There’s an Easy Way to Treat Gum Disease…and It’s Not Antibiotics
Periodontal disease can be treated easily and effectively at home without the downsides of antibiotics
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re among the 80% of American adults living with gum disease. In its earliest stages, gum disease develops as gingivitis, which is characterized by inflammation—most patients can’t tell that they have the disease very early on, but you or your dentist may notice that your gums appear red, bleed during cleanings, or that you have persistent bad breath despite regularly brushing your teeth. If left untreated, gingivitis develops into a more advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis, a chronic condition whose symptoms are much more apparent and harder to ignore.
As periodontitis progresses, it’s not uncommon to experience significant discomfort and pain as deeper soft tissue and bone are affected and tooth roots are exposed. In the most severe cases, patients’ teeth will loosen or even fall out over time. If that’s not concerning enough, the bacteria behind periodontitis have also been linked to systemic inflammation associated with diseases of the brain, heart, lungs, and other vital parts of the body.
The Problem with Conventional Treatments
While you might be surprised to learn that gum disease has no “cure,” the good news is that it can be treated by addressing its root cause: the bacterial colonies known as biofilm. In addition to
brushing, flossing, and rinsing at home, many patients require regular professional cleanings to physically remove subgingival biofilm and calcified bacteria. Unfortunately, this process can never remove all biofilm beneath the gums, and bacteria that remain repopulate after treatment. Surgery is another conventional option for treating advanced periodontitis, though it comes with risk of complications and can spell further pain and discomfort for patients.
Enter the Post-Antibiotic Era
Antibiotic therapy has historically been prescribed for patients with periodontal disease, though it too has a major downside. Like other treatments, antibiotics only temporarily reduce bacteria, so they must be taken repeatedly to keep biofilm growth under control. Furthermore, antibiotics can never kill 100% of bacteria and the ones that survive often become stronger and more resistant to future treatment cycles. In fact, as a direct result of antibiotic over-prescription, every 11 seconds, someone in the U.S. becomes infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and every 15 minutes, someone dies from an infection—this translates to nearly 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths annually. Due to these troubling findings, as of 2019, authorities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have declared that we now live in a “post-antibiotic era” in which all health professionals should prescribe antibiotics with extreme discretion and offer alternatives whenever possible.
Perio Protect: An Alternative to Antibiotics
Not long ago, antibiotics were virtually the only option patients had for battling bacteria between dental visits. But today, there is a better, safer way for patients to prevent disease progression, minimize the need for scaling and surgery, and improve oral and overall health on their own.
How It Works and What You Can Expect
The Perio Protect Method is an innovative, non-invasive therapy that combines in-office procedures with custom Perio Tray™ delivery of hydrogen peroxide, a natural, antimicrobial medication, to help you safely, easily, and effectively treat gum disease at home. Perio Tray therapy makes for an ideal complement to conventional homecare like brushing and flossing and can be used before and after scaling and root planing or laser therapy to enhance treatment outcomes, with none of the risks of antibiotic therapy. In some cases, the Perio Protect Method can even eliminate the need for surgery.
So, how does it work? After your dentist takes an impression of your teeth and gums, a custom sealed Perio Tray will be fabricated to comfortably fit your mouth. Then, each day, you’ll place a small amount of peroxide gel in the tray and wear it for 10–15 minutes at a time while you go about your daily routine. The sealed Perio Tray works by delivering the antimicrobial medication deep below the gum line, where it kills harmful bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide not only eliminates oral biofilm colonies but also creates an oxygen-rich environment that promotes healing. After just a few weeks of Perio Tray therapy, most patients will see a significant reduction in symptoms like inflammation, bleeding, and excessive pocket depth. You can also expect fresher breath and, thanks to peroxide’s whitening capabilities, a brighter smile.
Treatment You Can Trust
The numerous benefits of the Perio Protect Method have been well-studied and proven over time. Since its introduction in 2005, tens of thousands of dentists and their patients have relied on Perio Tray therapy and controlled clinical studies have confirmed its capabilities. Likewise, thousands of patients have attested to their success with the Perio Protect Method, as seen in a controlled clinical trial in which 100% of patients said they would recommend it to someone else, as well as the many testimonials available online.
To learn more about Perio Protect, visit perioprotect.com and talk to your provider to find out if Perio Tray therapy is right for you.
