Your dentist says you have gingivitis and may recommend deep cleanings<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDr. O\u2019s Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTake a picture with your smartphone to document and refer back to later<\/li> Follow my Basic Home Care Protocol above for 3 months<\/li> Go into your dentist for cleanings and routine care<\/li> Have your pockets remeasured at your dentist upon recall <\/li> Have your dentist or hygienist confirm if your gums are healing or not<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nI always recommend routine care, which includes regular teeth cleaning (prophys). Combining routine care with a daily routine to clean your teeth and gums will allow your gums to heal from inflammation. Often, with low level inflammation and gingivitis, when patients follow the above instructions there is total resolution of the condition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Level #2: Red and Bleeding Gums<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYour gums bleed, look red and may be slightly \u2018puffy\u2019<\/li> Your hygienist measures pocket depths of 3-6 millimeters <\/li> Your dentist says that you have moderate gum disease <\/li> Your dentist most certainly recommends deep cleanings.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDr. O\u2019s Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTake a picture with your smartphone to document and refer back to later<\/li> Follow my home care instructions above for 3 months minimum<\/li> Go into your dentist for cleanings\/deep cleanings and routine care<\/li> Go to Target, Costco, or Walmart and buy a Waterpik or Irrigator of your choice<\/li> Follow Instructions and consider adding antibacterial mouthwash<\/li> Alternatively, you could follow one of the protocols I include in Attachment #2<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf your pockets are in the 4-6 mm range, you will need deep cleanings. However, it will be better to lower the inflammation first so that the treatment has greater success when it is done. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
When my patients follow the home care instructions for the waterpik below, they experience much improvement in bleeding and inflamed gums, and the pocketing improves to some degree. If 2\/3rds of the pockets are improved when the deep cleanings are done, the result is just that much better. After you have deep cleanings and your gums have been re-evaluated, you may still want to do a laser procedure to heal the gums completely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How will you know if you are better? One way is that you will see less red and more pink in your gums, and there will be less bleeding. The other way is when you go to your next cleaning the dentist and hygienist will report improvement in your pocket measurements. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Dr. O\u2019s Protocol for level 2 gum disease:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf you have moderate gum disease, meaning 3-6 mm pockets, or even minor gum disease, with 3-4 mm pockets, the water pik should become your best friend. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Also, when you have red and bleeding gums that just don\u2019t seem to resolve with routine home care or cleanings this should be your next step.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The recommendation when using waterpiks, however, is to always use a low setting or even the lowest setting<\/strong> so as to not apply too much pressure to your gums. In other words, let it do all the work. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWaterpik Protocol #1: A natural protocol using Grapefruit Seed Extract<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFill the reservoir with water up to the designated level<\/li> Use either sink or filtered water as you will not be swallowing it<\/li> Add \u00bc teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract into the 20 oz. reservoir<\/li> Use as directed at a low setting<\/li> You can adjust the amount of GSE according to taste<\/li> You can also use a Xylitol mouth rinse or a Xylitol sweetener to cut the bitterness<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWaterpik Protocol #2: Another natural protocol using Salt and Baking Soda<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf your gums are relatively healthy and you have a waterpik you can use the following rinse: <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In a jar or cup pour about \u00bc to \u00bd inch of your favorite salt with \u00bd to \u00be inch of baking soda and stir with at least 3-5 inches of clean water. Let it sit so the water becomes saturated. The excess salt will precipitate out. If there is still a lot of powder at the bottom, you can add more water until there is very little precipitate at the bottom. <\/li> Dilute one part salt solution with 3-4 parts water for use with the waterpik. You can pour the excess salt solution into another jar to save for later, but make sure it\u2019s closed. <\/li> After you are done irrigating, pour the salt solution out and refill the well with water. Continue running water through the waterpik into the sink so that the water cleans all salt out of the tubing and internal components of the waterpik. If salt remains in the waterpik it will clog it up and it will no longer work.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLevel #3: Puffy Gums and Visibly Stained Teeth<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nYou may be in this category if:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It has been years since you had a cleaning and your gums and teeth are sore<\/li> Your hygienist measures pocket depths of 6 millimeters or greater<\/li> Your dentist diagnoses you with advanced gum disease<\/li> Your dentist recommends deep cleanings and a referral to a gum specialist<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDr. O\u2019s Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTake a picture with your smartphone to document and refer back to later<\/li> You will need deep cleanings and most likely laser surgery to fix the damage. <\/li> Go to Target, Costco, or Walmart and buy a Waterpik or Irrigator of your choice<\/li> You should follow one of the protocols I include in Level 2 above.