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5 Tips to a Healthier Smile

July 31st, 2013

Want your child to grow up with a bright, happy smile? You don't have to visit the dentist. Here are 5 tips you can use at home every day:


1. Help kids brush two times a day with fluoride toothpaste. Children who do this tend to develop fewer cavities.

2. Decrease consumption of juice and other sugary drinks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends less than 6 oz of juice a day.

3. Encourage snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables. Processed foods contain starches and simple sugars, which are more likely to cause tooth decay.

4. Seal out tooth decay. Sealants on permanent molars have are have proven to be an effective way to decrease tooth decay.

5. Establish a dental home for your child to encourage a lifetime of preventive care seeking behavior.

 

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you take care of your child's teeth all year round. Feel free to call us and ask us questions anytime.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

general dentistry for kids in TucsonDr. 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!

The Importance of Sealants

July 18th, 2013

In dentistry, prevention is often the best medicine. Stopping tooth decay before it starts saves time, money, and stress on the entire family.

One painless, low-cost way of protecting teeth from decay is through the use of dental sealants. Many permanent molars erupt with deep pits and grooves on the chewing surface. These areas are difficult to keep clean, even with the best brushing skills.

A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is bonded to the chewing surface of the tooth. The sealant fills the deep pits and grooves, providing a barrier to keep food and bacteria out, thus reducing the risk of decay by up to 50%.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help refer you to understand all preventive dental options for your child.  Feel free to call us and ask us questions anytime at (520) 544-8522.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

general dentistry for kids in TucsonDr. 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!

When to Visit the Orthodontist

June 30th, 2013

We receive a lot of questions from parents about when is the right time to visit the orthodontist.  The answer is very specific for your child, so if you are one of our patients, we can discuss this specifically at your next appointment.  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 situations in which you may want to take your child to the orthodontist sooner.  Specific jaw growth and tooth placement patterns benefit from orthodontic intervention as early as 5 years of age.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help refer you to the right dental specialists when your child needs it.  Feel free to call us and ask us questions anytime.

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

general dentistry for kids in TucsonDr. 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!

Keeping Teeth Healthy Over the Summer

June 14th, 2013

As summertime approaches, families are thinking of all the fun the season entails.  Few give a second thought to dental health.

However, with the increase in temperature comes an increase in drinking sugary beverages, and that can be damaging to your child's teeth.   One study shows that there has been  an increase in decay rates in children ages 2 to 5.  Besides just drinking juices and soda, kids in this age range also eat more sugary snacking between meals during the summer (ice cream anyone?).

Make sure your little one still maintains good oral health care during the summer.  Limit the amount of juice and other sugary drinks your child consumes, keep between meal snacking to a minimum, and continue to brush and floss regularly, even if you're traveling.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you manage every season of your child's dental health.  Feel free to call us and ask us questions anytime.

 

About Northwest Children's Pediatric Dentists

general dentistry for kids in TucsonDr. 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!