If you have periodontal disease (periodontitis), you may also experience periodontal pockets. Pocketing can occur if your gums break down and separate from the teeth. The pockets result in deep spaces that allow bacteria to multiply. They can cause tissue, bone, and tooth loss.
Periodontal Pocket Cleaning
Cleaning periodontal pockets can be a challenge using traditional methods. Brushing, flossing with dental floss, and rinsing are limited to how deep they can reach into a pocket.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy you should use a WATERPIK water flosser throughout your entire mouth with the Classic Jet tip, Plaque SeekerTM tip, or the Orthodontic tip. Using the WATERPIK water flosser with these tips removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas.
To aid in keeping periodontal pockets healthy use the Pik PocketTM tip with a therapeutic mouth rinse in addition to the Classic Jet tip, PLAQUE SEEKER tip, or Orthodontic tip. The following section provides additional details and guidance on treating periodontal pockets using the PIK POCKET tip.
Treatment for periodontal pockets varies depending on the severity or depth of the pocket or pockets you have.
Only your dentist or periodontist can determine the best treatment for your needs. Options include periodontal pocket reduction procedures and regenerative procedures for building bone and gum tissue. In these procedures, bacteria is removed and the depth of the pocket is reduced surgically to eliminate areas where bacteria can grow. This helps the tissue re-attach to healthy bone.
About Therapeutic Mouth Rinses
Dental professionals often prescribe therapeutic mouth rinses as a non-surgical way to help treat gum disease and periodontal pockets. These prescription-only solutions typically contain the antimicrobial drug chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) from brands such as Peridex™ and Periogard®.
Effective & Gentle Treatment At Home
For effective at-home care and to help heal periodontal pockets, many dental professionals recommend using a WATERPIK water flosser, such as the Aquarius™ water flosser, equipped with the PIK POCKET tip, to deliver therapeutic mouth rinses deep into periodontal pockets.
The PIK POCKET tip features a soft rubber tip designed for low-pressure delivery of therapeutic rinses. It gently accesses up to 90% of the depth of a 6mm pocket.
To use the PIK POCKET tip:
Add therapeutic mouth rinse and water to the water flosser reservoir as instructed by your dental professional.
With the water flosser OFF, set the pressure to the lowest setting.
Place the soft tip against the tooth at a 45-degree angle and gently place the tip under the gumline, into the pocket.
Turn on power to irrigate the pocket.
The PIK POCKET tip in action
Clinical research shows that WATERPIK water flossing with 0.06% CHX and PIK POCKET tip twice a day can significantly improve periodontal health status.
Scaling and root planing helps to deep clean in and around the periodontal pockets. This procedure removes the plaque and bacteria on the tooth and underneath the gum line. Scaling and root planing helps to shrink periodontal pockets and can heal gum tissue.
Brush at least twice daily with a soft-bristle tooth brush or an electric tooth brush. Use a fluoride toothpaste. Use a mouthwash that fights and dissolves plaque. Floss regularly to remove bacteria and food particles from between teeth.
Generally, the initial healing phase, where the gums reattach to the clean surfaces of the teeth, can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
It involves both scaling and root planing, meaning tartar must be removed from deep between the teeth and gums. During a periodontal maintenance appointment, the hygienist will remove tartar build up from in between your teeth and gums down the entire length of each tooth, stopping where the gum, root and bone meet.
If pockets are deeper than what can be treated with a standard cleaning and good at-home care, you will need deep cleaning to clear the infection and promote healing. You may need scaling and planning in just a few spots or the problem may be widespread.
The best way to for gum pockets treatment at home is to develop and maintain good oral hygiene. This removes bacteria each day, preventing bacterial build-up, plaque and tartar. When all plaque and bacteria are removed, the bacteria can no longer irritate the gums and the destruction of alveolar bone will stop.
Limited Effectiveness: While salt water can help manage mild cases of periodontal disease, it may not be sufficient for treating more severe or advanced stages of the condition. Professional dental care may be necessary.
Does a deep cleaning hurt? Since deep cleanings are more thorough, and go further below the gumline than regular cleanings, they can potentially cause some discomfort or pain. To ensure your comfort during your deep cleaning, your dentist will numb the treatment site before beginning.
It depends on how severe the receding gums are, as if they are only minimally receded, then the gums will reattach themselves to the teeth. While any gum loss experienced due to gum disease will not grow back, the majority of patients can expect their gums to reattach after undergoing a deep cleaning.
Once that buildup is removed, in comparison, your teeth feel loose. But that doesn't make them likely to fall out! In spite of that increased feeling of looseness, removing the plaque and tartar buildup helps your gums and roots to reattach to your teeth, creating better oral health for you!
Periodontal maintenance is only needed for people who have periodontal disease, so if your oral health is in great shape, you won't need to get a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is performed to stop periodontal disease from advancing.
Periodontal scaling and root planing is not painful at all. However, there are sedation options available for you to request if you would like to make your visit as pleasant as possible with nitrous oxide gas, or oral sedation or IV deep sedation.
There is no known cure for Periodontal disease. By scheduling periodontal maintenance appointments, practicing good dental health habits like brushing twice a day, and avoiding health risks like tobacco, you can prevent the disease from getting worse. You will also protect the teeth and gums from further infection.
For deep pockets over 7mm, surgery may be needed. Pocket reduction surgery requires making small incisions in the gum to peel back the gum tissue. Deep cleaning is completed and any underlying bone loss is addressed. Finally, stitches are inserted.
A deep cleaning is different from a normal preventive cleaning and can help reverse the course of gum disease. It is more extensive than a typical cleaning as well and involves a procedure known as scaling and root planing.
Pocket irrigation can be performed at home as part of the daily oral routine using a water jet or water pick. Flushing the interdental area with water is less harmful to soft tissue than dental floss, but should not be used as a substitute for professional dental cleaning.
Salt water rinse is a natural remedy for reversing gum disease. This remedy involves rinsing your mouth with warm salt water several times per day. The saltwater helps to reduce gum inflammation and irritation, as well as reducing bacteria levels in the mouth.
This more severe form of gum disease can cause your teeth to loosen or even fall out. Because it can kill harmful bacteria and break up plaque, dental professionals have been using hydrogen peroxide since the early 1900s to prevent and treat periodontitis.
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