Avoiding Periodontal Disease With Ozone

Click here to skip down to the instructions for ozonizer operation

Many people in the United States are surprised when they learn that they have gum disease. This is because they do not realise that the little gaps between their teeth and their gums has been created by anaerobic organisms: bacteria. In fact, this is the same bacteria that has been found in heart disease, and some of the bacteria that causes gum disease has even been found in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The Link To Disease In Other Organs

systemic connection Countless studies are being run at the moment so that we can better understand exactly how this bacteria works in our bodies, but from my point of view, there is already enough evidence that the bacteria in gum disease can do a huge amount of damage to the rest of our body. That is why I do not think you should leave your gum disease any longer, but treat it now.

There are plenty of different options when it comes to treatment for gum disease, and there will probably even be a few that you haven’t even heard of! Dentistry has moved fast in this area to meet the need, but other dentists are not so quick to explain these new treatments to their patients. I would say, actually, that almost all of my patients who come to me for the first time have never been taught how to brush their gums properly. Here’s a quick tutorial:

Brushing the gums properly is very important.

Grab a soft brush, and some warm water – or homemade toothpaste, if you have it
Ensure that you are brushing right into the gums, so you can get all the bacteria out
Now put some toothpaste on your toothbrush, and brush your teeth
Lastly, use dental floss in order to get into those places that your toothbrush can’t

Traditional Methods of Preventing Gum Disease

For some of the patients who come to me, their gum disease has gone on for so long that they have pockets in their gums that are between five or eight millimetres, which means that I offer scaling treatment in order to prevent further damage. This gets all of the bacteria out of the pockets, but will need to be done about twice a year: it’s not a permanent fix.

In very severe cases I will also recommend gum trimming, which is very basic gum surgery. This involves moving back the gums and removing all of the bacteria from underneath, but this leaves your teeth really sensitive, and is not a very popular option!

Thankfully, there are many more options when it comes to treatment methods.

Using an Ozone Machine to Prevent Periodontal Disease

An ozone machine is also called an O3 machine, and it works by adding more oxygen to water – something that bacteria hates. Killing bacteria with oxygen is not something many patients are aware we can do, but even for the most severe cases this can help. I will teach you how to use a water pick, and you can then use a 1000mgh ozone machine.

One of the reasons that no one used to use ozone machines is because they were just so expensive, but they are much cheaper now – and they are totally work it, because they can reduce the size of gum pockets by around 2 milimeters. This makes cleaning out bacteria and keeping your gum disease under control so much easier.

Here are the tips I give my patients when using an ozone machine:

Use the machine in a well-ventilated area
Always use one that has a Corona discharge
Get one that has its own power source – 1000mg per hour is ideal, and you can then use it for 15 minutes and be finished

The water pick

Ozonizing Waterpik Resevoir

Once you have the ozone machine, you will also need to get a water pick which you can buy on its own or with a container. I would always advise against getting a travel water pick, because they do not allow enough water in, so make sure that it has a reservoir to hold the water. You should always use the middle pressure when using your waterpick, because the highest pressure option will make your gum pockets larger, not smaller. It isn’t just people with gum disease that will benefit from using a water pick – and even gum pockets of 2 to 3 milimeters can be helped.

Consult Your Dentist

Whatever treatment option you choose, always make sure that you are visiting me regularly, so I can see what progress is being made, and I can advise you on the next best course of action. Gum disease should be taken seriously, and catching it early will make it all the easier to treat.

To find out how ozone can help heal your gums, call (619) 359-6569.