What is Medicinal Dental Irrigation, and How Does It Improve Gum Health?

Dental irrigation is a versatile procedure that allows the dentist to resolve several dental issues. Here are ways dental irrigation can be beneficial.

• Periodontal disease: Gum disease develops in stages. The earliest form of gum disease (gingivitis) causes mild symptoms like gum tenderness, redness, and swelling. Left untreated, gum disease causes deep periodontal pockets as gums pull away (recede) from the teeth. Home and standard dental cleaning tools can’t reach these pockets effectively—dental irrigation blasts unhealthy deposits from these hard-to-reach areas to keep your pockets healthier and shallower. Oral irrigation can be used as an adjunct with deep teeth cleaning or pocket reduction surgery to reduce and eliminate harmful bacteria. 
• Halitosis treatment: An occasional whiff of bad breath is normal, but chronic bad breath signals a problem. The medical term for bad breath is halitosis, and the common cause is poor oral hygiene. Jets from oral irrigation dislodge food between teeth and blast away dental plaque to remove bad odor-causing bacteria.
• Antimicrobial treatment: Oral irrigation is an excellent choice when the dentist wants to deliver medication in the subgingival layers. The dentist combines antimicrobial substances with water and applies them underneath the gum line to eliminate harmful bacteria. 

While pocket irrigation can be performed independently, it’s often combined with other treatments like deep cleanings or gum flap surgery. During periodontal cleaning, the dentist may irrigate your gums with medicated water after scaling and root planing (SRP). Similarly, pocket irrigation is frequently used following pocket reduction surgery. Once the pockets are cleared of debris, the dentist will use an oral irrigator to apply antimicrobial agents, helping to eliminate harmful bacteria and promote healing.

In addition to oral irrigation at our office, this procedure can be done at home with a water pick. This simple device delivers a high-pressure water jet to remove stuck food and other particles between teeth and along the gum line. The water jet dislodges food particles, plaque, and bacteria from areas that might be difficult to reach with a toothbrush. 

Many prefer a water pick to flossing because it’s gentle, fast, and simple. A water pick is ideal for people with limited manual dexterity or those who struggle with the technique required for traditional flossing. Even though it’s effective, water picks aren’t a substitute for brushing or professional cleanings. 

Dental irrigation is an effective procedure for reducing or eliminating harmful oral bacteria. Call (941) 371-2022 to discover how Vital Dental can improve your oral health through oral irrigation.