gum disease

Gum disease is caused by bacteria and plaque buildup that causes the gums to become inflamed, swollen, and painful. Gum disease can lead to periodontitis, tooth loss, and expensive dental bills. You can protect your gums with regular tooth brushing, flossing, and dental checkups.

Pregnancy can lead to a greater risk of gum disease. Our Placerville dentists can help.

Dental Mama Drama

Hormones Affect Gum Health During Pregnancy Pregnancy does some unexpected things to women’s bodies, and while every woman and pregnancy is different, there are some common dental concerns. One of these pregnancy problems is an increased risk gum disease. While about...

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Smoking has deleterious affects on the gums and other oral tissues.

How Smoking Affects Oral Health

Tobacco use may be one of the biggest risk factors in the development of periodontal disease.” — David A. Albert, D.D.S., M.P.H., associate professor at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine According to the US Department of Health and Human Services,...

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The salivary glands, as seen under a microscope.

Drool and You

Saliva is an essential fluid for maintaining your oral health. What is it and how is it made? Saliva is secreted by the salivary glands (a microscopic view is shown) in your mouth and throat. The primary glands are called the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual...

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When we say "hot pockets," we mean gum pockets. Protecting your gums is essential to good dental health, according to our Placerville dentist.

Avoiding Hot Pockets

But Not the Kind You Eat Did you know that almost 50% of adults over the age of thirty have a condition called chronic periodontitis? This is a dental illness that’s more than just gum disease; it affects a person’s entire mouth, including their jawbone....

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Plaque and tartar can be controlled by combining home care with cleanings from our Placerville dentists.

What Are Plaque and Tartar?

The answer to this question is important because once we understand what plaque and tartar are, it becomes clear why it’s so important to take remove them from our teeth. First, we’ll discuss plaque. Next we’ll talk about one of its products —...

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Hops may have a beneficial effect on your oral health.

Hops and Your Teeth

When we talk about hops, we’re not writing about the behavior of rabbits and kangaroos or the ability of an athlete to jump. For this article, the Placerville Dental Group is talking about the flavoring substance used in beer. It turns out that some of the...

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Losing a tooth is not inevitable. The Placerville Dental Group can help.

Eight Ways to Lose Your Teeth

Losing a tooth is a bad idea. Losing multiple teeth is even worse. Besides affecting your ability to chew and speak, your teeth preserve your appearance. Although dental implants are state-of-the-art replacements for missing teeth, nothing works as well as the...

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Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease that must be treated by your Placerville dentist.

Bleeding Gums, What Can Be Done?

Should You Ignore Bleeding Gums? Your mouth can talk, but your gums can’t. Or can they? What are your gums trying to say if they bleed when you floss or brush them? Are they pleading with you to stop brushing or flossing? No, just the opposite is true! Bleeding gums...

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Azadirachta indica, the neem tree, can be used to make medicinal mouthwashes for preventing gum disease.

Does Neem Mouthwash Really Work?

Our article on the toothbrush tree, Salvadora persica, was very popular with our Placerville readers, so this week features a discussion of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Neem is native to India and has been used there to treat bacterial disorders, including those...

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