baby tooth

Teeth are often an important milestone for babies.  We see those first baby teeth come in, and we marvel at our growing children.  Later down the road, losing those teeth are equally important, but this time, your kids are aware of what's going on.

Some kids have an anxiety about losing those teeth.  They could be scared of change, especially something as familiar as the teeth in their mouth.  Here are some suggestions to help you soothe a kid who's worried about losing their first primary teeth:

• Read Children's Books about Losing Teeth Together.  Knowing that losing a tooth is a normal part of growing up, and kids should know that.  Reading picture books showing other kids go through this can help a child know what to expect.  It helps to read this as soon as you suspect your child has a wiggling tooth so they have time to adjust the idea of losing it.
• Talk up the Tooth Fairy.  Just like using reward charts for potty training, the tooth fairy is a kind of positive reward for losing teeth.  Knowing there's a prize for getting rid of a tooth in advance can help ease a kid's mind.
• Be There When it's Time for the Tooth to Go.  Being a positive, patient pressure when the tooth's about to fall out can help a stressed out kid.  Have them snuggle in your lap while they wriggle the tooth.  Get excited as it gets looser.  Having you there as a cheerleader can make the event seem less intimidating.
• Or Conversely, Give Them Some Space.  This might seem contradictory, but kids, just like adults, have different personalities.  If being a cheerleader seems to increase your child's anxiety, you can take a step back and let them try to work it out themselves.  A little distance and space can also sometimes ease a child's mind.

Of course, if you have any medical concerns about your child's loose teeth, always feel free to give our office a call.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to keep your child's smile healthy.  If you have any questions for our office, 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.

Children experience a lot of minor issues as they lose baby tooth and their permanent teeth come in.  One thing you might see is that the permanent tooth comes in before the baby tooth is out.  What should a parent do?

Called "shark teeth," this is actually a fairly common and harmless condition.  It happens most often with the child's front teeth, although it can happen elsewhere.  If the baby tooth is loose, encourage your child to wiggle it out.  If the tooth is not very loose, that means the baby tooth's roots may still be in place.  Please call our office to see if you need to schedule an appointment for us to extract the tooth.

Once the baby tooth is out, your child's tongue will push the tooth into its position naturally.  Oftentimes, no other treatment needs to be done.  If your child's permanent teeth has crowding issues, however, you may eventually need to see an orthodontist to have their teeth aligned into place.

As your child's pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to serve all your child's dental needs.  If you have any questions for our office, 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.

Baby teeth sometimes get a bad rap as not being as "important" as the permanent teeth that grow in after them.  Baby teeth, however, play an important role in children's dental development that should not be ignored.

Baby teeth play a role in proper chewing and eating.  They promote correct speech development.  They hold space for permanent teeth, guiding them into the correct position, which in turn aids in the normal development of jaw bones and muscles.  Neglected baby tooth cavities can be painful and, in some cases, progress to serious infection.  The back molars will last until your child is between 10 to 13 years of age.  And finally, the aesthetics of nice baby teeth can give your kid a healthy-looking smile.

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.

Children lose their baby teeth all the time when their permanent teeth come in, but what happens if your child loses a baby tooth in an accident before that happens?  Here's what you should do:

If your child loses a baby tooth, do not put it back in their mouth.  Rinse the child's mouth with watch and apply a cold compress to reduce facial swelling. Keep the tooth and call us, your Tucson pediatric dentist, to see if we need to see your child.

If your child doesn't lose a baby tooth, but it is knocked out of place, rinse the child’s mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce facial swelling. In most cases, no emergency care is necessary. Call us to see if we should see 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.

Losing baby teeth is another growing milestone during the early school years.  Here are some general statistics about losing baby teeth:

• Your child can start losing baby teeth as young as 4 and as old as 7.
• Permanent teeth emerge in roughly the same pattern as baby teeth.  Your child will start getting new front teeth first and gradually work backward.
• Your child will probably lose his or her last baby tooth in their early teens, at around the same time as they get 12-year molars.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you manage all your children's dental needs.  If you have any questions about your child losing baby teeth, 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!