Our Blog

Last week on Facebook, we asked our fans if they had any questions about kids and their teeth.  One fan asked:

My child's top front baby tooth fell out 3 months ago. Why is the permanent tooth taking so long to come in?

There are actually a few reasons that a permanent tooth may take longer to erupt. A common reason is that the baby tooth root resorbed a bit early, causing the baby tooth to fall out early. This means the permanent tooth is not late in erupting, but the baby tooth was just early in falling out.  Another less common reason is that something may be hindering/ blocking a tooth from erupting.  Your dentist can take a radiograph to check for a mesiodens (i.e. an extra tooth), root remnant, or something else that may be blocking or slowing eruption of the permanent tooth.

If you are concerned about a permanent tooth coming in, please make an appointment.  As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we can find a specific answer for your child.

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 pediatric dentist in Tucson, we answer a lot of questions about children and tooth decay.  Many parents ask us how common it is.  The answer: more common than you might think.  The National Institute of Health reports that 28% of children 2 to 5 years old and 51% of children 6 to 11 years old have tooth decay in primary teeth (also known as baby teeth). Primary teeth have less protective enamel than permanent teeth, so are more susceptible to decay.  The National Institute of Health also reports that 10% of children 6 to 8 years old and 31% of children 9 to 11 years old have tooth decay in permanent teeth.

With those stats, parents might think tooth decay is just a part of growing up.  However, it doesn't have to be.  Early prevention can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.  Our office works hard to prevent tooth decay in both primary and permanent teeth so a child can focus on being a kid.  Prevention is also more cost efficient on families in the long run.

We want to help your child avoid cavities through proper dental hygiene.  Call us today if you have any questions about your child's dental health.

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!

Wondering what's good and bad for your child's teeth?  Here are a few tips from us:

Keep consumption of juice and other sugary drinks to a minimum. It is especially important in warm climates, such as Tucson, to keep children hydrated. Try milk or water instead.

Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Processed foods contain starches and simple sugars that are more likely to cause tooth decay.

Limit frequent snacking. Between-meal snacking, especially on foods that are sticky or contain fermentable carbohydrates, increase your child’s risk for tooth decay.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help your child avoid cavities through proper dental hygiene.  Call us today if you have any questions about your child's eating habits.

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!

You may not realize it, but your toddler's got a smile that needs flossing.  You should begin flossing your child no later than when he/she has two teeth that are close enough together that a brush can't reach between the teeth.  Those trouble spots are more likely to form cavities if food gets stuck between them.

So how should you floss a toddler?  The same way adults floss: ideally after every meal or at least once a day.  You can use the same floss you use for yourself, or you can buy disposable floss picks that make it easier to get in and out of a squirming toddler.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help your child avoid cavities through proper dental hygiene.  Call us today if you have any questions about how to floss your toddler.

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!