Healthy Food for Teeth

Along with brushing and flossing, there are other ways to take care of your teeth- like eating. It is true; there are certain foods that are actually good for your teeth. At Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want our patients to be well-rounded in oral health. That is why we are going to talk about some of the foods to choose that will benefit your teeth and gums!

By now, most of us have probably heard that milk is great for strong bones. Well, the same goes for teeth. Calcium in milk keeps teeth strong and healthy. In addition, milk lowers the levels of acid in your mouth, further protecting teeth and gums. Cheese yields similar results.

Crunchy foods like cucumbers and apples help clean teeth as you eat them. The fibrous foods scrape against your teeth and remove plaque!

Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits are great for your gums. They strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues that hold your teeth to your jaw. They also reduce inflammation.

Foods that contain polyphenols like cranberries and tea prevent plaque from growing and sticking to teeth. This lowers the risk of cavities.

When looking for food that will benefit teeth, it is good to look for vitamin-rich foods and foods that promote saliva flow. Keeping a moist mouth is important for keeping bacteria levels down. To schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice, give our office a call at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

How to Brush and Floss with Braces

When wearing braces, you must take a little more time brushing and flossing to avoid stains and cavities. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we want all of our patients to know the proper ways to brush and floss. This is why we want to remind our patients who wear braces of how to take good oral care at home.

Brushing while wearing braces is a little different than brushing without them. You now have brackets that can collect plaque and wires to be careful with. Brushing with braces takes a little extra time, but the effort is worth it. Nobody wants to deal with awkward staining or decay after their braces are taken off. They should be enjoying their beautiful smile!

To brush well, you need to make sure you are first brushing normally, and then brushing around your brackets. Brush along the tops and bottoms of your brackets with your toothbrush. To brush the sides of your brackets under the wires, use an interdental toothbrush. These are available where most stores sell dental supplies and look like teeny trees.

To floss, invest in Superfloss or a floss threader. This will make flossing much easier by getting under your wires smoothly. Flossing is still very important, as cavities are most likely to occur between teeth.

Proper home care, along with routine dental visits will ensure a healthy and beautiful smile when those braces come off. To schedule an appointment with us at Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, give us a call at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Calming Kids' Dental Fears

When kids are afraid of going to the dentist, it can be a hassle getting them there smoothly. Not to mention, your child is experiencing fear, which is something no one wants to see their child go through. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we strive to make dental visits a comfortable experience for anyone. However, we do have some tips for calming your child’s dental fears.

Play Dentist at Home

By playing “dentist” at home, your child will feel more comfortable in our office. Try having them lean back in a chair while you count their teeth. This will help them know what to expect.

The Earlier, the Better

Kids should start seeing the dentist as soon as they grow in their first tooth. However, if they have not grown in their first tooth by the age of one, that is also a good time to bring them in. Starting early will also help your child feel more familiar with dentists and dental procedures.

Rewards and Praise

Giving your child praise or a reward after good behavior at a dental appointment is a good way to show positive reinforcement. Take them to a park, let them pick a movie to see, or make their favorite dinner. Just be careful not to offer the reward before the appointment. This may have the opposite effect, as your child may then think there is something to be afraid of.

Through good planning and reassuring words, your child can become familiar with dental visits and see them as no big deal. To schedule your family’s dental visit, call Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

How to Have a Happy and Healthy Halloween

Halloween is that fun-filled time of the year where the air is crisp, the leaves are crunchy, and there is cavity-causing candy galore! Do not get us wrong, Halloween should be enjoyed by everyone! However, at Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want to advise our patients on how to have a safe and healthy Halloween, along with a fun one!

The candy we trick-or-treat for and load up our door steps with is filled with sugar that can cause cavities. In addition, the sour candies can cause additional wear-down of our enamel. In order to make it past Halloween with a healthy mouth, you need to make sure you are brushing and flossing extra-well. Pay attention to timing, too. The acid that is in candy (especially sour candy) can soften the enamel on our teeth. So when we brush our teeth right after eating, it can wear down enamel. Wait at least thirty minutes after eating before brushing.

