What are gum stimulators? what's accomplished by stimulating the gum?

Does anyone know of any peer reviewed sites where i can find more info on the role of adjunctive oral health aids?

You asked two questions and I'll attempt to answer the second question first.

I think it would be helpful to read about Peer Review and Randomized Controlled Studies. Here are two links from Wikipedia:

Peer Review
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_review

Randomized Controlled Trial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randomized_...

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When I searched the web for Peer-Reviewed Journals I found:

Peer-Reviewed Journals
http://www.eurekalert.org/links.php?jrnl...

PEER-REVIEWED OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS
http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/dean/pe...

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I also found a lot of library links that suggested that I research each Journal that interested me at:

Ulrich's Periodicals Directory
http://www.ulrichsweb.com/ulrichsweb/

This site requires a subscription but searching may be free if it's done at a school or municipal library. Many library databases will allow you to limit your search to peer-reviewed journals. You'll need to ask your local librarian for assistance.

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PubMed Home
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

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I search PubMed for PEER REVIEW DENTAL (these were the words I used) and found the following article at #15. It's a current article and the abstract is interesting.

Needleman I, Worthington H, Moher D, Schulz K, Altman DG.

Improving the completeness and transparency of reports of randomized trials in oral health: the CONSORT statement.
Am J Dent. 2008 Feb;21(1):7-12.
PMID: 18435368 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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I suggest that you do a PubMed Advanced search.

Go to:
PubMed Home
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Click on Advanced Search which will open another window.

Scroll down to:
Limit by Topics, Languages, and Journal Groups

Open the Selection Box if it's not open.

Find:
Type of Article

Select the box for:
Randomized Controlled Trial

This will limit your search to Randomized Controlled Trials. I could not find Refereed or Peer-Review as a selection.

You could try searching using the words: PERIODONTAL NONSURGICAL.

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Now for your first question.

I guess anything that stimulates the gum would be a gum stimulator. Usually this term is used when referring to a rubber tip or rubber pick.

I instruct patients to use the rubber tip to disturb plaque that is under the gum at the base of the tooth. The side of the rubber tip rests against the tooth and is gently moved back and forth under the gum to disturb the plaque and introduce oxygen. It's the side of the rubber tip that's cleaning, not the point.

Disturbing the plaque and adding oxygen favors the bacteria that do not cause disease. You do not want to rid your mouth of bacteria. You do want to discourage the disease causing bacteria.

I've attended several classes given by CONNIE DRISKO, DDS

I recall that she reported on a study she did that explored the effectiveness of anti-microbial irrigation applied through the tip of a rubber point. The control was a plain rubber tip. There were benefits from using the plain rubber tip.

I could not find this study using PubMed.

You might be able to contact Dr. Drisko through:

Medical College of Georgia
http://www.mcg.edu/admin/
http://www.mcg.edu/news/beeper/2007/02-1...
http://www.mcg.edu/sod/AR/dean.htm

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Thanks for your thoughtful questions.

It's important to remember that just because there's no research documenting that something works does not means that it doesn't work.

You are awsome!

Do you mind if I get your email? I'm going trhrough DH school and I would really like to get to know other Hygienists in other states.

Thank you again for your help! Report Abuse

Check out the American Dental Association.

The gums need to be healthy to hold the teeth in place. If the gums are unhealthy, that inflammation will travel to the rest of the body too. There is a correlation between maintaining blood sugar in diabetics and their gum health.

So, by stimulating the gums you are keeping them healthier. You can accomplish that with a soft toothbrush and floss. Some people use a gum stimulator to reach problem areas. A normal healthy mouth won't need to use a gum stimulator, but it does feel good.

People with normal healthy mouths will not really benefit from gum stimulator's. For people with healthy mouths, the most important thing they can do is floss. To prevent periodontal disease the plaque in your mouth must be disrupted. The longer it sits there, the more destruction it does. Nothing gets plaque out from between the teeth like floss. I usually only give my patients gum stimulator's when they are already periodontally involved. By stimulating deep pockets, oxygen is introduced to the pocket. The most destructive germs die in the presence of oxygen.