Welcome to the Gum Disease Blog! We created this running Blog in 2007 to have an open forum for discussing Periogen®, the tartar dissolver, as well as home dental care in general. As more people become enlightened to the magic that is Periogen®, a new era is emerging where people will manage their own oral health, rather than living helplessly every day in dread of some future dental appointment, scheduled or not. Seek the assistance of dental professionals with the confidence that your home care regimen includes dissolving tartar.
There are many questions and answers here. Feel free to post your questions, and one of us will give you the answers.
You are also encouraged to share your dental experiences here.
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Tags: dissolve tartar, gum disease, oral health, Periogen
On May 8th, 2009, we did our best to convert our Blog over to a newer software version. Our best was not enough!
Please visit the following link for the previous 168 entries:
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Do you have any intention of making replacable tips available for the pocket flush applicator? This device works very well but once it gets crimped inserting in tight places it becomes difficult to use.
The applicator is primarily the tip, really. The syringe is standard and quite inexpensive, but those tips, while made of plastic (for comfort) are very complex. As you might have noticed, the solution doesn’t shoot downward, rather perpendicular in two different spots, thus delivering an enhanced flushing action.
So, no, we don’t have any plans to split them apart.
From what I have gathered, users of periogen should limit themselves to only 1-2 sessions a day. If that is contingent, what specific reasons are there for 1-2 sessions a day? Conversely, how often can Periogen be used each day or,say, on weekends or every other day, beyond twice a day: what guidelines are there?
Since tartar dissolution is based on repetition, the goal is get a routine down that works for you. An “every morning” or “before bedtime” regimen are classics that suit Periogen use well.
What is the minimum that can be used? Once tartar has been dissolved through a once or twice a day routine, applying Periogen twice a week will keep tartar dissolved or sufficiently loosened so negative periodontal conditions do not emerge.
What is the most that can be used? Periogen is a kind of soap + water softener, so there is no limit to how much or how often it can be used.
Our recommendations meter out Periogen in a practical way to quickly improve and maintain excellent gum health while keeping the economics of home tartar dissolution on your side.
Which pressure setting on my Waterpik do you recommend we use with the Pik Pocket and Periogen? I have been using my waterpik for about a few days while waiting for my Periogen and it takes me way more than 1 cup of water to do my whole mouth (using the standard tip). Should I dilute the Periogen in more water to ensure that I have enough Periogen to make it? Maybe with practice I will get more efficient…
Yes, the regular tip goes through a cup of water very quickly.
The PikPocket Tip with the Waterpik Ultra WP100 at 1/2 power takes about two minutes to dispense one cup of water. In that time, you should have been able to go around your entire gum-tooth margin including a loiter or two, here and there. If that is not true for you, start with more water.
The systems we encourage are meant to achieve success with your fight against any level of periodontitis – and adding two minutes onto a brushing session to end gum disease is realistic. What we don’t want to see is anyone setting up an unrealistic cleaning regimen, akin to starting a new fad diet that can’t be maintained for long.
So we promote just a little Periogen each day for two minutes only. The next thing you know, you’ll be on the other side of your condition with your dentist scratching their head in amazement.
Hello,
I recently purchased some of the tartar removing powder. I am a natural skeptic and was not sure if this stuff worked. I have had tartar problems on my lower front teeth for a few years and have tried removing it myself with no success. It was real hard and thick. Well here it is just 10 days later and I did not really see much of a change. Then, all of a sudden this morning I was brushing and i noticed some tartar had come off while brushing so I grabbed my dentist pik and i could not believe what I was seeing I removed all the tartar from those teeth. it was disgusting and beautiful at the same time. I go to the dentist tomorrow. what a time for such a major result. I am no longer a skeptic this is the most amazing product ever. Thank you so much.
That’s great Sean,
Tell a friend…Oh, you just told the world! Good job.
I had remembered reading this in the old blog and is the reason for the previous post. There appearantly was maybe an earlier version with replacable tips is this still available? I would like to order it.
