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Do you have a young one who still sucks his/her thumb or uses a pacifier?  These habits are normal for infants and toddlers. However, some young children become very dependent on thumb sucking or pacifier use. Many children stop on their own, but if your child is still harboring these habits into their preschool years, it may be time for parents to get involved.

There are many options to help them stop utilizing this habit including positive reinforcement and rewards.  Some parents have the "pacifier fairy" come and take the pacifiers away and leave a small prize.  Others use sticker charts and give other small prizes for not engaging in these habits.  Still others try to replace the use of thumb sucking or pacifiers by letting the child take a special toy to bed at time.

For older children, there are dental appliances available.  You can ask us if this is appropriate for your child.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you understand all aspects of your child's dental care.  Feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are a husband and wife team providing general dentistry for kids in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and surrounding areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children as your local Tucson dentist. If you’re looking for a kids dentist in Tucson, contact us today!

Summer is a time when many families consider dental appointments for their kids.  Northwest Children's Dentistry is currently accepting new patients.  Feel free to give us a call at (520) 544-8522 to to schedule an appointment!

Why choose Northwest Children's Dentistry?  Here are a few reasons:

• We are trained pediatric dentists, which means we specialize in kids' teeth.  We know what growing mouths need to stay healthy.
• We take a preventative approach to dental care.  We want to stop potential problems before they start.
• We make dentistry fun!  Between our office layout, dress-up days, and use of gentle words, we strive to make children comfortable when they're visiting us.
• We accept many forms of insurance.  Call us for a current list of what we accept.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you understand all aspects of your child's dental care.  Feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are a husband and wife team providing general dentistry for kids in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and surrounding areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children as your local Tucson dentist. If you’re looking for a kids dentist in Tucson, contact us today!

As summer approaches, many parents will want to make sure to keep their kids hydrated as they engage in sports and other outdoor activities.  We want to remind you that although it's tempting to load your kid up on juice during the summer months, juice should only be given to your child in moderation.  Too much juice, even 100% fruit juice, can aggregate tooth decay in otherwise healthy teeth.

Here are some rules of thumb for how much juice is appropriate for your child:

1. No juice for infants younger than 6 months
2. Limit juice to 4 – 6 ounces per day for children 1 to 6 years old
3. Limit juice to 8 – 12 ounces per day for children 7 to 18 years old

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you understand all aspects of your child's dental care.  Feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are a husband and wife team providing general dentistry for kids in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and surrounding areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children as your local Tucson dentist. If you’re looking for a kids dentist in Tucson, contact us today!

As your child grows, so do the placement of their teeth.  Some children will eventually need braces.  While a pediatric dentist can help with most dental health problems, orthodontists specialize in braces and other improper bite issues.

Many parents ask us when their child should visit the orthodontist.  The answer is very specific for your child. As a general rule, many children can wait until all permanent teeth have come in before beginning orthodontic therapy. This usually occurs at around 10 to 13 years of age.  There are some children, however, with specific jaw growth and tooth placement patterns that benefit from orthodontic intervention as early as 5 years of age.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we will evaluate your child’s specific needs and refer you to an orthodontist accordingly.  We want to help you understand all aspects of your child's dental care.  Feel free to call us at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Norman Bunch and Dr. Jennifer Marshall are a husband and wife team providing general dentistry for kids in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Oracle, and surrounding areas. Northwest Children's Dentistry provides top-notch care for toddlers, children, teens, and special needs children as your local Tucson dentist. If you’re looking for a kids dentist in Tucson, contact us today!