Any dentists or hygienists about? Question about Corsodyl

[Bluebird76]

As my gums were bleeding and swollen the hygienist has put me on a regime of brushing my teeth with corsodyl gel every evening (and using interdental brushes with it on) instead of toothpaste. I've been doing this religiously for 6 weeks now and it's working well - the gum inflammation is much reduced. The hygienist has now told me to keep going with the daily corsodyl regime until I next see her in three months time, which will mean nearly 5 months of daily use. I'm a bit nervous about this - it seems to be a pretty strong antimicrobial, and the packet suggests a course of only a month for gum disease. Is long-term use like this a standard recommendation, or am I right to be a bit wary? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hopeful bump...

I use corsodyl daily most of the time, only the heavy duty one if hygienist is really cross with me. And corsodyl floss.

My hygienist was talking to me about using interdental brushes but as she had her mask on I'm not 100% sure what she said and I was too embarrassed to ask! I just nodded .

I'm on Corsodyl (heavy duty one) but was told to use if for 3 days then stop then again as it can stain and make things taste weird.

My dentist warns against using corsody as he said it will stain the teeth.
Advises interdental brushes, water flosser and electric toothbrush

Be careful with Corsodyl. It will stain your teeth over time. Gengigel is better.

Thank you all. I'm not so worried about the staining, as the hygienist polishes it all off when I go, and my gums do definitely need some extra help - it's more the health implications of long-term use (and going against pack instructions) that I'm concerned about. @eggandonion it's reassuring you've also been told to use it daily long-term.

I am under an oral specialist because of recurrent oral and oesophageal thrush due to lupus and they’ve told me to use corsodyl every day long term twice a day. So it can be done. And it really, really works for me. My thrush is practically non existent now. I do also use Daktarin gel every night too. However, my teeth are becoming stained from it. That’s the only thing but for me this is hardly worth worrying about - you can have it removed by a hygienist every 6 months so that’s what I do and they look good as new again.

@StubbleMeansTrouble I also had a friend recommend gengigel. I don't want to go against hygienist instructions without good reason, she clearly has more experience than me! But it does go against what I know others with gum disease have been told. Wish I'd queried it directly with her but it's a bit hard to be coherent when you've just had your teeth attacked with a metal pick

The daily one doesn't have the strange metallic aftertaste, so I assume it's less strong. I live in Ireland, and the daily one is available in supermarkets, the strong one is pharmacy only. This is usually a good distinction between strength!
My daughter uses assorted kin products, they are pharmacy only.

Meant to add - geneigel (prob got the spelling wrong) isn’t the same thing. It doesn’t have the same active ingredients and doesn’t have the anti fungal properties of corsodyl. I use that as well though for ulcers.

@Bagelsandbrie thank you that's super helpful. My gums are now healthier than they've been in years, so the stuff clearly works, but it's quite strong, and mostly, I'd thought use of antibacterial gels long term tends not to be recommended because of the bacterial resistance issue (as well as knocking out your own friendly bacteria).

Give her a ring and double check. I hate my stupid teeth,but I prefer having them to the alternative

[quote Bluebird76]@Bagelsandbrie thank you that's super helpful. My gums are now healthier than they've been in years, so the stuff clearly works, but it's quite strong, and mostly, I'd thought use of antibacterial gels long term tends not to be recommended because of the bacterial resistance issue (as well as knocking out your own friendly bacteria).[/quote]
I know what you mean but I think that’s the same with anything like this really - antibiotics in general, thrush treatments etc etc - ie, you don’t want to overuse them but if they really work and you need them then it’s worth it. I think the amount of active ingredient in corsodyl is extremely low really. Highly unlikely much of it is going to be absorbed into your bloodstream.

Eggandonion very well put I'm so annoyed, I've spent a lifetime taking careful care of my teeth - twice daily brushing, floss and interdental brushes, waterpic, the works! I don't even have a single filling - but my gums have decided to disintegrate regardless!! I had a lot of heavy-duty orthodontic work done in my teens which apparently plays havoc with bone density in your jaw - or something. The hygienist is quite scary (I think it's in the job description) so I don't want to question her judgment without very good reason

Gengigel is excellent for healing and repairing gums (it contains hyaluronic acid), but yes, it is not Corsodyl. It will greatly aid in healing your gums though. I've used both, and would not want to use Corsodyl again.

Bagels yes good point. I do quite want to keep my teeth, and they do definitely need some serious help! Its just odd as I was chatting to a friend today who's had serious gum disease - worse than mine, needing planing - and she was told by her specialist not to use corsodyl for more than a month without a break.

Stubble, have you used both at once? (Obviously not literally at the same time, but in combination?)

No, I haven't.

Thanks - maybe I'll give it a try!

I've read various advice that it should not be used beyond a few weeks as it can cause antibiotic/microbe resistance.

Neonprint I wonder if for specific gum issues the benefits outweigh the general need - at a population level - to avoid resistance. You can get corsodyl gel without a prescription, so the advice is perhaps aimed at the generic user, but it's different in specific cases on the advice of a dentist/hygienist?

@Bluebird76

Neonprint I wonder if for specific gum issues the benefits outweigh the general need - at a population level - to avoid resistance. You can get corsodyl gel without a prescription, so the advice is perhaps aimed at the generic user, but it's different in specific cases on the advice of a dentist/hygienist?

Potentially. But what I'd read wasn't about a population level. Like we hear about with antibiotic tablets being over peracribed. It was about a patient getting an infection which couldn't be treated with antibiotics due to corsodyl. I'd ask your hygienist about this. But I'm cautious!

Also yiu can get loads of stuff not on prescription which isn't great long term or with other meds. Even some herbal stuff. So I think the rule of its non prescription it's fine isn't very solid.

I wasn't saying it's fine because it's non-prescription, I was saying that the packet advice needs to be more conservative because some people will be using it without medical oversight, having bought it over the counter.

I've just googled a bit more. The only article I found re superbugs said the resistance wasn't specific to the patient, it's more about it washing into drinking water. Also the main risk is clorhexidine use in hospitals as a disinfectant (the same active ingredient as in corsodyl). There are also studies about it increasing blood pressure and risk of heart attack/stroke, but then uncontrolled gum disease does that too, so it's pick your poison!

I don't think I would want to use corsodyl gel daily for 3 months. Is it possible she meant you to use the new pink corsodyl gum health toothpaste called Corsodyl Ultraclean instead?
I have been using it for a few months on my hygienist's recommendation and it seems to do a great job if you like the taste. I occasionally use corsodyl gel on a teepee brush around a dental implant but as I said can't imagine using it daily long-term.
You pay them a lot of money so maybe phone up and check...you don't get the discolouration issue with the toothpaste at least.

No, absolutely no question, she means the gel.