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We personally have fond memories of our childhood dentist, but not all parents are so lucky.  You may remember dreading seeing your dentist, for a variety of reasons, and that may make you hesitant to bring your child into our office.

We here at Northwest Children's Dentistry are committed to eliminate dental anxiety in both children and their caregivers.  We know that creating a safe, welcoming environment where you can ask questions and feel comfortable will keep you coming back, and thus, keep your teeth healthier in the long run.  Here are a few of the many ways we do that:

• Dr. Bunch and Dr. Marshall are trained pediatric dentists, meaning they received extra certification for taking care of small children.  We know that children at not just little adults and need extra time and attention to meet their needs.
• Our dentists and staff are trained to answer every question with patience and courtesy.
• Our open bay seating creates an open space where parents and children don't feel cramped in a small space.
• We talk about all procedures before we do them and use words that young children understand (such as saying "taking pictures of your teeth" instead of "taking x-rays.")

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to take care of all your children's dental needs.  If you have any questions, 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.

Does your young child grind their teeth?  Does the sound make you want to grind yours?  Teeth grinding can make any parent frustrated, but how bad is it?

Teeth grinding in young children is usually harmless.  Many toddlers and preschoolers do it, and most of them quit on their own by the age of six.  At this stage, treatment is not normally needed.

However, once a child's permanent teeth start coming in, grinding can lead to problems.  An excessive grinder can use a night guard, a molded piece of plastic that children can wear in their mouths to stop them from wearing out adult teeth.  You can buy them over the counter, but we recommend asking us about having one made at your regular dental check-up.  We can tell you how severe we think the tooth grinding is and also give you options for a custom fit night guard, which will be more comfortable for your child.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to take care of all your children's dental needs.  If you have any questions, 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.

The holidays are upon us, and chances are, you've got plans.  Many of our patients will be traveling far and wide to visit Grandma across the state or family in other countries.

To make things easy, we've provided the following tips for keeping your teeth healthy during your holiday travels:

• Store toothbrushes in a case or bag by itself.  Toothbrushes have a tendency to stay wet, especially if you need to "brush and go" in the morning.  Buying a small case or even putting your toothbrush in a plastic bag will keep that moisture from getting into other things in your toiletry bag.
• Pack some dental floss.  You should be flossing every day, even on vacation, but you also never know when you'll need to get rid of something in between your teeth.  Make sure dental floss is with your other personal hygiene items.
• Buy small tubes of toothpastes for flights.  If you buy travel sized toothpaste containers, you can take them through airport security and not have to check your baggage or spend precious holiday time at the store buying more toothpaste.
• Keep your normal dental routines.  It can be easy to forget to brush your teeth when your child's routine is all messed up, but remember, holidays are one of the most important times to brush and floss.  Kids are eating more goodies and sugary foods.  Brushing is an easy way to prevent larger dental bills and work.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to take care of all your children's dental needs.  If you have any questions, 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.

A cavity is a hole in the tooth created by tooth decay.  They can become painful over time and may lead to the destruction of the tooth.  Cavities are caused when plaque forms on the tooth.  As the plaque hardens, it causes more damage to the tooth.

So what causes plaque to form?  Here are the most common culprits:

• Consuming too much sugar.  The bacteria that forms plaque loves sugar.  Eating sugar or drinking sugar-enhanced drinks gives those bacteria a place to thrive.
• Not brushing enough.  Plaque doesn't form instantly, but needs time to set in.  Brushing away plaque while it is soft can reduce your cavity risk.
• Not flossing enough.  Brushing can't effectively get between teeth, so if you don't floss, plaque can form there.  This is especially true if your teeth are crowded in your mouth together.

Create an environment for your child to eat well and practice good dental hygiene to reduce cavity risk and preserve their teeth for years to come.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to take care of all your children's dental needs.  If you have any questions, 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.