Thank you
Administrator Says:
March 21st, 2008 at 7:15 am
Barbara,
Get the Pocketflush out and practice first on pockets you can see and easily get to. There is a learning curve, but that is why we sent you **spare tips in case you break a couple**(my emphasis). It is best to slowly slide the tip down the tooth and into the margin and pocket, rather than poking at it. If you try some pockets in the back, but are fighting your cheeks, order a Cheek Retractor to eliminate the interference. The goal of using the Pockflush is to get troublesome pockets to reduce in depth so you don’t have to use the Pocketflush anymore and just use the Waterpik.
I was reading some of the comments here & I have #5-7 gaps in my gums & 1 tooth has a #10 gap. I’ve been using my Waterpik #70 for years but not every day untill the Dentist gave me the bad news. I go in for deep cleaning in 2 1/2 weeks to do 1/2 of my mouth, my question is (1) what attachment do I need for my Waterpik #70 other than the one it came with & (2) I have never seen “pockets” between my gums & teeth (3)what is “Pocketflush” & do I need one along with using my Waterpik (4) I almost never see tartar on my teeth ( I do floss but only 1-2 times a week), does this mean its only going below my gums(tarter) or is there another cause for my gums receading ???
Hi Bob,
The cause for gum recession that you can control is tartar at or below the gum-tooth margin. Anaerobic bacteria, which live harmlessly at the very back of your tongue, find a new home in the tartar and eat your gums away through a toxin-releasing process. In your case the tartar has spread downward on a few teeth thus opening up periodontal pockets. You need to dissolve this tartar to possibly close these pockets up and deny the destructive bacteria a place to live and multiply. Periogen will dissolve that tartar if you can get it to it.
It is time for you to get a new Waterpik. Only the Waterpik Ultra WP100 can use the PikPocket tip which will deliver Periogen to a depth of 6-7mm. For your 10mm Pocket, you will need the 12mm Pocketflush applicator to deliver Periogen.
All of those pockets should begin reducing after a few weeks of use. If you can get your 10mm pocket down to 6mm, you can discontinue Pocketflush use and simply rely on the Waterpik Ultra to deliver Periogen.
You may choose to put off your deep cleaning for a month or two and see if Periogen can dissolve the tartar that your dental professional would be scraping, and also to determine if your periodontal pockets can be reduced to a manageable level. Refer back to your dentist after this time to determine if further treatment is needed. If you are like many people, you will no longer need a deep cleaning.
Has anyone done research into using this product on pets, specifically cats. I spend more on dental for them than I do for myself.
I’ve used the product for over a year and have never had such good dental check ups.
I’ll be travelling next week. At this point would it do any good to just rinse with Periogen while I’m on the road and won’t have my waterpic with me?
Thanks.
Hello – I would like to share that I have been to the dentist just recently and my news was not good at all. I was told that the best remedy for my situation was to have all of my teeth extracted and dentures put in its place. The cost would be $21,585.00 for this service. He did also say that I could have root planning done but I would still have to maintain the periodontal problem. I became really concerned because all of my back teeth, molars do not move they do not have tarter where you could see it anyway. But they are not mobile at all. I have seen some of the photos of advanced periodontal disease. My gums of course are inflammed. I have one tooth on the front of my mouth were the gum has receded. But there is no recession on either side of my gums where my back teeth are.
I did a google search and found your website I have ordered and have just received the periogen, water pik and the deep pocket applicator. I have began using the deep pocket applicator but I have not used the water pik yet. Would you advise me to begin using the water pik along with the applicator or just the applicator for now?
Your product seems to be very promising. I hope that it will be able to help me like it has helped others. I will keep you posted as to what happens in the near future. I wanted to use the periogen for about a month or two before going back to the dentist to see if my situation changes.
Sincerely,
Patricia
North Carolina
Hi Patricia,
Sorry I missed your post.
Yes, use the Waterpik along with the applicator, that will get rid of the visible tartar and get your gums to calm down. If you are diligent in the next two months, you can get all the tartar off, both above and below the gum line, which will make your gums healthy and get your pockets to close up some.
This “improving periodontal condition” is something dentists are not used to, so you must blog back with your dentist’s reaction and recommendations!
Hi,
I was at the dentist today and I told him about my idea to close my #5 and two #4 pockets. He told me it was a waste of money and that I need gum surgery or I will loose the teeth. He would not even show me how to insert the piK into the pocket. Could you tell me how I insert the Pik into the pocket in my back molars? I am really considering a new dentist, because the one I have is so gun ho on GUM SURGERY!!!
