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Here at Northwest Children's Dentistry, your local Tucson pediatric dentist, we get a lot of questions about preventative dental health care.  We love these kinds of questions.  We strongly believe that having good oral health habits will lead to better dental health for your child.

One question we frequently receive: When should children brush their own teeth?   Our answer:  you should continue to assist your child with toothbrushing until they can write cursive.  This usually happens when your child is around 8 years old.  Children do not have a fully developed range of dexterity until that age, so they often will miss areas when brushing, which in turn can cause cavities and other dental problems.

This does not mean you should not encourage your child to try brushing on their own.  Instead, you can have your child brush solo first, then do a follow-up brushing immediately after to clean hard-to-reach spots.  This will keep your child's teeth clean while simultaneously training them to one day take over brushing for themselves.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we care about your children's dental health.  Give us a call if you have questions about your children's toothbrushing 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!

This September, our staff had the honor of giving a presentation to the kids of Estes Elementary School.  We talked not only about the importance of daily brushing, but why eating healthy foods is important.  The kids came up with some great questions, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, all while promoting better oral hygiene.

Here at Northwest Children's Dentistry, we believe in the power of dental education.  That's why we offer 30-minute presentations to pre-school age children up to the 6th grade.  Our presentations focus on good oral hygiene techniques and eating healthy foods.  We tailor visits to each age group so children get the most out of the experience.

If your school, daycare, or other organization wants us to give a presentation, please call us at (520) 544-8522 to schedule a visit.   As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we care about the oral health of your kids!

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!

With so many choices in toothbrushes, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is best for your growing child. So what is really best for the dental health of your child? The good news is that we suggest only a couple of criteria when choosing a toothbrush:

1. Choose a toothbrush which is size appropriate. Most companies offer a variety of sizes to choose from.
2.  Toothbrushes with soft bristles are preferable.

And as your pediatric dentist in Tucson recommends, don't forget to brush your child's teeth at least two times per day!

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 parents of an infant-going-on-toddler, you have a lot of things to worry about: first year sleep patterns, solid foods, and keeping your new walker safe.  A dentist visit may be the last thing on your mind.

However, there are a few reasons to consider visiting a pediatric dentist for an age 1 dental visit. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, you can:

• Start a lifelong plan of preventive dental care for your child to minimize tooth decay and cavities.

• Identify tooth decay early in young patients, who can be at risk as soon as their first tooth appears.

• Meet your dentist before an emergency happens.  This way, you will have a number to call with a dentist who is already familiar with your child's teeth.

• Save money! A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that children who have their first dental visit before age one have 40 percent lower dental costs in their first five years than children who do not, due to the cost of dental and medical procedures that may be necessary as a result of poor oral health.

So if you're looking for a pediatric dentist in Tucson, give us a call to learn more about age 1 dental visits!   Our team takes time to listen, understand, and answer any concerns you and your child have from the very beginning. We want to take care of your child’s smile now as well as protect it for the future.

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!