Definition
On every healthy tooth there is a gap between the gum line and the point where the gum attaches to the tooth surface. In dentistry this gap is called “sulcus”, which is usually between 0.5 and 2mm deep. If this measurable depth increases above 2mm, it is called a gum pocket, because the gum has detached a piece of the tooth. This is not a disease in itself, but a side effect of a disease or an indication of a disease of the periodontium, such as periodontitis.
Gum pockets therapy
The treatment of gingival pockets is practically the same as the treatment of periodontitis. First, the curettage is performed, a “clean scratching” of the tooth and root surface under local anesthesia. During this procedure, the dentist removes plaque and tartar as well as bacteria and diseased or dead tissue.
A rinsing solution with hydrogen peroxide is then placed directly into the gum pocket and after a short exposure time is suctioned off. This serves for local disinfection. A systemic antibiotic therapy (if a germ determination has been carried out beforehand) can be ordered at the same time.
This should be done especially if the patient complains of general malaise and fever. The maintenance therapy to avoid a recurrence or aggravation of the gingival pocket is, in addition to the changed oral hygiene at home, regularly performed professional tooth cleaning in the dental practice. The patient himself can also influence the success of the treatment, e.g. by stopping smoking or a well adjusted diabetes.
The patient must also be aware that the disease can only be stopped and not cured, or that once broken down bone cannot grow back. As a general rule, curettage and professional tooth cleaning in patients with heart disease (heart valve replacement or a heart attack less than 6 months ago) may only be carried out after prior administration of antibiotics in consultation with the treating dermatologist or cardiologist. In pregnant women, the treatment of periodontitis or gingival pockets may only take place in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy.
Meridol® is ideally suited for the supportive, home treatment of periodontal pockets or after general surgical interventions in the oral area. The bacteria-inhibiting effect is produced by the ingredient amino fluoride and stannous fluoride. It is also used in some toothpastes.
After brushing your teeth, rinse twice a day with Meridol® and spit it out. Like all mouth rinses, Meridol® should not be swallowed. The mouthrinse is also intended for long-term use.
In addition to the normal Meridol® mouthrinse, there is also the special form Meridol® med CHX 0.2% with added chlorhexidine. In addition to the normal Meridol® mouthrinse, there is also the special form Meridol® med CHX 0.2% with added chlorhexidine. The product Chlorhexidin®, based on the active ingredient chlorhexidine bisgluconate, is available in pharmacies in 0.2% quantities, both with and without an alcoholic base, i.e. without prescription.
It is used as a mouth rinse after general oral surgery or periodontal surgery as well as for supporting oral hygiene in orthodontic therapy. It has a strong antibacterial effect. For this purpose, approx.
10 ml of the mouth rinsing solution is kept in the mouth once or twice a day for about 1 minute and then spat out again. With longer use, however, all tissues in the mouth (teeth, tongue, oral mucosa) often turn brown. A professional tooth cleaning can restore the original condition, however.
Gum pockets can be rinsed out with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching effect and is used, for example, in hair dyes or the bleaching of teeth. In the case of gum pockets, the antibacterial effect of hydrogen peroxide is used.
This way the inflammation can be fought and healing can be supported. Due to its difficult handling (slightly corrosive), however, hydrogen peroxide should not be used as a household remedy, but should be used by a specialist, i.e. in the dental practice. Household remedies are, for example, commercially available over-the-counter rinsing solutions that contain the active ingredient chlorhexidine bisgluconate or concentrated camomile preparations in ointment or gel form or as a simple liquid.
Homeopathy can also be used as a household remedy, e.g. Bach flower remedies.In the case of slight inflammation, symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain can be alleviated. However, they should always only be considered as a temporary first aid solution. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease, i.e. the depth of the pocket, the degree of bone resorption in the jaw, but also on the patient’s ability to learn and cooperate.
In addition, factors and circumstances that can be influenced from the outside should be changed without fail. These include stopping smoking and a well-adjusted diabetes by the family doctor. as well as excellent oral hygiene and regular follow-up visits to the dentist and their prophylaxis.
If it is an irreversible gingival pocket, i.e. caused by periodontitis, the pocket will continue to exist after the treatment. The patient must also be aware that the disease can only be stopped and not cured. The best way to clean a gingival pocket is to have it cleaned by a dentist, since the most common household remedies freely available on the market, such as camomile rinse solution or chlorhexidine, neither reach the desired depth nor have the same success as drugs prescribed by a dentist.
In the dental practice, an ultrasound-assisted scaling (rinsing and scraping off diseased tissue) can be performed under local anesthesia as a first immediate measure after the biofilm has been stained beforehand. Subsequently, a 3.0% hydrogen peroxide solution can be used for pocket rinsing. In addition, low-dose cortisone ointment can be introduced into the gingival pocket to suppress the inflammation. Home remedies can be used to support the treatment of inflamed gum pockets (in consultation with the treating dentist).
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