What to do until I can afford the periodontist?

[CeciMami]

So here's the story:

I have really bad gums, pockets of 9-10 in some places and was scheduled for a root planing/scaling with a Periodontist in a couple of weeks. Well, DH just lost his p/t job (the one that pays for anything "extra" as opposed to the f/t job which pays the bills) so now I'm going to have to put that off for about 6 months till we can scrape the money together to get it done. Anyone have an idea of what I should do in the meantime either preventative or (even better) possibly curative? I could use any help or info that you want to throw my way. Thanks!

[lindberg99]

Check out the Clean White Teeth site: http://cleanwhiteteeth.com/

[primjillie]

I don't know that 6 months will make too much of a difference unless your teeth are loose already or you are in pain. I hadn't gone to the dentist in ten years, and am now paying for it. I have serious gum disease and in the last three months have had four teeth pulled and all the root planing/scaling done. My peridontist is going to clean my teeth every three months and I am planning on gum surgery next year. Hopefully, my gums will heal themselves a little. Switching to a sonicare toothbrush and flossing regularly has made a lot of difference. Maybe your dentist could work out a payment plan with you? My dentist says there is no cure, but he can help it. Mine was caused by not having regular cleanings. I brush regularly, but I guess a toothbrush can't clean up all the plaque that accumulates. He also said my gums will never get all the way back to "normal", but my goal is to keep my teeth.

[LavenderMae]

Originally Posted by lindberg99

Check out the Clean White Teeth site: http://cleanwhiteteeth.com/

I was going to suggest using Dr. Ellie's tooth cleaning routine. This is direct link to it. http://cleanwhiteteeth.com/cwt-system.htm

[allnaturalmom]

Try this:
http://www.albrite.com/gum_disease_summary.html

I checked out the book from the library and it was pretty good. I did not buy the applicator, but would have if my pockets didn't improve. He uses h202, salt, silver solutions, if I remember correctly.

I also used, and still use, a sonicare toothbrush... and highly recommend it!

gl
hth

[FireWithin]

I would look into oil pulling. It is basically swishing oil in your mouth for up to twenty minutes at a times.

I had a small pocket in my gums for five years. Two sessions of oil pulling healed it. You have a much more severe case. Do a search here and on google, you should get a little info.

Plus, it whitened my teeth a little.