The best way to treat any disease is by prevention. One of the best things a person can do is to keep learning, more and more researchers are finding that disease is directly linked to oral health. One of the problems that most people face today is not being able to properly clean their gums and teeth. Traditional methods, such as brushing, flossing and rinsing are limited to how far they can reach into the mouth and the Periodontal pockets. A great way to ensure maximum cleaning is to add and oral irrigator to your everyday oral health routine.  Adding an oral irrigator to your daily oral care routine is one of the fastest and most effective ways to prevent gum disease. They combine pulsation and pressure to clean where traditional methods, such as brushing, flossing, or rinsing, cannot reach.

How do I know if an oral irrigator is right for me?

Well here are just a few of the symptoms you might experience:

·         A bad taste in your mouth or persistent bad breath

·         Gums that pull away from the teeth or receding gums

·         Loose teeth or a change in the way your teeth feel when you bite or chew

·         Wider spaces between your teeth

·         Gums that are tender or sore to the touch

·         Pus around the gum line

 Just some of the problems that can occur from improper cleaning are gingivitis and periodontitis gum disease. The bacteria found in plaque are these diseases. Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the teeth and under the gum line. This bacteria will release toxins below the gum line, which will irritate the gum tissue and cause inflammation.

This causes the gums to eventually break down and separate from the teeth making a deep pocket-like space called periodontal pockets. These pockets are very difficult to clean and the bacteria grow and multiply within this space. Other factors that contribute to the risk and severity of periodontal gum disease and over all oral health problems are smoking and diabetes.

Your dentist will recommend a specific treatment plan that is best suited to your own personal needs. Treatment for periodontal gum disease depends on the extent of the disease.

However after professional treatment, it’s not uncommon to have remaining periodontal pockets. Some oral irrigators have special tips that are specifically designed to gently clean deeper periodontal pockets. They can reach up to 90% of the pockets depth.

An oral irrigator is in no way a cure a cure all for periodontal gum disease; however it can help with the continuing care of your overall oral health and should be used in accordance with regular trips to your dentist.