Avoiding Bad Breath

Bad breath can ruin a moment without you even knowing it. Whether you are sharing a car ride with a friend, at a lunch meeting, or on a date, fresh breath is a must. Fresh breath is also an indicator of a healthy mouth. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we’re giving our patients some tips on keeping fresh breath all day long.

Fresh breath comes down to a few different things; cleanliness, hydration, and food. Bacteria are what causes breathe to have an unpleasant smell. Therefore, it is important to keep a good oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth two or three times per day and floss once per day. You may not think flossing has much to do with it but bacteria form between your teeth and sit there until you floss! Also, be sure to clean your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the insides of your cheeks.

Hydration is important because bacteria thrive in dry mouth conditions. Make sure you are drinking your share of water which is on average about thirteen cups for men and nine cups for women. Also, skip drinks that can dry out your mouth such as alcohol and caffeine.

Certain foods can also contribute to bad breath. Dairy especially contains certain types of bacteria that contribute to bad smells. This why coffee is often a double whammy for creating bad breath, it has caffeine and often times it has milk or creamer. On the other hand, yogurt actually has bacteria in it that fight off the bad odor-causing bacteria. So maybe have a yogurt parfait with that cup of joe!

To learn more about dental hygiene, visit our website. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Post-Extraction Care

After an extraction, the site is a wound that needs to heal. At Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want all of our patients to experience smooth and healthy healing after extractions. Follow these instructions to promote healing and avoid infection.

After an extraction, there will probably be some bleeding. You want to do everything you can to help minimize the bleeding and eventually stop it. Do not drink through a straw, participate in strenuous activity, or rinse your mouth out vigorously for the first day after your extraction. In addition, lay down with your head propped up with a pillow to avoid extra blood pressure to the area.

You also want to keep the area as clean as possible. It is important to continue to brush and floss your teeth. Be very careful around the extraction site. Keeping your mouth as clean as possible will help avoid infection.

Eat foods that you will not need to chew. Thin, non-chunky soups, yogurt, smoothies without the straw, and pudding are good ideas to have on hand. For any pain, take the pain medication prescribed by your dentist as directed. Advil or Tylenol can help, if you were not prescribed medication. A warm and gentle salt water rinse may also help with pain and swelling.

Follow these guidelines to help your mouth heal quickly and healthfully. With any questions or concerns, contact us. To schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Cosmetic Options to Brighten Your Smile

A cosmetic change to your smile can do wonders. If you are not confident in your smile, what are you waiting for? At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we have several options for cosmetic dentistry that can turn up the wattage on your smile!

If you are looking to brighten and whiten your smile, our custom take-home whitening trays are able to provide professional whitening results from the comfort of your own home. We make custom whitening trays out of impressions of your teeth so that they fit perfectly. Often our patients see results four to eight shades whiter.

Bonding is another great way to get whiter teeth that last a long time. Dental bonding is the process of applying composite resin to teeth. For purposes of fixing chips, cracks, gaps, and more, the resin is matched to the color of your teeth. For whitening purposes, the resin can be made brighter than your shade of teeth. Bonding can last for up to ten years or even longer with good care.

For complete smile overhauls, we offer veneers and Snap On Smile. Veneers are ceramic shells that are permanently bonded to your existing teeth. They can fix many types of dental imperfections and provide long lasting whitening. Snap On Smile provides a brand-new smile that you can even take out for events like sports or sleeping.

Next time you look in the mirror, be confident in your smile! Come see us for a cosmetic consultation. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.