<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAgain, it will be best if you lower the inflammation, first so that the laser surgery has greater success when it is done. So, you will need to be on a home hygiene regimen, get deep cleanings done and re-evaluate the situation. You may also need to look at nutritional support and also look at what\u2019s going on systemically that may be contributing to the breakdown of your gums and bone. For this you will need your physician\u2019s help.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How will you know if you are better? Your gums will be more pink, not so red and inflamed. Your pockets will be back in the healthy range and your teeth will be more stable after your gums and bone have healed; you will not lose anymore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A caveat:<\/strong> None of what I\u2019m telling you above is a replacement for seeing a dentist regularly and having routine exams and cleanings. This in my opinion is a mistake and leads to more problems down the road. So don\u2019t take my recommendations or advice as a way to skip seeing a dentist. It\u2019s not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow We Treat Gum Disease at Integrative Dentistry<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe First Line of Defense \u2013 Home Care<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nActually the most important thing you can do is keep your teeth and gums clean. For most people this means brushing, flossing and using a rubber tip daily. At Integrative Dentistry we replace your toothbrush and rubber tip every time you come in for a cleaning. (You may consider replacing your toothbrush even more often).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The purpose of using these tools is to remove the white film that collects along your gum line and between your teeth. This white film is called plaque and is the primary food source for bacteria in your mouth. Once bacteria colonizes plaque it will start to create inflammation in the gums and bone of your teeth. This is the precursor to red and bleeding gums and gum disease.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you want to learn more about home care and the tools that matter you can ask during your next cleaning appointment. This is the right time to ask. Don\u2019t be shy. It\u2019s very important that you be doing this correctly. It makes all the difference in the world for your teeth and gums. In the meantime you can read more about these tools above.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Second Line of Defense \u2013 Teeth Cleanings<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBuildup of hard deposits attached to your teeth need to be removed periodically to keep your gums and bone healthy and disease free. This is why you go into the dental office for periodic cleanings or \u2018prophys\u2019 as they are called. This is short for \u2018prophylaxis\u2019, which means prevention. Stain and deposits are rough and house bacteria that release poisons that inflame your gums. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Think of a microscopic apartment complex where everyone parties 24\/7. In order to clean up the mess, eventually you have to evict the squatters. Another analogy is barnacles on the bottom of a boat. If the barnacles are not periodically removed eventually you get moss, seaweed, and even small fish collecting and living in this newly formed ecosystem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Plaque calcifies into hard deposits by absorbing minerals from your saliva. It\u2019s plaque and hard deposits that cause inflammation and results in the breakdown of the gums and bone around your teeth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Are Cleanings the Cure for Gum Disease<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe first reason why cleanings and deep cleanings are sometimes not enough is that there are bacteria and parasite populations that are very aggressive and aren\u2019t easily controlled by routine cleanings and home care. Some of these populations have survival strategies that allow them to hide in the biofilm\/plaque and even in your own cells. One of these commonly found bacteria are spirochetes, as mentioned above. Here is a video showing how these offenders operate and where they live in your mouth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Think of cleanings like doing tune ups for your car. Usually that\u2019s enough. But sometimes the car just needs an overhaul or rebuild. That\u2019s what the gum specialist is for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Third Line Defense \u2013 LANAP<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLANAP stands for \u2018Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure.\u2019 Dr Bae, who is our resident gum specialist, does not do traditional gum surgery. Instead he uses the Millennium Laser, to treat gum disease. The reason he uses lasers is that they encourage the attachment of healthy gum tissue to your teeth and help to regenerate the bone in your jaws without the pain and soreness associated with traditional gum surgery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
We have found that lasers are the best way to:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPerform surgery on teeth, gums and bone in a non traumatic way<\/li> Increase blood flow and stem cell activation to speed up the body\u2019s healing response<\/li> Restore the mouth\u2019s natural barrier systems and proper function<\/li> Control and kill harmful bacteria and restore the healthy microbiome of the mouth<\/li><\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTo see how we use lasers to heal the gums and bone around your teeth, please watch the following video:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n