Are Electric Toothbrushes Better than Manual Ones?

Manual and electric toothbrushes have long been debated. Do you know if there is one better than the other? Our patients want to know, and Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA intends to lay out the facts.

When it comes to dental care, some of us want to make sure we are getting the best products. Since electric toothbrushes were invented, there has been debate about whether or not they can clean teeth better than manual toothbrushes. It turns out that it really depends on the person using it.

Generally, manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes do the same job cleaning teeth. However, if you are someone who has difficulty using your hands, like someone with arthritis, an electric toothbrush may be the better option. This is because electric toothbrushes do most of the work. You really just need to hold them in the right position. In addition, electric toothbrushes usually have thicker handles than manual ones; making them easier to hold. This may make it easier for certain patients to do a good job cleaning.

When it comes to dental care, there is no doubt a good home hygiene routine is essential. To learn more about healthy oral hygiene routines, contact Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA by calling (909) 987-6268 or by visiting our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Brush for a Full Two Minutes

Brushing for two minutes allows you enough time to hit all the spots you should be cleaning in your mouth. However, many patients do not spend enough time brushing. Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA wants to give our patients tips for getting a full two minutes in.

When brushing, you need to make sure you hit all the surfaces of the teeth including the insides, the fronts, the chewing surfaces, and the backs of the back molars. In addition, you should be brushing your tongue, the insides of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth. These are places where bacteria can collect. Hitting all of these spots carefully should take you about two minutes.

A fun way of keeping track of the two minutes is to turn on your favorite song. Many music players have counters on them, just look for the two minute mark! Another great, visual way is to set up an hour glass, or in this case, a minute glass. Just remember to turn it over a second time for the full two minutes.

Splitting the mouth into four sections is also a good way to break up the minutes. Spend thirty seconds on the upper-right section, thirty seconds on the upper-left section, and so on for the two lower sections.

Good oral care yields healthy teeth and gums. To schedule a cleaning at Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Taking Care of your New Dental Crown

With any dental procedure or restoration, there will be some healing time. When a crown is placed, there are some special instructions you should follow in order to allow healthy and quick healing. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we want our patients to be aware of these instructions.

When having a crown installed, you will first wear a temporary crown. This is to protect the area and allow use of the tooth while the custom crown is being created at a dental laboratory. These temporary crowns are not cemented in permanently, so you will need to be careful so it does not pop off. When brushing, be gentle on and around the crown. When flossing, do not pull up; instead move the floss back and forth while gently moving upwards.

When the permanent crown is cemented into place, the soft tissue will need to get used to the new crown. There may be swelling and slight irritation. As the tissue heals, this will go away. In the meantime, you can use ibuprofen or a warm salt water rinse to help with any pain.

It will take some time, but eventually your crown will start to feel like one of your own teeth. For more information about dental crowns, contact Alta Loma Dental Center of Alta Loma, CA by calling (909) 987-6268 or by visiting our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.