Question about how to get a healthy mouth - Dental Health Message Board

thequeen · 02-12-2003, 08:19 AM

i posted here a while back about the hygenist not getting all the tartar off my teeth when he cleaned them. I went back and made him clean them again and this time he did a pretty good job.
Anyway my question is in the past year and a half i have gone from having healthy gums,all pockets were 1-3, to having gingivitis and i think my gums may be starting to recede.
Is there anything i can do here at home to get my gums healthy again? I brush and floss at least once a day. If i remember i brush around lunchtime. I use listerine every night after brushing and flossing. Is this enough to get the results i want?
When i was in the states i went in every three months for a cleaning and that really helped to get and keep my gums healthy. That is not an option where i am now. So i look to all of you for advice.

Brazos · 02-13-2003, 07:50 PM

Rinse regularly with warm salt water, and it you can get a prescription (not sure where you are at) for Perio-med, that will help your condition. Perio-med is generally given to patients who have inflammation or periodontal disease. If you can't have regular dental care, tooth picks are handy tools. Gently run them along the gumline and they too will help not only stimulate the gum tissue, but take anything off your tooth that isn't supposed to be there. In addition to paying close attention to your gums, make sure your toothbrush is "soft". The bristle on the hard brush, or brushing to hard, will cause gum recession. As we age our gums naturally recede, but if you have noticed this in a short amount of time, changing your brushing habits/toothbrush may help. The bristles remove plaque from our teeth, not by how hard we press, but by the sweeping motions made.

[This message has been edited by Brazos (edited 02-13-2003).]

Piperdreams · 02-14-2003, 07:53 AM

Use Sonicare toothbrush. It is awesome.

RubyD · 02-14-2003, 02:29 PM

How about a Water Pik, a gum massager, and lots and lots of hydrogen peroxide? Also, making sure you bruah your teeth good enough and long enough may help. I floss daily and then follow it up with the Water Pik to be sure everything is out of there.

thequeen · 02-14-2003, 03:27 PM

I have been considering an irrigation system. I have been reading good things about them. I am just not sure how to choose one. I do use an electric toothbrush, it is the oral b braun, and the bristles are pretty soft. It worked great in the states but i was also going to the dentist frequently then too. I watch myself in the mirror when i brush to make sure i am keeping the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle. I have the peroxide and have heard excellent things about it on these boards but every time I go to use it I chicken out. i dont know what i am so afraid of.
I do have a question about the saltwater mixture that Brazos mentioned. Do i use table salt for it and how much salt in how much water.
Sometimes my gums feel odd. It is almost a throbbing but it isnt throbbing. It doesnt hurt but it is uncomfortable. What could this be caused from?
Thank You everyone who has replied to my post i really appreciate you taking the time to read it and give my suggestions.