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What are Tongue Cleaners/Scrapers?

Often the most neglected part of your mouth, your tongue is necessary for everyday life. Keeping it clean is just as important. That’s why Dr. Jia Y. Lee recommends dental applicators known as Tongue Cleaners/Scrapers. These handheld apparatuses rid your tongue of bacteria and coatings. They are available for purchase at most grocery stores and supermarkets. To learn more, visit our office in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.   There’s no need to be nervous about using a tongue cleaner. They are simple and easy to use! Scrape the device forward along your tongue. Rinse off the residue after every stroke. Try to rinse out your mouth with water too. Do this for as many times as necessary to get the desired result, a coating-free tongue! There are a variety of causes for tongue coatings. The coatings themselves are made up of bacteria and dead cells. A few examples of the source of the coatings are smoking, dry mouth, medications, yeast infections, and poor oral health. That’s why it’s always importa
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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Children's dental health is often overlooked by their caregivers. How much lasting damage can a cavity do to a baby tooth? They aren’t permanent after all. Yes, they aren’t permanent, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be cared for. Baby teeth aren’t made of tougher material like their adult counterparts. This makes them much more susceptible to cavities, resulting in Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. It’s important to schedule an appointment for your infant with Dr. Jia Y. Lee as soon as they receive their first tooth or turn one. Prevention is key. Contact his office in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.   Teaching your child good dental habits will follow them into their adult life. This includes dental checkups for cavities. Like all cavities, they form when there is a surplus of bacteria in the mouth. The biggest bacteria-attracting substance? Sugary drinks and food. Residue on the teeth breeds bacteria. This is the leading source of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, and it can be found right in your chil
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Teeth Sectioning

Having to get a tooth removed can be scarier than swimming in shark-infested waters. That’s why Dr. Jia Y. Lee offers Teeth Sectioning services. This form of extraction is faster and easier. Your Rancho Cucamonga dentist breaks the tooth into multiple sections. The fragmented pieces are then easier to remove. The entire procedure requires less force, resulting in a quicker recovery time. To learn more, contact your local dentist.   Dr. Lee recommends teeth sectioning for a few different reasons. Certain teeth upon closer inspection are unique or multi-rooted. This can make it impossible to extract normally. Patients in need of having their wisdom teeth removed are another common source. Wisdom teeth are larger by nature. It’s difficult to remove them, especially if they’re impacted. Lastly, pediatric patients frequently undergo teeth sectioning. It’s less intimidating and painful for children.   The procedure begins with Dr. Lee applying a local anesthetic to the area. For certain pati
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Proper Flossing Technique

For most, the scariest part of your bi-annual dental examination is being asked if you’ve been flossing. Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS is no exception. Not flossing daily is one of the worst mistakes you can make in your oral hygiene routine. Only through flossing can you clean certain areas of your mouth. That’s why your Rancho Cucamonga dentist has supplied this flossing guide.   The truth is that many patients never learned to floss correctly. Learning how to floss is the first step in correcting your dental behavior. First, take out about 18 inches of floss from the packet. Wrap one end around each of your middle fingers. Twirling the floss with one finger will cycle out the dirty floss, the other provides the clean floss. Next, carefully place the floss in between your two teeth. Make a “C” shape around one tooth. Move it up and down in a rubbing motion. Do this for all of your teeth.   If you’re struggling with flossing, here are a few tips. Most grocery stores sell handheld flossing appli
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Teeth Sensitivity

If you or a loved one are suffering from teeth sensitivity, contact Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS. Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, he can diagnose and treat the root of the problem. The common symptom of teeth sensitivity is pain or discomfort when eating or drinking. This is especially true for cold, hot, acidic, or sweet materials. It’s caused by a thinning of the tooth enamel due to grinding your teeth. Treatment includes a night guard or other services.   Your teeth's nerves are protected by the dentin and enamel. When the enamel thins the dentin’s exposed. It’s whats reacting to the temperature changes in your food and drinks. As mentioned, grinding causes the enamel to thin. The repeated pressure destroys it. The best course of treatment is a night guard. Similar to a mouth guard, it’s a removable device placed on your upper teeth. It functions as a barrier between the top and bottom teeth. It stops your enamel from wearing down.   Eliminating your grinding prevents further thinning t
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Tempromandibular Disorder (TMD)

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jaw to your skull at the temporal bone. This joint controls various functions, from chewing and swallowing to opening your mouth and speaking. If you are experiencing pain while chewing or in the joint itself, reach out to set up an appointment with Dr. Jia Y. Lee, D.D.S. You might be experiencing a Temporomandibular Disorder or TMD.   TMD is believed to be caused by stress and clenching of the jaw and teeth (bruxism). Other factors can be trauma to the teeth and jaw, along with inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders.   Symptoms of TMD are: Trouble chewing and opening mouth Jaw becoming stuck open or shut Headaches and ear pain Clicking or popping of the jaw Teeth grinding For short term pain relief, your dentist may recommend over-the-counter pain medication. Warm or cold compresses are also suggested. Ask your dentist about the possibility of getting a night guard. A night guard can stop you from grinding your teeth at night, reli
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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that erupt through the gum line when patients are in their late teenage years/early twenties. When they do come in, they cause a whole mouthful of problems. If left intact, wisdom teeth can cause serious infections and disrupt your teeth line. Dr. Jia Y. Lee, DDS offers wisdom teeth extraction for our patients.   Removing your wisdom teeth is the best way to avoid problems, discomfort, and infections. For many patients, there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth to come in. This won’t stop them from trying. The rest of your teeth will be shifted and moved for them to emerge in their predetermined spot. This is an impacted wisdom tooth. It’s called this because of the angle it erupts at. Besides being incredibly uncomfortable, it can damage your other teeth. If you have had extensive orthodontic work done, you don’t want your wisdom teeth to undo all that hard work. Partially emerged wisdom teeth are just that, teeth that have only broken thro
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