How Gum Disease Starts and Progresses

Gum disease can be irritating, painful, and can lead to disastrous dental health. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA we want our patients to know how gum disease progresses and how to prevent it.

Gum disease is a condition where the gums become unhealthy. They may start out red, painful, swollen, and they may bleed frequently. If left untreated, gum disease may cause teeth to fall out. It can also cause bad infections that may spread if not stopped. Gum disease increases the risks of stroke and heart attack.

Gum disease develops due to bad oral hygiene. When plaque and tartar build up, it irritates the gums and causes them to pull away from the teeth. This recession creates deep pockets where bacteria can harbor and cause further damage.

In order to prevent gum disease, you must brush your teeth two to three times per day and floss once per day. Flossing is very important not to skip; bacteria can begin to cause damage after it has been sitting in between teeth for twenty-four hours. In addition, visit us for routine professional cleanings.

Gum disease may start without any major signs, but it can turn serious if not treated. To schedule an appointment with Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, call us at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

What Purpose Do Teeth Serve?

Teeth are extremely useful. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to chew our food or talk to our friends. At Alta Loma Dental Care, it is our job to take care of all your teeth, but if you’ve ever wondered why your teeth look the way that they do, that’s because they each serve a different purpose in your mouth. Read on to learn more!

The types of teeth we have and their functions are listed below:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, 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.

Parade Those Pearly Whites!

It’s no secret that a whiter smile boosts self-esteem, but sometimes it takes a little more than maintaining proper oral hygiene to achieve it. At Alta Loma Dental Care, we offer cosmetic services that can restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color, if you would like. However, if there’s any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we want you to utilize these tips to show off the smile you already have!  

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

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.

Oral Care with Hand Trouble

Taking care of your teeth while you are struggling with arthritis or another condition that hinders the use of your hands can be tough. Here at Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we want all of our patients to feel like they can provide excellent dental care for themselves. Read on to learn about ways to make brushing and flossing easier on troublesome hands.

For brushing, start with the toothbrush. You will want a toothbrush with a thick, non-slip grip handle. This makes it easier to hold and easier to maneuver around the mouth. In addition, a small head will also make maneuvering easier so you can reach all of the spots in your mouth. An electric toothbrush may be a good investment since it does most of the work; you just need to hold it in the right place. There are also toothbrushes out there that are specifically designed for patients with arthritis.

For flossing, it helps if you tie the floss into a loop. This makes it easier to hold and wrap around your hands. It also helps you with controlling the floss. Floss picks can also be a help as you do not need to hold onto the actual floss at all.

Make sure that frequent visits to your dentist for cleanings and examinations are part of your oral care routine. You want to be sure that any missed areas are cleaned up.

To learn more about dental hygiene or to schedule an appointment, contact Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Avoiding Bad Breath

Bad breath can ruin a moment without you even knowing it. Whether you are sharing a car ride with a friend, at a lunch meeting, or on a date, fresh breath is a must. Fresh breath is also an indicator of a healthy mouth. At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we’re giving our patients some tips on keeping fresh breath all day long.

Fresh breath comes down to a few different things; cleanliness, hydration, and food. Bacteria are what causes breathe to have an unpleasant smell. Therefore, it is important to keep a good oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth two or three times per day and floss once per day. You may not think flossing has much to do with it but bacteria form between your teeth and sit there until you floss! Also, be sure to clean your tongue, the roof of your mouth, and the insides of your cheeks.

Hydration is important because bacteria thrive in dry mouth conditions. Make sure you are drinking your share of water which is on average about thirteen cups for men and nine cups for women. Also, skip drinks that can dry out your mouth such as alcohol and caffeine.

Certain foods can also contribute to bad breath. Dairy especially contains certain types of bacteria that contribute to bad smells. This why coffee is often a double whammy for creating bad breath, it has caffeine and often times it has milk or creamer. On the other hand, yogurt actually has bacteria in it that fight off the bad odor-causing bacteria. So maybe have a yogurt parfait with that cup of joe!

To learn more about dental hygiene, visit our website. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Alta Loma Dental Care in our Alta Loma, CA dental practice, call our office at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com. 

Post-Extraction Care

After an extraction, the site is a wound that needs to heal. At Alta Loma Dental Care of Alta Loma, CA, we want all of our patients to experience smooth and healthy healing after extractions. Follow these instructions to promote healing and avoid infection.

After an extraction, there will probably be some bleeding. You want to do everything you can to help minimize the bleeding and eventually stop it. Do not drink through a straw, participate in strenuous activity, or rinse your mouth out vigorously for the first day after your extraction. In addition, lay down with your head propped up with a pillow to avoid extra blood pressure to the area.

You also want to keep the area as clean as possible. It is important to continue to brush and floss your teeth. Be very careful around the extraction site. Keeping your mouth as clean as possible will help avoid infection.

Eat foods that you will not need to chew. Thin, non-chunky soups, yogurt, smoothies without the straw, and pudding are good ideas to have on hand. For any pain, take the pain medication prescribed by your dentist as directed. Advil or Tylenol can help, if you were not prescribed medication. A warm and gentle salt water rinse may also help with pain and swelling.

Follow these guidelines to help your mouth heal quickly and healthfully. With any questions or concerns, contact us. 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. 

Cosmetic Options to Brighten Your Smile

A cosmetic change to your smile can do wonders. If you are not confident in your smile, what are you waiting for? At Alta Loma Dental Care in Alta Loma, CA, we have several options for cosmetic dentistry that can turn up the wattage on your smile!

If you are looking to brighten and whiten your smile, our custom take-home whitening trays are able to provide professional whitening results from the comfort of your own home. We make custom whitening trays out of impressions of your teeth so that they fit perfectly. Often our patients see results four to eight shades whiter.

Bonding is another great way to get whiter teeth that last a long time. Dental bonding is the process of applying composite resin to teeth. For purposes of fixing chips, cracks, gaps, and more, the resin is matched to the color of your teeth. For whitening purposes, the resin can be made brighter than your shade of teeth. Bonding can last for up to ten years or even longer with good care.

For complete smile overhauls, we offer veneers and Snap On Smile. Veneers are ceramic shells that are permanently bonded to your existing teeth. They can fix many types of dental imperfections and provide long lasting whitening. Snap On Smile provides a brand-new smile that you can even take out for events like sports or sleeping.

Next time you look in the mirror, be confident in your smile! Come see us for a cosmetic consultation. To schedule an appointment in our Alta Loma, CA office, call Alta Loma Dental Care at (909) 987-6268 or visit our website, www.altalomadentalcare.com.