Why do I have a persistent heavy feeling of plaque on the back of my tongue ? I am on a ridig dental practice?!
Question: Why do I have a persistent heavy feeling of plaque on the back of my tongue .? I am on a ridig dental practice.?
About 2 years ago , I was diagnosed with periodontal disease , I have 3 or 4 stage 4-5 mm pockets that are stable.. I see my dentist every 3 mos.. she referred me to see a periodontist , who never rendered me any services , he says that I don't have enough a problem to seek his services.. However ; he did write an antibiotic prescription for me as did my dentist.. My dental regimen includes: rinse and brush with Hydrogen Peroxide 3Xdaily ,irrigate gums with water hose , proxybrush to the pockets and all other teeth , brush back of tongue using peroxide , rinse with salt , follow up brushing with oral rinsing Peridex.. Prior to starting on the antibiotics I was taking a sinus medication with Zantac for reflux and sinusitis.. This alone did not help me with the "feeling of discharge from my gums and the heavy feeling of plaque at the back of my tongue.. With a reluctant Periodontist and a persistent bad breath , I am frustrated to start extractions of my teeth..Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I have been in Dentistry for over 20 years and am a licensed Dental Hygienist.. It is old school to use peroxide for rinses.. It will blanch the tissue and there are even studies out there that it may cause dry mouth.. Which could cause bad breath due to saliva flow not "flushing" the bacteria.. We recommend (and we consult with our Periodontist, who is a national lecturer) that brushing with good old toothpaste, flossing and proxy brush or end tuft on a 2xday basis.. If you are really going every 3 months and keeping the pockets stable at 4-5mm w/o bleeding, then you are probably doing okay, of course we want 2-3mm.. But even "healthy mouths will have a 4/5mm at times.. It all depends on where you came from.. Did you came from 7-9mm pockets or did you come from 5-6mm.?
Remember the bacteria will re-generate so to speak in a matter of 90-180 days, so a 3-6 mo recare is designed based on an individual need.. Keep up with you intervals and home care.. Honestly, I haven't heard of antibiotic therapy (oral meds) for perio for years.. There are alot of intra-oral medicants that can be placed in the pocket them selves.. If you ever are concerned or question your Dentist, see someone for a second opinion..
Extracting your teeth has a whole bunch of problems on it's own.. So you really need to think long and hard before you go to such irreversible extremes..Health Question & Answer
Remember the bacteria will re-generate so to speak in a matter of 90-180 days, so a 3-6 mo recare is designed based on an individual need.. Keep up with you intervals and home care.. Honestly, I haven't heard of antibiotic therapy (oral meds) for perio for years.. There are alot of intra-oral medicants that can be placed in the pocket them selves.. If you ever are concerned or question your Dentist, see someone for a second opinion..
Extracting your teeth has a whole bunch of problems on it's own.. So you really need to think long and hard before you go to such irreversible extremes..Health Question & Answer
First of foremost, instead of brushing your tongue............start doing daily tongue-cleaning( scraping) using a tongue-cleaner.. You wil be amazed at the level of freshness in your breath............it is indeed a great habit .. This coating over our tongue is home to so many germs responsible for causing bad breath and heavy plaque feeling at the back of your tongue..........just follow what I have said and you will feel the change yourself on the first day itself..Health Question & Answer