Periodontal Pockets: cleaning & treatment

Any treatment for periodontal disease requires excellent daily care at home. The Waterpik™ Water Flosser is clinically proven to remove plaque and improve gum health.

If you have periodontal disease (periodontitis), you may also develop periodontal pockets. These occur when the gums pull away from the teeth, creating deep spaces where bacteria can multiply. Left untreated, pockets can lead to tissue, bone, and tooth loss.

Cleaning periodontal pockets can be difficult with traditional methods. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing alone cannot reach deep enough into the pocket.

For everyday oral hygiene:

• Use a Waterpik™ Water Flosser with the Classic Jet Tip, Plaque Seeker™ Tip, or Orthodontic Tip to remove plaque and food debris throughout the mouth.
• To target periodontal pockets, use the Pik Pocket™ Tip with a therapeutic mouth rinse in addition to your regular tip. This delivers solution gently and effectively below the gumline.

Your dentist or periodontist will decide on the most appropriate treatment depending on the depth and severity of your pockets. Options include:

• Professional cleaning and scaling to reduce bacteria
• Pocket reduction surgery to eliminate areas where bacteria can grow
• Regenerative procedures to rebuild bone and gum tissue and encourage re-attachment

Dental professionals often prescribe therapeutic mouth rinses as a non-surgical way to help treat gum disease and clean periodontal pockets. These prescription-only solutions typically contain the antimicrobial drug chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX).

For at-home care, many dental professionals recommend a Waterpik™ Water Flosser with the Pik Pocket™ Tip to deliver therapeutic rinses into periodontal pockets.

The Pik Pocket™ Tip has a soft rubber end designed for low-pressure delivery. It can reach up to 90% of the depth of a 6 mm pocket without trauma. 

To use the Pik Pocket™ Tip:

1. Fill the reservoir with water and, if prescribed, a therapeutic mouthrinse (according to your dental professional’s instructions).
2. With the unit turned off, set the pressure to the lowest setting.
3. Place the soft tip against the tooth at a 45-degree angle and gently slide it under the gumline, into the pocket.
4. Switch the unit on to irrigate the pocket.

Clinical studies show that using a Waterpik™ Water Flosser with 0.06% CHX and the Pik Pocket™ Tip twice daily can significantly improve gum health.

➡ For NHS information, see NHS – Gum disease.