Water flossers like the Waterpik are becoming more common among patients who are looking for an easier and faster alternative to traditional flossing. But are Waterpiks as good as regular flossing? Are they even better? Let’s take a look at the facts in this blog from Coronado Dental Associates.
Understanding The Basics Of Water Flossers And How They Work
Water flossers like the Waterpik are hand-held devices that create a very thin stream of high-powered water, which blasts away food particles and other debris from between your teeth and gums, acting similarly to dental floss.
They have become much more popular over the past two decades, and have become much more accepted by dentists, many who initially dismissed them when they entered the market. In fact, the Waterpik water flosser earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance in 2017, and is the first water flosser to do so.
So, water flossers like the Waterpik are great, and just as good as regular flossing, right? Well, not quite.
Using A Waterpik Isn’t Better Than Flossing – It Complements Flossing
Let’s clear up a misconception. Using a Waterpik is not better than normal flossing. In fact, most dentists consider it to be inferior to flossing with dental floss. A Waterpik cannot offer the same level of cleaning, since the stream of water creates no friction that can loosen hard-to-reach pieces of food and other debris.
Instead, most dentists recommend using a Waterpik as a complement to flossing. For example, you could floss once per day and use your Waterpik after you floss to blast away any debris that was loosened while flossing. Or, you could use a Waterpik in the morning and evening, and floss once per day after lunch.
Using a Waterpik is not better than flossing. But when used with flossing, it helps improve the effectiveness of flossing, and your overall oral health.
However, Using A Waterpik Is Better Than Not Flossing At All!
This brings us to a related point. Is using a Waterpik better than not flossing at all? The answer, of course, is “yes.” As you know, dentists always recommend that you floss once per day, and for the best oral health, fresh breath, and protection against gum disease, this recommendation stands.
However, if you simply cannot floss or are not willing to learn the proper technique, it’s better to use a Waterpik than to not use anything at all to clean between your teeth. Waterpiks can loosen food particles and other debris that toothbrushes leave behind. While they’re not as good as flossing, they’re better than nothing.
For The Best Results, Floss And Use A Waterpik, Too!
If you brush twice a day for two minutes, floss once per day, and use a Waterpik, you’ll have the best chance of avoiding gum disease and tooth decay, and your smile will remain bright and strong. But don’t forget about six-month cleanings and oral exams from Dr. Meadows or Dr. Villalobos at Coronado Dental Associates, either! Contact us online or give us a call at (619) 435-0844 to schedule your next appointment right away.
In fact, most dentists consider it to be inferior to flossing with dental floss. A Waterpik
Waterpik
An oral irrigator (also called a dental water jet, water flosser or, by the brand name of the best-known such device, Waterpik) is a home dental care device which uses a stream of high-pressure pulsating water intended to remove dental plaque and food debris between teeth and below the gum line.
cannot offer the same level of cleaning, since the stream of water creates no friction that can loosen hard-to-reach pieces of food and other debris. Instead, most dentists recommend using a Waterpik as a complement to flossing.
Research has shown that there's minimal difference in plaque removal between using floss versus a Waterpik. Both Waterpiks and flossing are good ways to take care of your teeth and gums along with brushing. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning in between your teeth once a day.
Flossing involves threading a thin string of nylon or Teflon between teeth in a C-shape pattern to remove plaque. A water flosser, also known as an oral irrigator, works by shooting out a thin, pressurized stream of water between teeth. Some may find a water flosser is easier to use than traditional floss.
Thousands of dental professionals recommend the WATERPIK water flosser to their patients, and they see the difference it makes. The Waterpik water flosser should be the standard of care for in-between clean. The clinical science behind the effectiveness of biofilm removal is unrivaled.
Waterpiks can't remove plaque or stuck-on debris, so it's important to continue to floss and receive professional cleanings regularly. Using a Waterpik while continuing to practice good oral care can help you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
For comfortable, yet efficient plaque removal, oral irrigators are your best bet. Instead of floss, picks or brushes, strong pulses of water are directed between your teeth to dislodge bacteria and stuck food particles.
After weeks of testing 15 different water flossers between 2023 and 2024, we found that the best water flosser overall is the Waterpik Aquarius based on its ease of use, abundance of features and effectiveness.
How to use dental floss. Flossing isn't just for dislodging food wedged between your teeth. Regular flossing may also reduce gum disease and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line. It's best to floss before brushing your teeth.
We recommend using the water flosser prior to toothbrushing: Removing food and debris enhances the effectiveness of both toothbrushing and toothpaste. Instructing patients to use it first improves compliance. Seeing the food and debris that the water flosser removes can help motivate your patient to water floss daily.
The American Dental Association says water flossers with the ADA Seal of Acceptance can get rid of plaque. That's the film that turns into tartar and leads to cavities and gum disease.
An oral irrigator is efficient for flushing out bacteria from deep pockets that occur when gums separate from the teeth, therefore; it is often recommended for patients with gum disease.
Not only does it reach down deeper into gum pockets, but it can also clean the concave areas between teeth that flossing can only skip over. Since water flossing can remove more plaque bacteria in more areas of your mouth, it's beginning to be the preferred method for cleaning between teeth.
No, water flossing does not cause gum recession nor damage to teeth or crowns. On the contrary, water flossing aids in flushing debris out of bridges, crowns, implants, braces, and other dental restoration better than brushing and flossing alone which can extend the lifespan of your dental restorations.
After use, rinse the unit by partially filling the reservoir with plain warm water and running it with the tip pointed into the sink. Do not use iodine, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or water insoluble essential oils in WATERPIK devices, as these may damage your device.
Cleaning all sides of your teeth, including between your teeth where the toothbrush can't reach, is a good thing. Although long-term, large-scale studies of flossing are somewhat limited, researchers have found modest benefits from flossing in small, short-term studies.
String floss cleans more effectively than picks because you can move it to make that all-important “C” shape that gets up close to the gum line. String floss also allows you to use a fresh section for each tooth. The small section of sting in floss picks is not well-suited for continued use on every tooth.
Which order is best when it comes to your oral care routine? Most people brush, then floss, then waterpik (if they have one)… but did you know the “best” order is actually: Floss – to dislodge food particles. Waterpik – to flush everything away.
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