Taking Care of Your Infant’s Teeth

After weeks of listening to your baby cry from discomfort, you finally spot that first little tooth bud. Our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care want you to know that baby teeth may be small, but they’re important because they act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. To avoid that, we have suggestions for taking care of your infant's teeth.

It’s critical to take care of baby’s gums right away. But at first, you will not be using a toothbrush or toothpaste. Instead, you should grab a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze and gently wipe down your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Especially wipe your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime to avoid baby bottle decay. The reason being that the sugary liquids pool around the teeth for long periods of time as your baby sleeps, leading to cavities that first develop in the upper and lower front teeth. 

If you have further questions regarding your child’s oral hygiene habits, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous part of plants. It does not break down like sugar and can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth. Perhaps you’ve seen the name on a label of American Dental Association (ADA) chewing gum or chewing gum that is simply, “sugar-free.” This is because xylitol protects the teeth from decay, and consuming it is highly recommended by our dentists at Alta Loma Dental Care.

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When you eat food containing ordinary sugar, it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start producing acids that can attack your tooth enamel. Due to the dental benefits of xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise last for over a half an hour is stopped in its tracks. Research has also shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the enamel. So next time you’re strolling through the candy aisle at a convenience store, you may want to look for a label that mentions this sugar substitute.

If you have further questions regarding xylitol, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

Reasons You May Need a Tooth Extraction

Although permanent teeth can last a lifetime, teeth that have become damaged or decayed may need to be removed or extracted. The most common reason for tooth extractions are typically the removal of wisdom teeth, because with them, the patient is at risk of infection. Before one of our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care considers extraction, every effort will be made to repair and restore your tooth first. However, sometimes tooth extractions are unavoidable.

Other reasons for tooth extraction include:

• Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.


• Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow permanent teeth to come in.


• People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

How Do Teeth Become Discolored?

Yellow teeth can be mild or severe, but either way, a white smile is what everyone desires. At Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want our patients to be aware of how teeth turn yellow, so they can avoid staining and feel proud to flash their smile!

 When teeth have surface stains, these stains can eventually penetrate the enamel and reach the dentin of the tooth. The dentin is the dental pulp of the tooth in the center. It contains a soft tissue that can turn dark if stains reach it. When the dentin becomes discolored, it tends to turn the whole tooth a darker or yellowish color. Professional whitening services are able to reach past the enamel, not only lifting surface stains but lifting stains from the dentin, as well.

This penetration is why a good oral hygiene routine is important. Surface stains cannot hang around for long if a brush is continually working to polish them away. Plus, when you remove plaque, that limits the amount of time stain-causing food or drinks can sit on the teeth.

If you are looking to whiten your smile, it helps to know just how stains are caused in the first place. To learn about our whitening procedure here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition and should be treated as such. If you or someone you know suffers through the symptoms of sleep apnea, it is important to get treatment for it. At Alta Loma Dental Care, we offer treatment for sleep apnea and want our patients in the Alta Loma, CA area to know the dangers of ignoring sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft palate collapses while sleeping. This creates a blockage in the windpipe, significantly reducing the amount of air that gets by, or even completely stopping any air from getting by. It is often accompanied with loud snoring.

Sleep apnea causes severe fatigue due to the constant sleep interruptions. Even if you do not remember waking up, your body wakes up when it recognizes it isn’t breathing. In addition to your interrupted sleep, any sleeping partners may also have frequently interrupted sleep due to the loud snoring.

Because the body is not breathing normally throughout the night, serious health issues can arise. These issues include a higher risk of stroke and heart failure, liver problems, and hypertension.

Sleep apnea is nothing to take lightly.  If you suffer through sleep apnea, we offer several options for treatment in our Alta Loma, CA office. To learn more, call Alta Loma Dental Care at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

The Difference Between Plaque and Tartar

Many people know that plaque and tartar are bad for your teeth and gums, but many do not know the difference between the two. To achieve optimal oral health, at Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want our patients to know the difference and why knowing is important.

Plaque and tartar happen when you do not brush your teeth properly or you frequently miss a hard-to-reach area with your brush. They are what cause cavities and gum disease. It can also lead to bad breath. While they are both bad for you, they are different. Well, technically they are the same, but in different stages.

Plaque forms on your teeth within hours of brushing. It is a thin, sticky substance created from the food we eat, the drinks we drink, and even our saliva. It coats our teeth. Plaque is easily brushed and flossed away. Since it forms just hours after brushing, this is why it is important to brush your teeth at least two times per day.

Tartar is what forms when plaque is not removed. Plaque will begin to crystalize and it hardens on the surface of your teeth. At this stage, it is only able to be removed by a dentist. Tartar can lead to gum disease, and since only a dentist can remove it, you do not want it to form in the first place.

Remember to brush your teeth two times per day. If a third time is possible, squeeze it in! Also, remember to floss every day to get in between your teeth. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA office, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

The Problems Smoking Causes for Oral Health

Smoking is bad for your health in many ways. One of the ways smoking wreaks havoc on your health is right where the smoke enters your body; your mouth. Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA wants to remind our patients why today is the best day to quit smoking.

Smoking is terrible for your lungs, your heart, your blood vessels, and pretty much every body system you have. It is a known cause of cancer, which includes mouth cancer. Cigarettes can cause abnormalities to form on the tongue, the gums, the lips, and the throat.

Smoking also causes more plaque, which can cause more build-up. It increases the risk of gum disease and creates a risk for cavities three times greater than those who do not smoke. In addition, smoking lowers your ability to fight infection, so gum disease or tooth infections can be much worse for a smoker.

In addition to the health risks that smoking poses, it also creates aesthetic oral problems. Smoking stains teeth and since smoking is habitual, your teeth will likely only get darker and darker until you quit. It can also create chronic bad breath due to how much it dries out your mouth.

If you are looking for more reasons to quit smoking, there is a ton just for oral health, alone. To learn more about Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.