning to use a regular unlidded cup, so have them practice with them as soon as possible.

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.

Brushing your baby's teeth should occur once that first tooth emerged, but what about flossing?

Just like brushing, flossing can technically start happening as soon as a baby has multiple teeth in their smile.  The true reason to floss, though, is to clean the spaces in between teeth, which doesn't need to happen until the child's teeth starts to move closer together.  Most kids should start flossing sometime during their toddler or preschool years.  It's crucial during this time to keep an eye on how close their teeth are.  Preventing cavities in even baby teeth is good for dental health, so you don't want to start too late.

If you're one of our patients, we will work with you to help you decide the right time to start flossing your child.

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.