Night Guards for Grinding and Clenching

Grinding and clenching teeth at night is a common problem. Unfortunately, it can create serious dental issues like worn down teeth, sensitivity, and damage. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we offer night guards to protect our patients who grind and clench their teeth at night.

Grinding your teeth wears down your enamel, causing sensitivity and making teeth prone to cavities. It can also cause fillings to come loose and cause damage like fractures to teeth. The clenching can eventually lead to TMJ problems. In addition, the grinding can be awful for any sleeping partners to listen to at night.

In our Alta Loma, CA office, we create custom night guards for our patients. These are mouth guards that create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth. They stop damage from grinding and lessen the consequences of clenching. They may even stop your grinding and clenching altogether.

If you suspect you grind and clench your teeth at night, pay us a visit so we can examine your teeth. To set up an appointment with us and learn more about night guards, call Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Many of us desire a smile we can be proud of. When dull or stained teeth make you want to hide your smile, something needs to be done! At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we offer professional teeth whitening to bring back a smile you don’t want to cover up.
Professional teeth whitening is the best route to go when looking to whiten teeth. When you trust a dentist, you know you will get great results and it will be done safely. Store-bought whitening kits can be messy, difficult to apply, and they do not offer the results that our professional whitening system can. Plus, there is room for error, which means you can end up harming your teeth and causing sensitivity. Depending on the current shade of your teeth and what shade you desire, our system often produces results four to eight shades whiter.
At Alta Loma Dental Care, we offer take-home whitening trays. These care custom-made trays that you add our whitening solution to every day or night for a short period of time. They are convenient, custom, and offer great results.
Daily habits can over time dull the shine of our smile or cause a yellowish stain. To learn more about the teeth whitening we offer here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.

How to Keep Tooth Enamel Strong

Tooth enamel is the hard outer surface layer of your teeth that serves to protect against tooth decay. In fact, tooth enamel is considered the hardest mineral substance in your body, even stronger than bone. At Alta Loma Dental Care your enamel to be as strong as the rest of the bones in your body and you can keep it that way by following these simple steps:

• Limit sugary foods and drinks – bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar from foods and drinks. They produce acids, which soften and wear away your enamel. Chewy candies that stick on your teeth can also cause damage.
• Eat foods that protect enamel – calcium in food counters acids in your mouth that cause decay. It also helps keep your bones and teeth strong. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products help protect and strengthen enamel. If you don’t eat dairy, look for foods with calcium added.
• Avoid over-brushing – You can actually wear down your enamel if you brush too fast and hard. Wait for up to an hour after eating sweets or citrus fruits before you brush your teeth.
• Use fluoride – Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter because it strengthens your enamel and helps repair the early stages of tooth decay. Using a fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash can help prevent cavities and keep your enamel strong.

If you need assistance with your daily oral care routine, please give us a call. To learn 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.

Diabetic Oral Care

People with poorly controlled diabetes are more prone to dental problems. They are more likely to develop infections of their gums and the bones that hold the teeth in place because diabetes can reduce the blood supply to the gums. If you have diabetes, please call our office to schedule a professional exam with our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care to prevent further dental complications.

If you have diabetes, symptoms of dental problems include bleeding and sore gums, frequent infections, and bad breath. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is critical. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Additionally, high blood sugar may cause dry mouth and make gum disease worse. The decrease in saliva can cause an increase in tooth-decaying bacteria and plaque buildup. You can prevent these problems by maintaining good blood sugar control, brushing and flossing and least twice a day, and schedule a dental checkup every six months.

If you have questions about diabetic oral care, please give us a call. To learn 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.

Don’t Brush Your Teeth Too Hard

Brushing your teeth regularly is considered vital for healthy teeth and gums. However, if you’ve ever heard the expression that “too much of a good thing can be bad for you,” the same rule applies here. Known as “toothbrush abrasion,” over brushing can lead to sensitive teeth and receding gums. It’s important to use the proper brushing technique that our staff at Alta Loma Dental Care has taught you in the past, but it’s also important to use the proper tools.
The people who are most at risk for tooth or gum damage from over brushing are those who are particularly diligent about their oral care and those who use medium or hard-bristled toothbrushes. Toothbrush abrasion causes V-shaped notches in the lower third of the teeth near the gum line. One of our doctors can examine your teeth to see if you have tooth abrasion or erosion. Once the cause of erosion or abrasion is determined and stopped, the process usually ends.
If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn 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.

Details on Dental Veneers

Dental veneers, sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental laminates, are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth. At Alta Loma Dental Care, we utilize them to routinely fix teeth that are discolored, teeth that are worn down, or teeth that are chipped or broken. If you wish to enhance the appearance of your smile and are looking for a more advanced treatment option, then dental veneers might be for you.

Veneers are made by a dental technician, usually in a dental lab, working from a model provided by your dentist. Placing veneers is usually an irreversible task, because, in order to complete the course of action, it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. Veneers do a great job of masking undesirable defects, such as stained teeth, or teeth with gaps between them. Before placing veneers, one of our doctors will assure that you are comfortable with the entire treatment process.

If you believe that you may benefit from dental veneers, please give us a call. To learn 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.

The Temporomandibular Joint: Explained

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the jaw joint. You have two of them which work together as a pair, one in front of each ear. Without this joint, you would not be able to chew your food, yawn, or even speak. The joints connect the lower jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones of the skull on each side of the head. When this joint begins to cause facial pain, headaches, and/or jaw muscle stiffness, our doctors at Alta Loma Dental Care can develop a treatment plan.

When you open your mouth, the rounded upper ends of the mandible on each side of the jaw glide along the joint socket at the base of the skull. They slide back to their original position when you close your mouth. This joint is unique in the sense that the articular surfaces of the bones never actually come in contact with one another – they are separated by an articular disk. This disk splits the joint into two synovial joint cavities, each lined by a synovial membrane. It is important to keep in mind that occasional clicking or discomfort in the jaw joint or chewing muscles is common, but if you have a serious concern for TMD, you should schedule a consultation with Alta Loma Dental Care.

If you have questions about the temporomandibular joint or TMJ/TMD, please give us a call. To learn 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.