Mary
Hi Mary,
Dentists just do what they do. That doesn’t sound good that he wouldn’t help you with your home care, however.
4mm and 5mm pockets are far from the end of the world, and well within reach of the Waterpik Ultra with the PikPocket tip. With the machine off and the tip in place on the Ultra’s hand piece; open your mouth wide in the mirror (an illuminated and magnified make-up mirror works best). Position the PikPocket tip at the rear of the molar on the gum-tooth margin. The little rubber tip should be on the tooth and gum at the same time, so that when it is on Periogen solution with spray directly down between the gum and tooth and into the pocket. Get used to how this feels. It is impossible to use a Waterpik in the mirror; you have to keep you mouth over the sink an head slightly down.
Fill your reservoir with warm water, turn on the Waterpik and practice, practice, practice. When you get it right, do your Periogen routine.
If you want to try using the 12mm applicator to put Periogen into those pockets, you can look in the mirror while applying Periogen solution. In that case, slide the tip of the applicator along the tooth and into the pocket.
I would just stick with the Waterpik since your pockets aren’t very deep. If you have trouble getting the angle behind your molars, we recently started modifying PikPocket tips to 90 degrees for just that purpose. They are available at the Periogen webstore.
Good Luck!
Hi….I just ordered the powder and am looking for info on how to use. Sorry, not well informed with all this and am trying to understand what a “pocket” is in the mouth exactly so I can address issue Thanks and look forward
Hi Martin,
To start with, and this is something you won’t hear very often while in a dental chair – periodontal disease is not your fault. No amount of brushing and flossing can prevent it from occurring. Volumes have been written on the subject of periodontal disease, its causes, and various treatments. It is a huge equation involving dozens of factors including patient health, diet, immune system response, genetic predisposition, and a host of others reasons. Being good at math, however, I can simplify this equation to one thing – and it’s a pretty cool thing too, because it is something you can do something about on your own: Tartar.
To put it simply as the undisputable truth: No Tartar = No Gum Disease
In the early states of gum disease, tartar forms on the enamel of your teeth right at the gum line, and begins to host anaerobic bacteria which are ever-present and mostly harmless at the back of your tongue. If you are missing dental cleanings around this time, these bacteria will begin to release toxins that will irritate your gums and slowly begin to detach your gums from your teeth. The tartar then spreads downward under your gums, following the gum detachment. This is the beginning of a periodontal pocket.
Let unchecked, the pockets grow deeper and deeper, with tartar formations following closely, resulting in mild, moderate and then severe infections that ultimately cause your body to loosen and eject the affected teeth.
This simplification of the process is really all you need to know, because the answer is always the same – get rid of the tartar. Your dentist can scrape tartar away during early stages of pocket development, but regular scraping once pockets have progressed is arguably just a Band-Aid, as scraping rarely gets all the deep tartar off, and the disease continues nearly unabated.
Periogen dissolves all tartar it comes into contact with, thus completely halting this process. In many cases, with tartar dissolved, this process will be reversed and pockets will close back up to some improved level, thus preventing tooth loss.
You are in Spokane Valley, Washington, so you are not far from the ultimate answer to eliminating periodontal pockets. There is a specialist near Seattle that has a simple one-time non-surgical procedure that closes periodontal pockets up completely. Her name is Judy Carroll and she is the director of Periopeak Innovations (www.periopeak.com).
I have undergone her painless procedure recently and I highly recommend it.
It is best to use Periogen as directed prior to her procedure, then after a month or so, Periogen may be used regularly to keep the pocket-growing process from ever starting again.
Thank you very much for the above answer it really helped.
