periodontal disease/tap pap?

[herefishy]

Would love to try the tap pap, but have recently finished "deep cleaning" for periodontal disease and wonder if anyone has investigated further to know what damage the mouthpiece might do? Is it because there would be saliva held up against the teeth? My dentist wants me to get an expensive night guard because he says I'm "clenching". Can't imagine the tap mouthpiece would do anything differently. Any ideas?

[Pugsy]

I can't imagine that the mouth guard would do anything any differently either but I don't know the answer to your question.
I didn't do any sort of research about mouth guards when I opted to try this mask.

[dos coyotes]

herefishy ---- I would be interested to know what you find out as I just went thru the same experience, though I don't have the clenching issue so no recommendations for a mouth guard.

[khauser]

Saliva is actually GOOD for dental hygiene ... it is the bodies way of fighting cavities. You definitely want to floss and brush thoroughly because trapping food particles inside the mouthpiece would be bad. This is the same as with any mouth guard, including that which your dentist suggests you buy.

The mouthguard your dentist wants to make is expensive because it is custom made. Anything that keeps you from rubbing your teeth together should do the trick, so I wouldn't discourage the Tap Pap in your case....
-Kevin
FYI, no letters after my name! So please make sure your dentist agrees.

[herefishy]

I'm presently wearing a "plackers" guard that is the nicest little invention - just sits between your teeth and attached in the front. I agree that anything that keeps your teeth apart should work. Guess I should ask the tap pap people why their warning.

[khauser]

Huh ... I just checked the manual and you're right, they say "Do not use if you have any periodontal disease. Here's my theory: periodontal disease can lead to loose teeth, and believe me, it builds QUITE the grip on your teeth, so that might be the issue.

The other issue is that people with periodontal disease, by definition, have inflammed, swollen gums. It wouldn't be good to have anything else bothering them until they were healed.

But the BEST source of information for this, in my opinion, is NOT the makers of Tap Pap, but rather your oral surgeon / dentist. That's where I'd go...

[babytalk]

I am a long time user of a mouthguard. My dentist made it to prevent me from grinding my teeth, because I was really damaging my teeth. The mouthguard she made is made of acrylic----it smelled alot like when you are getting fake nails----and I had to go back several times to adjust the fit before it was "perfect." So even custom made doesn't mean the mouthguard was instantly perfect. I have come to love the way my mouthguard hugs my teeth, and I cannot sleep without it.

Having said that, I just ordered the Tap-Pap today. I like the fact that it can be molded and re-molded as necessary. I just had my teeth cleaned and my dentist told me to go for it!

about periodontal disease: I've never been diagnosed with that, but I did have "pockets" in my lower gums that collected "debris." YUCK! Six months ago, the dental hygenist talked about how careful I needed to be in order to prevent those pockets turning into periodontal disease. This week when I went back for another cleaning, I have no more pockets. I believe that the improvement is directly attributed to my beginning to use xylitol (a sweetener made from, I believe, the bark of maple trees) Xylitol is known to be healthful for your dental health, and it is claimed to reverse periodontal disease. I order strawberry mints with xylitol through Amazon, my local health food store has gum with xylitol and sometimes I use that, too. I also buy it by the pound to use as a sweetener in my smoothies and coffee. Maybe you could try xylitol and see if it helps you.

[herefishy]

Thanks, I use Xylitol, too..

[dos coyotes]

After three "deep" cleanings and a surgical cleaning including a skin graft to save a lower tooth by periodontist/oral surgeon, my periodontal disease has been eradicated. I go back in three months for my next routine cleaning. My issue now is whether I choose to have partial dentures made as I have no molars top or bottom.

As part of my surgery recovery, my surgeon/dentist made a silicone(?) cap molded to fit my upper teeth and the roof of my mouth where the skin graft was taken. It developed quite a suction when in place. I wore it for a week after the surgery while my gums were healing and until the stitches disolved.

I've been wanting to try the tappap but I'm thinking I'll check with the Doc first.

[herefishy]

That "s" word is what I'm trying to avoid.

[dos coyotes]

I understand your anxiety herefishy -- but I will tell you my 'surgery' was not nearly as bad as I expected -- in fact it was almost nothing, well as nothing as spending well over an hour in the chair can be.

Without getting overly gross, my 3 initial cleanings still left some pockets that could not be resolved. The doc then lanced open the upper gums from cheek to cheek and folded them back like folding back a bedsheet or opening the flap of a box (that's how it was described to me). Then he got in there and cleaned. Previously the top ridge of my upper teeth looked a if they were about to break thru my gums so he also did a lot of grinding to cut down those edges. Not that anyone else /could or can see that but it made a world of difference in how my gums look.

When all was done he stitched me up, popped on the little plastic protective cap and sent me home. I took one pain pill (Hydrocodone) a couple hours later as protection against the injections he gave me wearing off, but honestly I never felt any pain whatsoever.

The hardest part was all the numbing up that had to be done, must have been about 7 or 8 injections, but despite his warnings, I never felt anything beyond a mild sting. He's GOOOOOD!

The skin graft was done after all that and it was a really, really minor deal.

I don't know your situation but after years of denial and hoping my regular dentist could fix my issues, I'm thrilled to have had this done. Prior to the periodontist's work I had to have 5 extractions done. I'm diabetic and that contributed to my issues.

Hope yours are resolved successfully!

[herefishy]

Thanks for the pep talk, Pugsy.