Overbite Overview

If you have been diagnosed with an overbite, this simply means that your top teeth extend beyond your bottom teeth. It is a common dental problem that our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care can correct with braces. Overbite teeth are considered a type of “bad bite.” It can either be noticeable or unnoticeable, but it some extreme cases it can make your jaw look significantly larger or your bottom jaw look much smaller.

Most often, overbites are inherited as traits just as the color of your eyes or the freckles on your cheeks. Other causes of misaligned bites may result from an early loss of baby or adult teeth, gum disease, or common oral health problems in children, such as thumb sucking. Once one of our doctors confirms your overbite with X-rays, he or she may take regular photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between the teeth, jaws, and head. From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to correct the bite.

If you wish to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment, please give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at 909-987-6268.

Avoiding Uneven Staining After Braces

Preventing staining can keep a smile white and bright and it is even more important while you are wearing braces. Because the brackets are usually in place for at least a year, staining can lead to uneven marks when the braces come off. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we offer professional teeth whitening; however it is nice to know how to avoid staining, as well.

The main part of keeping a white smile is keeping a great dental hygiene routine. This includes brushing your teeth for the recommended amount of times and doing a thorough job. It will help to brush after every meal. Just be sure to wait at least thirty minutes after eating to protect your enamel. Also, be sure to hit spots like the roof of your mouth, your inner cheeks, and your tongue. These places, especially your tongue, can collect bacteria just like your teeth. It will help to pick up some extra supplies like an interdental cleaner and floss threaders. These make it easier to clean around the brackets and wires.

When it comes to dark foods and drinks, they are okay every now and then but try to avoid consuming them frequently. Examples of these foods are cranberries, tomato soup, coffee, and tea. Liquids can be sipped through a straw to minimize contact. Rinsing your mouth out afterward can also help deter any lasting staining.

Interested in perfecting your smile? Inquire about our orthodontic options and professional teeth whitening. To schedule an appointment at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

TMJ Exercises

TMD is a condition that affects the TMJs, causing pain, stiffness, and a lot of frustration. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we can provide experienced and effective treatment for TMD. These exercises may also help with relaxing your jaw and increasing range of motion. However, if any of these exercises make the pain worse, do not continue.

Relax

To help relax your jaw, smile the biggest, widest smile as you can while keeping your jaw open about two inches. Hold this post for five seconds and then release. You can do this exercise several times until you begin to feel your jaw and facial muscles relax.

Strengthen

This exercise will help strengthen the ligaments around your jaw and it will help relax the muscles you use to close your mouth. Close your mouth, keeping your teeth together, but not clenched. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, right behind your front teeth. Move your tongue backwards until the tip touches your soft palate. Gently and slowly open your mouth until your tongue is separated from the soft palate. Keep your mouth open for five seconds and then close your mouth. Repeat this exercise slowly for five minutes.

Stretch

To stretch your tight jaw, start with your mouth closed but with your teeth slightly parted. Place your thumb under your chin and apply gentle pressure. With your thumb creating pressure, open your mouth. Do this exercise ten times. Gradually, you will notice you can open your mouth comfortable more and more.

If you notice you are having difficulties with your TMJs, be sure to schedule an appointment with us for help. To schedule at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Facts on Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth’s crust and widely distributed in nature and is often added to water to help reduce tooth decay. Research has shown that fluoride not only reduces cavities in children and adults, but it also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay, even before the decay is visible. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care, our doctors can discuss professional fluoride treatments with you to see if you are a prime candidate.

When fluoride reaches your teeth, it is absorbed into the enamel. Fluoride helps to repair the enamel by replenishing the lost calcium and phosphorus to keep your teeth hard through a process called remineralization. When fluoride is present during this process, the minerals deposited into the tooth enamel help strengthen your teeth and prevent dissolution during the next demineralization phase. The results are stronger tooth enamel and a cavity-free grin.

If you think you may benefit from fluoride treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at 909-987-6268.

Selecting a Mouthwash to Meet Your Needs

Mouthwash or rinses are used for a variety of reasons: to freshen breath, to help prevent or control tooth decay, to reduce plaque, to prevent or reduce gingivitis, to reduce the speed that tartar forms on the teeth, or to produce a combination of these effects. Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care would like to explain some of them.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor causing compounds.

If you desire a brighter smile, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services we provide at our practice, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at 909-987-6268.

What Causes Worn Down Teeth?

Worn down teeth can lead to sensitivity, gum irritation, and it can even make you prone to cavities. At Alta Loma Dental Care, we want our patients to be educated on how to keep a healthy smile. Read on to learn what can lead to worn down teeth. Also, visit our Alta Loma, CA office for your routine examination and more dental advice.

 

Brushing Too Hard

The purpose of brushing teeth is to remove plaque and other debris. Plaque is a thin, sticky film that covers teeth, but it is very soft and easily removed. All it takes is some light scrubbing with a toothbrush that has soft bristles. Using excessive force or stiff bristles can actually harm your teeth by wearing down your enamel.

 

Home Whitening

Many patients have seen these at-home whitening kits while scrolling through Pinterest. It promises bright, white teeth while using something that you probably already have in your pantry; however, baking soda is very abrasive. If used too much, it can lead to very worn down enamel, making your teeth prone to cavities. In addition, worn down enamel tends to darken teeth, the opposite of what you were trying to accomplish! For safe, professional whitening, contact us!

 

Acidic Drinks

Another way that patients can damage their tooth enamel is by drinking large amounts of acidic drinks like pop. The acid in your favorite cola can gradually eat through enamel. Stick to keeping pop and other acidic beverages as treats for now and then, not daily drinks. In addition, wait at least thirty minutes after drinking an acidic drink to brush your teeth. The acid softens our enamel which can then be brushed away. Waiting at least thirty minutes will allow the enamel to re-harden.

Remember to keep a great at-home oral hygiene routine and visit us for your checkups! 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. 

How Does a Dental Bridge Replace a Tooth?

Replacing your missing teeth will allow you to chew properly, it will help maintain your jaw structure, and it keeps your smile looking like you. One option for tooth replacement we offer here at Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA office is the dental bridge. Being around for a long time, the bridge is a popular option.

Dental bridges work by attaching a replacement tooth to dental crowns. The dental crowns are placed on the teeth next to where the opening is and the replacement tooth sits snugly in the opening. Dental bridges are made to last a long time and they can look just like the rest of your teeth. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care, we have a dental laboratory create a completely custom crown for each of our patients.

To get started with the bridge process, first, your teeth adjacent to the opening are reshaped so that crowns can be fitted on them. Next, an impression of the area is taken so the dental lab can create the bridge. You will wear a temporary bridge while your permanent bridge is being created. When it is ready, the bridge arrives with the replacement tooth, called a pontic, attached to one or more crowns. We then cement the bridge into place.

Tooth replacement is important for a variety of reasons. If you have recently lost a tooth, do not hesitate to find out your replacement options. To schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.