Hi spork,

I wish it were that easy! Once the pocketing has become a "5 or above" it is usually best to intervene with the laser. The concept behind the laser is to reduce the depth to about "3 to 4". More than that could cause some root exposure and that could cause temperature sensitivity.

It is best to brush and floss thoroughly but not aggressively because that will only cause further irritation to the gum tissue. A soft toothbrush angled at 90 degrees against the the gumline using circular motions to remove plaque while at the same time massaging the gums. Mouthwash is basically unnecessary and should be avoided completely if it contains alcohol as the alcohol dries out the tissue causing irritation... also reduces the salivary flow which contributes to tooth decay.

Hope this info is helpful to you.... have a great holiday!

Bryanna

Thanks for the tips. That will almost surely save me some future trouble as I was planning on going after my gum line like it owes me money. :D

Seems I've heard that electric tooth brushes are the way to go. Do you concur?

Thanks again and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Yes, electric toothbrushes are very good at removing the plaque along the gum line. You would angle the bristles at a 90 degree angle along the gum line using a circular motion just like a manual tooth brush. The exception with the electric one is you don't to press very hard, just guide the brush along and let it do the work for you! It's important to brush for the recommended 4 minutes every time... ;-))

Take care, hope everything goes well .... keep me posted!

Bryanna

Thanks. I'm reading about electric toothbrushes now. Do you have any recommendations?

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

I use the Sonicare Elite. It's an older model, but it works great!

Enjoy the weekend!

Bryanna

I ended up doing some electric toothbrush research and ended up putting the "Sonicare HealthyWhite Power Toothbrush" on my Christmas list. I just can't believe the range of options, features, and prices for these things. I figure this will have to work better than the piece of 100 grit sand-paper I've been using.

I'm also learning that my "technique" is all wrong. I gotta tell you - old age ain't for sissies.

Spork,

Ha Ha... you're funny ;-)

It is not necessary to get an electric toothbrush with all the bells and whistles... not worth the extra $$'s in my opinion. A quality electric toothbrush like Sonicare or Braun that has an on/off switch, is all that is needed.....:)

Bryanna

That was my thinking as well. I kind of like the idea of the timers, because there's no way I'll brush properly without them. It sounds like the research shows the "sonic" feature is a genuine benefit to gum health (if I understand correctly). One feature that seems good (that this model doesn't offer) is a pressure sensor to let you know if your applying too much or too little pressure. Apparently most folks apply too much. So far I've been going with the "more is better" approach. I'll have to figure out how much is right. I guess my hygienist can show me.

I think most electric toothbrushes have a built in timer. Even my old dinosaur has one! The beep is very subtle and it is meant to tell you to go to the next quadrant. In other words, you should spend about one minute in each quadrant of your mouth....x's 4 quadrants... 4 minutes of brushing time!

Yes, some people use the brush too aggressively and this not only ruins the bristles on the brush but aggressive brushing does not remove the plaque any better. It is the thoroughness of the brushing and flossing that is most effective in removing plaque. Also, just so you are aware.... it is easy to tell if you are using the electric brush too hard because the sound will get very loud and become almost distorted. The brush is designed to do the work so long as you angle it properly along the gumline an maneuver it along all the nooks and crannies.

Brush heads on an electric toothbrush just like manual toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months for the most effective oral hygiene. So perhaps you could add a replacement brush head on your list to santa as well!!

I'm glad to see that you are doing your research!!!

Bryanna

It appears I got oral thrush on my tongue from the antibiotics. Any suggestions for that? I'll be seeing the doc this afternoon.