I have an idea regarding the actual effectiveness. I noticed on line the endoscope effort on U-Tube to probe into the actual evidence of tartar reduction through the use of periogen. Here is the idea: As you know , the tartar in the mouth is hard to get at , visualize and monitor due to location beneath gum line ect. So, I submitt that instead of introducing the periogen product to the location of the tartar, instead introduce the tartar to the area of choice of the periogen. In short, detach tartar for testing and “then” soak or spray for testing. That way the product can be undeniably observed with unquestionable accuracey and good confidence. Thankyou for your busy time and please have a nice day
Hi, I recetnly posted a question about two weeks ago on here and checked to see if someone had answered and it was deleted. Not very happy that not only did I not receieve an answer but some how it was deleted. So here it goes again….I have been using periogen for a little over two weeks now and see a little difference it the texture of the tartar on the back of my bottom teeth. I was just wondering how long it takes to see a major change in the tartar. Also…I have been using it twice a day morning and night with the waterpik, and I just ordered my second bottle. How long should a bottle of periogen last?
After I just reposted my first question I see that my other post popped back up…so I apologize if I thought that it was deleted.
Hi Kristy,
Depending on how long the tartar has been on, it could take 8 weeks or more for the tartar on the back of insisors to completely go away. The key is that it is going away, not growing, so don’t be concerned if it takes more time with you. It is still somewhat of a miracle.
Each bottle has 45 one gram doses for the waterpik, 90 if you would be swishing. There is no harm in using more or applying more frequently.
Thanks for your timely response! I have noticed a great reduction in the tartar on the back of my bottom teeth in the past two weeks…even the texture is chaning and it is not as thick as it was before. Can’t wait to see the results in the next two weeks!!!!
What were the results of the clinical trails at Harvard? Indications were that you expected results in jan of 08?
I have already gone through the whole process including surgery on three quads once and I have a 4 areas of 5’s again -
Hi…just another question…when using the waterpik with the periogen….will it dissolve the calculus better if the setting on the waterpik is at a higher rate? Just curious…I cannot handle it much above a three as it is way too powerful and hurts. Just curious to know if it works better at higher speeds.
Hi Kristy,
You are correct to use the Waterpik at the settings that do not hurt. It will make no difference in tartar dissolution whatever setting is used. Just get Periogen to the tartar.
Hi Kimbark,
As reported before, the Harvard clinical trial was initially paid for but never started. At the last minute, Harvard demanded 100X the fee initially quoted to do the study. Most importantly, however, they were not equipped to do the research.
One sympathetic periodontist did run the test on a patient after the Harvard cancellation. The video is on youtube. Search “Periogen” to view the successful results.
We have a new clinical study starting up next month in Seattle. I’ll report the details when I know them.
I’m a little cofused on how this is applied. I am reading powder and also waterpik. I have a waterpik and need to know what i need to purchase. My other qestion is will this do any damage to the adhesive used in bridgework?
Periogen is a powder that dissolves quickly in water, namely water in the reservoir of your Waterpik. Periogen will not harm bridgework in any way.
What do you do if you can’t afford a waterpik? I’m unemployed and just meeting my bills.
What will your product do for receeding gum lines?
A Question,
If I rinse with Periogen for 10 minutes as oppose to 5 minutes will it dissolve the tartar quicker?
Can I just use the powder without the waterpik?
Hi G,
Yes, dissolve Periogen in a little warm water and you can swish or brush with the solution to remove plaque and tartar.
Hi Richard,
Yes, and repetition is important too. Rinsing with Periogen twice a day or more will cut through the sticky plaque and dissolve the tartar faster.
Hi Misty,
Periogen use will halt receding gums which are a result of anaerobic bacteria living in the plaque and tartar on teeth. Plaque and tartar do not form when Periogen is used regularly.
Is there someplace where a definite protocol is posted? I see some people in the testimonials and such referring to hydrogen peroxide but I can’t find that anywhere else. I just began today with the Periogen and am hopeful that I can avoid at least some of the scaling/root planing my dentist has suggested.
Just had another question…should have waited to click submit.
Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after using before I take a drink?
Again, if there is a definite protocol, or even variations on that, posted somewhere, it would be great.
I just noticed that waterik has a portable battery operated waterpik. Do you know anything abou this? Would it be good for travel or say lunch time at work?
