Day 27: Ozone Magic – Queen of Dental Hygiene

Ozone is my magical secret weapon against oral disease. It deserves a full-on, long and detailed write up, but in keeping (or trying to keep) to my goal of ” tidbits of new news you can use” for the month of June (but I admit most have still been full on meals), I will give you a teaser of all the cool and unique things ozone can do for you. Ozone truly is magic.

Ozone is super oxygen. It consists of three oxygen atoms and is very unstable so converts back to O2 and O.

Ozone gets a bad rap. It is in the atmosphere and actually protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It’s not smog or pollution.   You smell ozone after a thundershower. Used here on earth, it is one of nature’s greatest oxidizers; a super air cleaner. It makes the sky blue.  It has been used in medicine for over 100 years and dentistry for nearly that long. In 1896 Nikoli Tesla patented his first ozone generator and formed the Tesla Ozone Co. Ozone has a long history.

I learned about ozone gas and its use in dentistry because I was looking for something that can kill bacteria, fungi, etc., as well as help my patients heal. I wanted it to not leave stains (unlike chlorhexidine), be acidic, be too antibacterial (killing both the good bugs as well as the bad), or be expensive. Ozone fits the bill for all these requirements and more.

Ozone Magic

The second ozone enters the body – it breaks down into a singlet O which lyses the cell membrane.  The other products are O2 which quickly binds to H to form water and ALSO peroxides and lipid oxidation products.  This is important because the peroxides and LOPs do all the “magic”.

And More Ozone Magic:

#1. Ozone either ruptures the cell wall or lysises the cell membrane of bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeast, mold, and parasites instantly. 

Our healthy cells are not affected by it because they contain antioxidant enzymes in the cell membrane that protect those cells from being oxidized (antioxidant) by ozone. The final breakdown products of ozone are water and oxygen. Pure and natural, and no residue. You can’t get much better than that…  

#2. Ozone is used routinely in water purification systems throughout Europe and in many water municipalities here in the United States.

#3. It is used to disinfect fruits and vegetables.  

#4. Ozone use does not induce resistance or allergy. It is oxygen.

#5. Ozone is actually produced naturally by our own cells.

#6. Ozone is inexpensive to make and easy to use. I use ozonated water, gas, and oil with every patient.

#7. Ozone gas stop tooth decay. Ozone gas can permeate the tooth tubules and kill the bacteria causing tooth decay.

#8. Ozone hardens previously soft areas of decay.

#9. Ozone reduces or even stops root sensitivity.

#10. Viruses are deactivated and then physically destroyed. (Yes, even that virus…)

#11. Ozone gas eradicates cold sores.

#12. Ozone breaks up chronic infections.

#13. Free radicals produced by ozone gas are unstable free radicals that stimulate the activation of the mitochondrial antioxidant system. This increases mitochondrial activity and the production of ATP. This increases the functionality of the microcirculation and tissue oxygenation. (More on mitochondria in another blog post…)

#14. Ozone is simultaneously an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal,and antiviral.

#15. Ozone gas can penetrate the plaque biofilm and kill the gum disease pathogens hiding inside.

#16. Ozone changes the acidic environment under the gumline to one that is neutral.  Then good bacteria can repopulate the tooth and start healing.  

#17. Disinfectant of waterlines.

#18. Ozone can be used to purify and decontaminate surgery rooms.

#19. Ozone speed healing.

#20. Ozone reduces inflammatory cytokines.

#21. Ozone boosts oxygen metabolism.

#22. Ozone increases circulation.

#23. Ozone modulates the immune system.

#24. Ozone therapies can be used on your pets.

#25. Ozone helps heal the skin and reduces wrinkles.

#26. Another very cool thing ozone does is “recharges the batteries of epithelial cells” – which means ENERGY Production!

Ozone is useful for these and so many other dental issues.

Ozone Education

Training is critically important to ensure we use ozone safely and effectively. We, as a dental profession owe it to our patients to be educated and knowledgeable on all the pluses as well as the problems with ozone usage. Ozone does have safety concerns so proper training is vital.

Ozone training: Dental Ozone Therapy Training Center in Louisville KY | CADD (caddozone.com)

Ozone conference: Ozone Therapies Group

Magic of Ozone

I look forward to sharing more in-depth information on ozone in the near future. It is important we keep our minds open to new ideas and explore all the options available to help our patients be healthy and to heal. We must look at both the positives as well as the negatives of all new products and procedures. Nothing is perfect. But, Ozone pretty magical.

Learn more about ozone and make it part of your healthy mouth, healthy teeth, and healthy body plan!

All the best,

Barbara Tritz RDH

Queen of Dental Hygiene and of course OZONE

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