yes I mean Colloidal Silver . I soak a carpule in it and then tuck it in between gum and teeth where my little tiny bump is ( was huge) and leave it there for half hour or so. I do not make my own (I have in the past but lost 1 of the silver rods) I got some at a health food store but used it all and am waiting for some I orderd online. The carpules can be used over and over and over, just rinse them out let them dry then saturate them with what u r using.
I also have an irrigator and like you wonder if it just drives bateria down futher, plus I get lazed in using it, thats why I like the chips cause they kill the bateria in ones mouth.