Another tip for a safe Halloween is avoiding the candies that will not work well with your mouth. For instance, if you have a weak tooth, avoid hard candies that you may be tempted to bite down on. If you have a recent filling or a loose crown, stay away from sticky candies like taffy and caramel.

Always remember to floss! Following these tips, you are sure to have a happy and healthy Halloween. To schedule a cleaning with Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, give our office a call at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Pregnancy and How it Affects Oral Health

During pregnancy, you are no longer just taking steps to take care of your own body, but the body of your baby, as well. Oral care is very important for a healthy body system. The doctors of Alta Loma Dental Care here in Alta Loma, CA want our patients to know how pregnancy affects oral health and what changes need to be made to take good care of it.

During pregnancy, visits to the dentist for cleanings and examinations should become more frequent. There should also be more attention paid to home oral care. The change in hormones during pregnancy makes gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and tartar. They can become red, puffy, and bleed more easily. This is a condition known is pregnancy gingivitis. After the baby is born, hormones should return to normal and relieve sensitive gums, however, it is still important to keep gingivitis at bay. Pregnancy gingivitis can still turn into a more serious gum disease. Irritated gums can also form pregnancy tumors. These are benign lumps on the gum tissue that will clear up after the baby is born, but they can be irritating enough to need to be removed sooner.

To avoid irritating gums, make sure to brush in the morning, before bed, and thirty minutes after every meal. In addition, talk to your dentist about increasing dental cleanings and examinations.

We are invested in your health throughout all stages of life. To schedule an appointment with us in our Alta Loma, CA practice, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit the Alta Loma Dental Care website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.

Choosing Safe and Effective Toothpaste

Choosing toothpaste may seem like a simple task but choosing the right one can help out your oral health by a lot. There are different toothpastes for different oral needs. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we are committed to helping our patients find the products that benefit their oral care the best.

There is toothpaste for sensitive teeth, tartar control, whitening, fresh breath, and more. While choosing between these different toothpastes, there are certain ingredients you want to look out for. There are some elements that can help your teeth and some that can harm.

For whitening and tartar control, there is an abrasive agent added to the toothpaste that helps polish away stains and reduce tartar build up. However, too much of this ingredient can actually harm teeth by wearing down the enamel. You want to be sure your toothpaste has a safe level of the abrasives.

For sensitive teeth, toothpaste with potassium nitrate and strontium chloride are great. These help desensitize the nerves that create sensitivity.

For fresh breath, there are toothpastes that have added ingredients that fight the bad breath bacteria. Look for antibacterial toothpaste.

For kids, choosing toothpaste that has a fun flavor might actually get them excited about brushing! There are tons of options that are both effective and fun.

Looking for the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance will ensure you are choosing safe and effective toothpaste!

For more tips on oral hygiene, contact Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA. Call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.

Foods and Drinks to Beat Bad Breath

When it comes to fresh breath, we all know it can be hard to keep. Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA wants our patients to know how to avoid bad breath and how to fight it when it appears. Along with a good oral hygiene routine, there are foods and drinks that help battle bad breath.

Foods with vitamin C are great at killing the bacteria that reside in your mouth. Fruits like oranges, melons, and berries are high in vitamin C. They are also healthy to eat and they taste great!

Fresh herbs like mint, parsley, basil, and cilantro freshen up breath when you chew on them. They also contain chlorophyll which neutralizes odors; so these herbs work both in the short term and the long term! Another odor neutralizer is green tea. Replace coffee or soda pop with green tea. It works to kill stinky bacteria, plus it hydrates you; vital for keeping bad breath away.

One more way to fight the bacteria that cause bad breath is… more bacteria. It’s true! Eating probiotic yogurt without added sugar is great because it contains active bacteria cultures that fight the bad breath bacteria. Just be sure there is no added sugar as that will create a feeding ground for the bad bacteria.

The right foods and drinks along with great oral care do a great job at deterring bad breath. However, if you are still struggling, it may be a sign of a condition that needs more attention, like gum disease. To schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA office, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.