Straight Teeth are Healthy Teeth

Benefits of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a confident smile. According to the American Dental Association, straightening your teeth can significantly affect your overall dental health. Straightening your smile could hardly be perfect if it’s not a healthy one and here at Alta Loma Dental Care we provide Six Month Smiles and Invisalign options to help get you started.

Swollen red gums can often be the result of having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. Unfortunately, these are also signs of periodontal disease. When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against periodontal problems. When teeth are crooked, extra pressure is placed on just a few teeth when the forces of chewing should be equally distributed between all of the teeth. In addition, smiles can be misaligned to the degree where individual teeth may be completely out of place behind or in front of other teeth, which can cause daily cleaning problems. Plaque left behind after brushing and flossing begins to turn into tartar within 24 hours and this tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush.

If you desire straighter teeth, and a confident smile, give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about our orthodontic services visit www.altalomadentalcare.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kim at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call 909-987-6268.

The Effects of Poor Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is important for the health of your teeth, your gums, and your overall health. At Alta Loma Dental Care here in Alta Loma, CA, we strive to inform our patients of proper oral care and why it is important. We want our patients to know the consequences of having poor oral hygiene.

When brushing is not performed two to three times per day, plaque sits on teeth and can weaken the enamel. This makes them susceptible to cavities. When plaque is not brushed off of teeth at all, not only is decay possible, but the plaque can actually form crystals that harden the plaque. The plaque then turns into tartar, which is only able to be removed by a dentist. Plaque and tartar decay the teeth and also irritate the gums. When the gums become diseased, they form deep pockets and recede. This allows bacteria to enter the gums deep down by the root of the tooth. A scaling and planing is needed to remove the bacteria and clear up the gum disease. Gum disease is painful, irritating, and can cause bad breath. Not to mention, it is not very aesthetically pleasing. If left untreated, it will lead to loss of the teeth.

Brushing two to three times per day and flossing once per day is all that is needed to remove plaque. For more information about oral hygiene, call Alta Loma Dental Care or schedule an appointment at our Alta Loma, CA dental practice. Call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Why it is Important to Replace Missing Teeth

Replacing a missing tooth is important for more than the aesthetics of your smile. Replacing a missing tooth can be vital to your jaw structure and your other teeth. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we want our patients to understand the importance of tooth replacement and what options they have.

When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue in the area of the jaw begins to deteriorate. This changes the shape of the jaw. If multiple teeth are missing, this can actually end up changing the shape of the facial structure. When there is a space where a tooth used to be, the other teeth begin to shift towards that opening. This can create a change in how the teeth connect while chewing and biting. It also creates gaps between the other teeth that can become hard-to-reach places for a toothbrush. Bacteria can build up and cause decay and gum disease.

For tooth replacement, we want to give our patients options. Alta Loma Dental Care offers dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures. Dentures, the removable option, are available in full and partial sets. They can be placed immediately or conventionally.

To learn about your options for tooth replacement, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. Schedule a consultation with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice to find out which option is best for you.

Brushing Up on Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth is important to remove cavity-causing plaque and other debris. It is something we have been doing our whole life, but have you really ever had a lesson in brushing your teeth? Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we want to make sure our patients are getting the most out of their brushing.

It is important to brush your teeth for a full two minutes two to three times per day. Plaque builds up just hours after brushing, so two to three times per day is vital for clean and strong teeth. A great way to make sure you get a balanced brushing is to split your mouth into four sections and brush each section for thirty seconds. Also make sure to brush the insides of your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, and your tongue, because bacteria collect in these places, as well.

The best way to reach all of the plaque along your gum line is to brush in an up-and-down motion. Short strokes are best to scrub the whole tooth. Brush every surface of the teeth; the insides, outsides, chewing surfaces, and the backs of your back molars.

In addition to brushing two to three times per day, flossing should be performed once per day. To schedule a cleaning here in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit the Alta Loma Dental Care website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

How to Avoid Staining Teeth

Bold and bright teeth are a large part of self-confidence. Whitening teeth has become very popular, but there are steps you can take to avoid staining. Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA wants our patients to know how to avoid staining teeth and how to keep those pearly whites bright!

An important step in avoiding stains is knowing how they happen. There are surface stains and there are stains that penetrate the surface and reach the dentin. The dentin is the main bulk of the tooth, located in the center of the tooth. When surface stains reach the dentin, it discolors the whole tooth.

To avoid keeping surface stains trapped on your teeth, brushing is the most important thing you can do. Plaque is a sticky film that can trap food and drink particles close to your enamel. Brushing two to three times per day will ensure that any stain-causing debris will not be around for long. Flossing daily is also important for removing stain-holding plaque.

Rinsing your mouth after consuming dark foods and liquids will help keep them from clinging to your teeth. Foods like blueberries, soy sauce, and tomato sauce are common stain-causers. Drinks like cola, coffee, and red wine are also stain-causers. Another good way to avoid stains from dark drinks is to drink them through a straw to limit contact.

Along with these tips, our customized teeth whitening trays can give your teeth a kick start to a brighter smile. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity and How Can It Be Stopped?

Tooth sensitivity can be painful and can keep you from enjoying the foods and drinks you love. At Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we strive to fight tooth sensitivity, which is why we want to provide information about why it happens how to minimize it.

Tooth sensitivity can be the result of many conditions. The pain you feel happens when your gums expose then dentin. Dentin makes up the inside of a tooth and the roots. It has tubes that lead to the pulp, which is the nerve center of the tooth. Damage to a tooth, from decay, worn enamel, teeth grinding, or fractures can cause sensitive teeth. Whitening products, age, acidic foods, and plaque build-up are all conditions that can cause a sensitive tooth. To reverse this, you must reverse the habit that is causing the irritation.

To keep teeth and gums clean, brushing and flossing every day is a must. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will also make sure you are not harming gums and will make sure you are not wearing down your enamel. Toothpaste with fluoride in it will help strengthen enamel. Avoid highly acidic foods and drinks. It is also important to remember to wait at least thirty minutes after eating to brush your teeth, as the acid from foods can wear down enamel when brushed right after.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA location for an examination. To schedule, call (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.

Tips for Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Walking through the toothbrush aisle, there are so many options. So how do we know which toothbrush is right? Alta Loma Dental Care wants to help our patients in the Alta Loma, CA area pick the best toothbrush for their oral care.

The most noticeable difference between all of these toothbrushes in the aisle is that some of them are electric and some are manual. Studies have shown that manual toothbrushes can do just as good of a job at brushing teeth as an electric toothbrush. However, for electric toothbrushes do most of the work. So for those with difficulty using their hands, an electric toothbrush may allow them to get a better brushing. Toothbrushes with non-slip grips are also a good idea.

Choose a toothbrush with a small head. Smaller heads are easier to maneuver throughout your mouth so you can reach every surface. The bristles on the head should be soft, for the best plaque removal and least irritation to gums. However, do not choose a toothbrush that says soft on the packaging unless directed by your dentist. Instead, choose one that says medium. Bristles that are too stiff can irritate gums and cause bleeding.

For children, toothbrushes that sing or play music are great motivators to get them to brush. These brushes also usually include timers.

For more information about toothbrushes and oral care, call Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.