Irrigating Infections Away

Inflammation, redness, and painful swelling of the gums are unfortunate complaints among the general public. Gingivitis — the name for this inflammation of the gums — is most often caused by teeth and gums that are not cleaned thoroughly. The bad bacteria get out of control and cause pain. One might experience just a little bleeding or sensitivity when flossing, or a mouth so swollen it becomes too painful to eat. It is a vicious cycle: a small infection produces pain, which begets difficulty to clean, which begets more infection, which begets more pain…

Yes, it is definitely something you want to avoid. If you have frequent “sore spots,” you may need to reevaluate how effective your at-home cleaning routine is. It is good to pay attention to how your gums are doing every day and to be very thorough about cleaning them out, even if it hurts a little. It is better to deal with a little pain now than unbearable pain in the future.

Sometimes, though, regular hygiene at home isn’t enough. In most cases, if gingivitis has developed into a more serious problem, patients on their own can heal from diligent care at home using an irrigator. Daily irrigation gently keeps the gums cleaned out and restores the proper environment for healing. Patients who suffer from mild to severe gum disease report that their gums gradually heal, shrink up against the teeth, return to a normal pink color, and are able to function normally again because the inflammation is greatly reduced. Not to mention, the need for chemicals and drugs is greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Oral irrigation is highly recommended for healing infections, particularly early gum disease or any inflammation around the teeth.

Whether or not you are prone to gum disease, if you do not have an oral irrigator, we recommend you look into investing in one. Not only will your teeth be so much healthier and low-maintenance, but you will save headaches and money for dental expenses in the long run.

Dr. Sperbeck, West Los Angeles

Oral Irrigation

Oral irrigators are one of the most valuable tools you could keep near the bathroom sink. An oral irrigator “flosses” your teeth with liquid, cleaning the deeper or more sensitive areas that floss can’t reach. It does not replace floss, but adds to its effectiveness. Cleaning out the pockets between your gums and teeth is the most important step you take to keep your mouth clean. Flossing catches the larger, stickier chunks of plaque that build up in your gums and around your teeth; irrigation deeply washes out anything that the floss misses — and you’d be surprised at how much debris is still rotting in your gums even after a “thorough” brushing/flossing!

Oral irrigators can be used with plain water — we use ozonated water — but special mouthwash-like liquid concentrates are also made for them that can be used at home. We have chosen a supplying company that makes 100% natural, chemical-free concentrates that taste great and do a great job of keeping bad bacteria at bay. Ask us about ordering some if you’d like to try it.

Irrigation should be done about once daily. A good time would be before you go to bed. You are done eating for the day and will want to clean your teeth before sleeping and leaving any food particles to sit in your mouth overnight. Like flossing, after a little while you’ll be able to see and feel a difference in your teeth after irrigating. Your gums become stronger and healthier and your teeth stay whiter. Irrigation is excellent, also, for healing from minor infections and early gum disease. But that post is for tomorrow.

Dr. Sperbeck, West Los Angeles

Routine Cleaning

If you have never been to our office, whether for a routine cleaning or for oral disease treatment, you’ll find that holistic methods do not make the experience very different from a conventional office visit. For those of you who are absolutely terrified or loathe to go to the dentist, that probably doesn’t do much for you (though we do have other options that might appeal to you). But you should actually be aware that — for a routine cleaning and checkup, for example — our standard protocol calls for things that might bring you more comfort, security, and satisfaction with your visit.

If you are due for x-rays, we will do those for you quickly and as comfortably as possible. Each room has a big screen where you can instantly see the digital x-ray images taken of your teeth. We’ll discuss any potential problems if they appear. Every few visits we will also probe your teeth to measure the gaps or pockets between your teeth and gums. The smaller the gap, the better. You want your gums to be nice and snug against your teeth because that indicates there is no good place for bacteria to grow and cause infection. Deeper pockets indicate spots that are probably hard to clean, and therefore may be an infection waiting to happen. We will give you advice steering you in the direction you should take to help those gaps close up, also considering any pain or inflammation you may be experiencing.

Then the hygienist will perform the cleaning, polishing, and flossing. The better you take care of your teeth by daily brushing and flossing at home, the speedier this part will be. We always finish off the cleaning with a quick ozone irrigation. Oral irrigation is the best part. If you’ve never heard of it, it is basically “flossing” with water or whatever liquid* you put in the machine reservoir. In our office, we use ozone water. The ozone effectively kills off any remaining bacteria released during cleaning, and also brings a cool, soothing sensation that will leave you feeling refreshed.

After that, I will check for cavities or other problems; if none are found, you’ll be sent on your way with some restocked dental care supplies and a bright smile.

Dr. Sperbeck, West Los Angeles

*I’ll give you some more information on oral irrigators in the next post.

Thoughts On Holistic Dentistry and Caring for My Patients

Holistic dentistry is fun. There is always something new to learn, some nifty gadget to discover, some way you can improve upon your practice. It keeps things interesting. It’s also a great feeling to know that you really are providing the best care possible for patients who, as you are more than aware, are entrusting a great deal of their care to you. They are not robots on whom you may just mechanically operate and send on their way; patients are people, and they should be treated as such.

This is another reason why I have chosen a holistic path: holistic dentistry takes the whole patient into consideration instead of isolating all ties to a particular medical or dental problem. Treatment involves health-promoting solutions, thus giving both the patient and doctor a great sense of security and well-being.

Bringing the best care to my patients is my passion. I hope my patients feel not only taken care of, but also happier, healthier, and more confident when they leave my office.

Dr. Sperbeck, West Los Angeles

Mercury-Safe Dentistry: A Little Clarification

Holistic dentistry calls for not using metals or toxins when treating patients. However, sometimes patients come in, previously having had fillings or crowns using mercury placed in their mouths by another dentist. It is imperative that patients have this work removed and redone as soon as possible, and I’ll explain why in a second.

Some dentists proudly tout their positions as being mercury-free offices. But there’s a difference between mercury-free and mercury-safe dentistry. Mercury-free dentistry does not incorporate mercury into any part of its practice; however, that does not automatically include the priority of removing/replacing preexisting mercury from regular patients.  And even then if it does, does its staff know how to do it safely?

Mercury is most toxic to the human body when it is vaporized, because that is the form of mercury most easily spread and embedded throughout the tissues. Mercury vapor is constantly emanating from amalgam fillings, set off by body heat, movement during speech, chewing, teeth grinding, etc. Even when perfectly still, low levels of mercury vapor still leak into your system. Some people feel its effects sooner, and others later; those effects may be drastic or occasional inconveniences (migraines out of nowhere, for instance). Unfortunately, mercury poisoning is usually misdiagnosed for other illnesses because its range of symptoms is so wide. Thus mercury toxicity hides under the radar for long periods of time, in many cases for life. Mercury is particularly threatening to brain and nerve health. Pregnant or nursing mothers and children should take the biggest precautions to avoid exposure to mercury.

The human body is always in a state of cleansing or detoxifying. The standard American diet, along with the general exposure to daily environmental toxins, chemicals, drugs, and dangerous materials, already puts toxic burdens on our bodies that are too heavy to bear. Our bodies are accumulating more toxins faster than we can get rid of them. Why compound the problem by tolerating mercury in our teeth?

Dr. Sperbeck, West Los Angeles