flossing

Encouraging Your Child to Floss and Brush Teeth

March 28th, 2019

Do you have a reluctant brusher or flosser?  A child who drags their feet to brush their teeth in the morning or at night?  Here are some tips to try to encourage your young child to brush more often.

  • Make brushing and flossing part of a daily routine.  Making brushing a natural part of every day will help reinforce to your child it's just something they do, like getting dressed in the morning.
  • Let them pick out dental supplies.  Young kids are more likely to opt in if they have choice.  Let them choose a favorite color toothbrush or a different kind of fluoride toothpaste.  This makes them feel like part of the dental process.
  • Create a rewards chart.  Sometimes kids just need a little push to make brushing or flossing a regular part of the day.  Hang up a rewards chart where kids earn a sticker for each time they brush or floss without you needing to remind them.  When they collect 20 stickers, give them a modest prize.
  • Show them you brush and floss too.  Being a good example to your kids goes a long way in showing that dental care is important at your house.

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.

Pediatric Dentistry's Top 3 Prevention Techniques

August 13th, 2018

An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.  There are three basic prevention techniques that can drastically reduce the cavity formation.  Let's go over each one in turn:

  1. Brushing: This one should come to no surprise to anyone.  Brushing removes harmful bacteria that can cause cavities in your child's mouth.  You should brush twice a day.
  2. Flossing: Flossing is like brushing in between your teeth, where your toothbrush can't reach.  Floss at least once a deal.
  3. Sealants: 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 of molars, providing a barrier to keep food and bacteria out, thus reducing the risk of decay by up to 50%.

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.

The Five Ws (and one H) of Flossing

April 2nd, 2018

Prevention is the best kind of medicine, and flossing is a great tool in your dental health tool belt.  Let's go over the basic questions of flossing:

  • Who should floss?  Everyone, of course!  Even kids.
  • Why should kids floss?  Because food and other bacteria can get stuck between a child's teeth, and over time, that can cause tooth decay and loss.
  • What should kids floss with?  Either disposable flossers or regular floss works fine.
  • When should kids start flossing?  Once their teeth touch each other.  This can even happen with your child's baby teeth.
  • Where should kids floss?  Make sure your kids floss along each sides of the tooth.  You're trying to remove food particles where your brush can't reach.
  • How often should kids floss?  We recommend once per day.

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.

When to Start Flossing your Child

August 17th, 2013

Lots of parents know to start brushing as soon as their infant's teeth emerge, but what about flossing?  We receive many questions about when it's time to start flossing your child.

As a rule of thumb, you should floss your infant or toddler once the space between their teeth become close enough that simple brushing won't remove food particles.  This time can vary from child to child.  Being proactive about brushing your child's teeth twice a day will help you identify when the exact time is right for your child.  If you're not sure, you can always visit Northwest Children's Dentistry for an evaluation.

On the same token, it doesn't hurt to "practice flossing" so that your child is used to the process even at an early age.  You can floss your child's teeth even with large gaps once a week just so they're used to the sensation.  This can help smooth the transition when they should be flossing every day.

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

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!