Everything You Need To Know About Water Flossers

Let’s face it, ever since dental floss was invented over 200 years ago, dentists have struggled to get their patients to follow the recommendation of flossing every day. If you’ve ever frantically flossed the night before a dental appointment (complete with a mouth full of bleeding gums), you were probably feeling pretty anxious about sitting in the dentist chair the next day. But what if there was a better way? Could water flossers be the way of the future? Are they just as good as traditional floss? Let’s find out!

First things first: What is a water flosser?

A water flosser is a hand-held device that sprays a stream of water to clear out food and plaque from your gumline and from in between your teeth. Water flossers actually have the ADA Seal of Acceptance to be safe and effective at helping to reduce gingivitis.

Water flossers are also known as water picks, oral irrigators and dental water jets.

How do water flossers compare to traditional floss in terms of effectiveness?

The evidence is mixed. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry, when tested against string floss and tooth brushing, the test group that used the WaterPik Water Flosser showed a 74.4% reduction in plaque. While the test group that used sting floss only showed a 57.7% reduction in plaque. 

Another study in the Dentistry Journal reported that while water flossers can effectively remove loose plaque and bacteria from the gum line between dental visits, they may not be as effective in removing plaque as traditional flossing.

Want to know what we think?

If a water flosser is going to get you to floss your teeth regularly, then use it! If string floss is what’s going to get you flossing each day, then use that method! 

At the moment, we’re not so concerned with which method you use to floss your teeth as much as we’re concerned with you actually flossing. So if a water flosser speaks to you, go forth and use it! If string floss is more your speed, we’re happy to come along for the ride.

Who would a water flosser be best for?

As we said earlier, if you don’t like flossing or have trouble doing it by hand, water flossing may be exactly what you’re looking for. Likewise, anyone suffering from arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or anything that makes the motions of traditional string flossing difficult, may benefit from using a water flosser. 

Water flossers can also be good for those who have had dental work, such as braces, bridges, or crowns. 

While the dental community has debated over whether water flossers work as well or better than traditional floss, using any type of flossing technique is better than none at all. We recommend sitting down with your dentist and having an open and honest conversation about how best to clean your teeth, and what you can commit to doing for your oral health.

If you have any questions, or if it’s time to book your next cleaning, give our office a call at (804) 794-4588.