A protocol of treating gum disease using a soft tissue diode laser which generates a beam of light having a wavelength in the infrared range at 0.5 to 1.2 watts, used with intermittent stops to control tissue temperature, to decontaminate the gum tissue and biostimulate the periodontium nonsurgically when used with a substrate such as but not limited to enamel matrix proteins, thus preventing the long junctional epithelium from migrating into the sulcus, preserving tissue height, and regenerating periodontium; placing the tip of the laser inside the sulcus; penetrating the entire sulcus by moving the laser light with intermittent stops to control tissue temperature vertically and horizontally throughout the sulcus; and placing a substrate such as but not limited to enamel matrix proteins in the sulcus prior to a blood clot forming nonsurgically when used with the soft tissue diode laser, thus regenerating periodontium in the sulcus.