1. Plaque comes from stuff in saliva
that sticks to teeth and food sticks to the plaque. Plaque + bacteria
make bacterial bio-films that cause white spots on teeth, gum disease
(bleeding) and tooth cavities.
2. Infected, swollen, bleeding gum tissue,
if properly brushed will begin to heal and when you continue to
brush this infected tissue will heal completely with the fabulous
result of no bleeding and healthy pink stippled gum tissue.
3. By following "Zero Bleeding" instructions you have
proved to yourself that if you brush bleeding gum tissue these
tissues will stop bleeding in a few days. This lesson you prove
to yourself will stay with you for the rest of your life. Gum
tissue is the same tissue as the tissue in the palm of your hand
and the bottom of your feet. This gum tissue will callous just
like the palm and the sole when stimulated by brushing. (Under
the microscope the tissues of the gum, the palm and the sole of
your feet are all the same).
4. Gum tissue is not a delicate, tender
tissue but is a tuff resilient tissue like our palms to handle
tools and hold on to things, and soles to walk on, and gum tissue
is there to bounce crusty and hard foods that our teeth bite into.
5. Sulcus brushing is the basic for zero
bleeding. Keep the sulcus clean with back and forth strokes at
right angle to the tooth with lots of pressure. Go over every
tooth 4 times at each brushing in the morning and evening will
give you a calloused gum tissue that is impervious to disease.
6. There are so many ways to brush and
so many dentists and hygienist who want to show orthodontic patients
how to brush, because they see problems with some patients with
braces. As a patient that is following zero bleeding standards
be careful for most dentists and hygienist brushing techniques
will not only confuse you and if adopted have you bleeding at
you next orthodontic appointment.
7. Bleeding gums are cause by plaque and
food making a bio-film that is a sticky home full of germs (bacteria).
This bio-film home has no port-a-potty and all their #1's and
#2's that these germs make go right into the sulcus and the mouth
and causes tissue infection and tooth decay.
When proper brushing is not done gums bleed when touched by a
tooth brush bristle, floss, food or dental instrument and look
terrible. There is, if nothing is done with bleeding gums, a more
serious condition can occur, UNG! The unspoken orthodontist concern:
8. UNG is the acronym for "Ulcerative
Necrotizing Gingivitis" and this condition
occurs when no cleaning of the teeth and gums is done. This causes
swollen jaws that can advances to a swollen face, fever and other
complications. Your body has to fight this infection and prevent
it from taking over your body! This patient cannot eat, the lips
are swollen, the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged, foul breath,
the look on the face of this patient is one of hopelessness. Dentist
in some part of the country speak of this as hoof and mouth disease
which is a similar condition that cattle get. This can be similar
to Mononucleosis. This was a life threatening condition before
antibiotics (1945). Fortunately, these patients seek medical advice
and as an orthodontist I immediately have to get at the case of
their condition, that is the plaque bacteria infested bio-film
from the mouth which has taken over the mouth. Take oral temperature,
removed this bio-film from the mouth so it can heal. How? You
guessed it, BRUSHING! Done with a regular tooth brush softened
in hot water, used to brush (really mop) and loosen as much bio-film
as possible, rinse with a soothing antibacterial mouth wash. Prescribe
antibiotics and pain medication, liquid diet, see patient in 18
hours to repeat temperature recording, brushing and rinsing and
write out instructions for home care. See in 2 days, any fever
should be gone, healing on the way, eating somewhat normally,
in 10 days course no bleeding during brushing all should be doing
well.