The one problem with your product is that you offer no documentation at all. such as proper procedures for use. Even the directions on the bottle. It says use cup a 1/2 spoon in a half cup of water. Is that 1 /2 of the applicator spoon? 1/2 teaspoon? How can you tell if you are getting results? How soon should you start seeing results? Please answer these questions and consider some documentation
1 more question, Which would be better
Floss, brush, Listerine, periogen or
floss , brush, periogen, Listerine? Thanks
very good product. keeps a good clean feeling and it is slowly reversing my incisor tartar. should i just mainly concentrate on the area with tartar, or make sure i cover all areas equally and thoroughly with my waterpik?
thanks. I may also swish/brush with it daily also.
very smooth feeling. it looks like the rough tartar is becoming smooth.
hi,ive read alot about periogen on the internet but im from the uk so does anyone know how i can buy some as it dosnt seem to be available over here many thanks
Hello, I began using Periogen in Febuary, dentist kept saying you have gum disease, had deep cleaning 12-08,just went for cleaning 10-01-09, and Hygentist did mention that my oral home care looks like I have been doing a great job, said continue whatever you have been practicing…how often should I continue to use product to keep gums maintained, I had been using once a week,all bleeding has stopped(was never that much) after flossing,is it ok to continue on a weekliy basis, I just bought 3-pack of your product, I am a firm believer of this and wonder if they will ever market in stores or at the Dentist office?
I am having great results with the periogen.However,I had a jump start. I had an endoscopic deep cleaning procedure done in Seattle,WA. by Judy Carroll,RDH.I traveled from Florida and it was so worth it.Pockets of 6 are now 2-3.
To Patricia in North Carolina and all of you that have been advised osseous surgery should check out the vision@periopeak.com site. Judy offers an innovative approach to this nasty periodontitis.The cost is less than traditional perio care and the trip is worth it.I am 6 months post procedure and my dentist is amazed.The endogam bone matrix that she added to the gum solcous is growing my bone back.It will take 12-15 monthe for final results.The doxycycline 20mg/ day is helping also(periostat).
Good luck everyone with your fight against gum disease.
jody
Is it raising any questions in anyone else’s mind that the Administrator hasn’t had any reponses in almost a month
Has it been that long??? So sorry! Let me tell you all what’s been going on the past several weeks.
1. We’ve gotten very busy and have outgrown our facility in Chula Vista, just south of San Diego. I’ve been spending a little time each day traveling to potential replacements.
2. We were invited to Washington, DC to meet with the most famous dental researcher of all time. If anyone can guess his name I’ll confirm it. Anyway, our meeting went great and it turns out that he had not brushed his teeth in 38 days – he was just swishing twice a day with a little Periogen solution. His findings of his own little study were that Periogen use alone can prevent the build-up of plaque – the precursor to tartar. No product has ever done this before. All “anti-plaque” toothpastes and mouth rinses are actually only anti-microbial. This is valuable too, but preventing the formation of plaque in the first place is far more significant.
This was pretty big news and we are all scrambling to find out what it all means. No plaque means no tartar AND no cavities. We are developing some case studies to confirm this; and it is looking very real.
3. We have assembled the equipment and experts in a small town in Washington State to perform the “Harvard Clinical Trial” that was developed some time back but never got started. We will be advertising for trail participants in a little over a week.
I’ll look over and comment on the blog entries later in the evening.
Hi Andrea,
Thank Misty for waking me back up to the Blog.
Everything we definitively know is on the Periogen Website; but I can give you some forward-looking data that could help.
We often acquiesce to the concurrent use of hydrogen peroxide with Periogen. We have in-vitro tests that support the notion that it helps things along for the first month of use. Having said that, Hydrogen Peroxide is not a definitive anti-microbial. Much better to use an alcohol-based mouthwash that definitively kills germs.
Periogen disrupts biofilms and keeps plaque from forming, as well as dissolving existing plaque and tartar. Use an anti-plaque (anti-microbial) rinse prior to a Periogen rinse for maximum effectiveness. Leave Periogen on your teeth for as long as possible (up to 20 minutes) before eating and drinking.
Scaling and root planing can be avoided if you can get Periogen repeatedly delivered to sub-gingival tartar accumulations.
Hi Molly,
We are friends with WaterPik and know everything about their products. The non-portable WP100 WaterPik Ultra is the only way to successfully deliver Periogen to sub-gingival pockets up to 6-7mm in depth. The battery-powered one is worthless. Best to just swish with Periogen after eating to keep plaque from forming on your teeth