fluoride

The Benefits of Fluoride on Dental Health

November 30th, 2020

We get a lot of questions about fluoride here at Northwest Children's Dentistry. There are lots of myths about its use out on the Internet, but the truth is that fluoride is one of the best ways to protect your kids' teeth.



Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Pediatric dentists love it because it reduces the harmful effects of plaque, one of the leading causes of children's tooth decay. Preventing disease is way easier than treating a problem, and we want your kids to have healthy teeth for as long as possible.

Many people falsely believe fluoride is unsafe. However, unless you misuse fluoride, science finds it to be safe for kids. You can prevent fluoride misuse by not letting your kids swallow fluoride toothpaste.

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.

Services Available from a Pediatric Dentist

September 16th, 2019

You may think a dentist is just a dentist, but pediatric dentists are specially trained to look after a child's growing teeth. After graduating from general dental school, pediatric dentists go on to earn an additional degree on dental care for children. Pediatric dentists also have a lot of techniques to make kids feel comfortable and welcome in the dentists’ chair.  Read on to find out what kind of services pediatric dentists like the ones at Northwest Children's Dentistry have to offer:



  • Routine Check-Ups: We examine your child's teeth every six months to make sure they are growing properly. Routine care and preventative measures will lessen the amount of procedures we need to do to keep your kid healthy.
  • Sealants: A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating secured to the chewing surface of the tooth.  Many permanent molars erupt with deep pits and grooves. The sealant fills these areas to create a barrier to keep food and bacteria out.  This simple procedure can reduce the risk of tooth decay by up to 50%.
  • Fluoride Treatments: Fluoride is a pediatric dentist’s top disease prevention technique.   Regular fluoride treatments can help reduce cavities.
  • Cavity Fillings: If your child has significant tooth decay or damaged teeth, we can provide fillings to protect them.   We can also provide metal-free fillings that blend in with your child's natural smile.
  • Mouth or Sports Guards: If your child is involved in a high-impact sport, you may want to consider a custom mouth guard for your child.  Custom mouth guards protect your child’s teeth in case of injury and are more comfortable to wear than store bought ones.
  • And many more! We provide a variety of individualized services and will do everything possible to help answer all your questions about your child's dental health.

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.

Why Fluoride Supplements are Important

July 29th, 2015

Tucson, Arizona doesn't have fluoridated tap water, so it's important to make sure your child supplements with fluoride in other ways.  In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, "Widespread use of fluoride has been a major factor in the decline in prevalence and severity of dental caries in the US and other economically developed countries."  This stops dental problems from happening with young children, giving kids greater odds of having healthy teeth well into adulthood.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we're happy to give you guidance on how much fluoride supplements your child needs.  Different age groups of children need different doses, and other factors can also play into how much you should give your child.

If you have any questions about fluoride and your child's dental health, 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!

The Importance of Fluoride

February 19th, 2015

We here at Northwest Children's Dentistry get a lot of questions about fluoride.  Fluoride is an important part of your child's dental health.  Research has shown that fluoride reduces cavities and helps repair the early stages of tooth decay, even before the decay becomes visible.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, even the oceans.  It is safe when administered in proper doses, which is something your dentist can talk to you about.

Leading health organizations, including the American Dental Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry support community water fluoridation based on the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence, which continues to establish that it is safe and effective.

Because Tucson is only one of 6 major U.S. cities who don't fluoridate tap water, we believe in children using fluoride toothpaste.  We typically recommend fluoride toothpaste for patients at 2 years of age. However, depending on your child’s specific risk for tooth decay, we may recommend using fluoride toothpaste earlier than 2 years old.

At 2 years old, it is best to use a smear amount of toothpaste. By age 5, a pea-sized amount is recommended. Swallowing this small amount of toothpaste is safe, but there is no harm in beginning to teach your child to spit out the toothpaste as early as possible.

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's dental health, 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!

The Effectiveness of In-Office Fluoride Treatments

April 22nd, 2013

One of the many treatments we offer at Northwest Children's Dentistry are in-office fluoride treatments.  Many parents ask us about this common procedure.

In-office fluoride treatments have been shown to decrease tooth decay rates. For younger children, we prefer to use a topical fluoride varnish that is “painted” onto the teeth. The benefit for using a fluoride varnish is that children do not have to wait 30 minutes to eat or drink. We typically recommend in-office fluoride treatments twice per year for all ages. For those children with high risk for tooth decay, we recommend these treatments more often.

As your pediatric dentist in Tucson, we want to help you understand all the treatments we provide.  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!