Journey from 9mm to 4mm pockets
If you're anything like me, you had numerous deep cleanings but bleeding gums always returned. You brushed daily, flossed 2-3 times a week, went in for cleanings regularly. Not perfect but a lot more maintenance than others.
Turns out, you can still get severe periodontal disease. Maybe your hygienist didn't understand? Who knows.
It's not hopeless. It can be very expensive. It is largely genetic. You aren't just a flaly flosser. NO AMOUNT OF FLOSSING CAN FIX IT. The infection is much deeper than floss can affect.
Here's what I did.
Laser gum treatment (LANAP) at the best periodontist in town. Followed the recovery protocol to the letter. This got me to 4mm, with one 5.
After that: brush, floss, gum interdental picks, peridex, 3-month trips to hygienist.
I used a sonicare brush, with the most expensive heads they sell, alternating between a regular flourode toothpaste, tartarend and livfresh toothpaste. Don't eat afterwards before bed.
Floss: Dr Tungs. It's not plastic and seems good.
GUM picks: get multiple sizes since you might need it. I use both the tongue and cheek, but mostly on the cheek side.
Peridex: use a capful once a week to shock the bacteria.
I see the hygienist at my periodontist office. They know gums much better than at a dentist. This won't last forever but I'm sticking with it for at least a year (I will need to see a dentist too)
Latest trip I was down to 4mm with no 5s. I did have one area with slight bleeding but overall this is dramatically better than before. Hygienist said gums are pink and rubber band-like, which I believe is a good thing, and that plaque was very minimal.
Don't lose hope. You can turn things around.