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I received this warning from Bill Landers, President of OraTec Corporation, earlier this week. I don't recall ever suggesting the use of iodine in home irrigators, nor do I recall speaking with anyone who does. Nonetheless, here is a warning about using iodine:

"WARNING! Patients should NOT irrigate with Povodine Iodine at home. It is dangerous. In a recent study, 100% of regular users developed abnormal thyroid function. If you or anyone you know is recommending iodine for home use, please forward this warning.

"I just attended a lecture at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. The principle speakers were Dr. Tom Rams [Senior Associate Dean; Chair, Dept of Periodontology and Director of the Oral MIcrobiology Teting Lab at Temple School of Dentistry] and Dr. Larry Page [periodontist, PhD microbiologist and Professor of Periodontology at Temple].

"Dr. Rams was emphatic that patients NOT use iodine as a rinse or irrigant during home care. Aperiodic use during professional, in-office treatment may be OK, but not regular home use. It affects thyroid function in 100% of regular users. In a recent study, EVERYONE who irrigated with iodine as a part of home care had abnormal thyroid function!"

However, an RDH who also attended the seminar reported the following as being claimed: "Home irrigation with a bleach solution (1/2 tsp. bleach to 30 ozs. H2O) is the most effective."

The suggestion of using chlorine was posted many, many months ago at the OraMedia site - derived from an e-mail by Dr. Paul Keyes, who was also in attendance at the Baltimore seminar over the weekend. Personally, I like the idea of cranberry juice or TheraSol for irrigating.

Read on...

http://mizar5.com/arch11.25.02Cranberries.html