Water Flossers: Everything You Need to Know

Water Flossers: Everything You Need to Know

Water Flossers: Everything You Need to Know

can you use mouthwash in a water flosser

If you’ve been considering including a water flosser in your home dental routine, there are few better choices for your oral health. Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators or dental water jets, are an effective tool that helps wash away bacteria, food particles, and debris.

The best-known water flosser is the Waterpik brand, which has become the generic term to describe water flossers in general. It’s also what we recommend using most, so we’ll focus on the Waterpik brand of water flossers for this article, explaining its uses, benefits, and what type to look for based on your needs.

What Is a Water Flosser?

A water flosser is a type of dental floss that relies on a stream of water to flush away bacteria and debris from between your teeth, on your teeth’s surface, and in gum pockets. It’s especially good at cleaning teeth that have a lot of space between them, and it’s more effective than using dental tape alone.

Who Should Use a Water Flosser?

We recommend everyone use a water flosser because it rids your mouth of bacteria that toothbrushes and other types of floss can’t do. It’s also essential for older people because space develops between their teeth as they age due to the natural breakdown of soft tissue (similar to how our skin breaks down). Food can lodge in these spaces or pockets in between gums, causing bacteria and irritation.

What Are the Benefits of Water Flossing?

The main benefits of water flossing are its ability to remove plaque, reduce bacteria, and fight gingivitis by reducing inflammation and bleeding in ways a toothbrush and dental floss can’t. It can navigate deep within the gum pockets, which is particularly important for people with periodontal disease. Waterpik claims that its pik pocket tip (designed for those with periodontal disease) is suitable for treating pockets up to 6mm. A water flosser is also essential for people with braces and All-on-4s.

Another major benefit is that you don’t have to worry about being too aggressive or overdoing it with a water flosser, unlike floss tape, where you can sometimes cut your gums. Waterpiks also have different tips tailored to individual needs, such as the previously mentioned pik pocket. And Waterpiks are easy to use!

This post was last modified on December 8, 2024 12:31 pm