Many people don’t floss often enough. Life gets busy, flossing slips through the cracks (is that a pun?), and suddenly, we are in the dental chair with a member of the dental team asking us how often we floss. If you find keeping a flossing habit difficult, what can help you stay with it?
Would a water flosser makes the job easier? Plenty of people want clean teeth and healthy gums, but flossing sadly feels like a chore. In many cases, a water flosser offers real benefits if you feel like a flossing failure. Here’s a comparison between the two methods of cleaning between your teeth.
Why Water Flossers?
There are several reasons why water flossers are still in use decades after their first introduction. First off, a water flosser uses a constant stream of water to clean between the teeth and along the gum line. Many people prefer using a water flosser, as opposed to traditional floss, saying it feels more effective, and is easier and faster to use.
Another advantage of using a water flosser is convenience. Simply fill up the reservoir, select the desired pressure setting, and then clean your mouth over the sink while gently moving the tip of the flosser along your teeth and gums. If you don’t like sticking your fingers in your mouth, this can really be the technique for you.
The versatility of water flossers is beneficial for nearly everyone, no matter their age. Most units include interchangeable tips, adjustable settings based on your mouth size (children, adults, seniors), and a variety of dental conditions. This includes individuals with dental implants, bridges, crowns, orthodontics and sensitive gums. On top of these benefits, many consumers report that water flossers do a better job of removing food and debris from tight crevices and hard to reach spaces in the mouth.
Water Flosser Advantages
Water flossers bring some clear strengths to the table. Here are three of the most common examples of water flosser advantages.
Braces and Dental Work
Ask anyone with braces, and they will agree that traditional flossing is complicated. In contrast, a water flosser easily rinses around brackets and wires, making daily oral care less frustrating. The same is true for those with bridges, implants, and other dental work that create hard-to-reach spaces or edges that catch and break floss.
Sensitive Gums
People with sensitive gums often avoid traditional flossing because of discomfort. They have a hard time going near the gumline, chiefly due to pain. A water flosser provides a gentler alternative, making it easier for users to practice good oral hygiene.
Ease of Daily Use
The best oral hygiene practice is one that you consistently perform. A water flosser is really not a replacement for toothbrushing. That is still the most effective method of removing plaque from the crown and exposed sides of your teeth. But when it comes to between the teeth, if a water flosser makes you more likely to floss, that is a significant victory! Of course, you won’t know until you try.
Try It, You’ll Like It
You can try a water flosser a number of ways. Most have at least a thirty-day return policy. Many entry-level models are very moderately priced. If you like water flossing compared to traditional floss, keep the cheaper model or upgrade to a better one with more features. If you don’t like water flossing or string floss, maybe we can discuss interdental brushes? In a future article, we will also look at the value of traditional floss in a world with high-quality water flossers. If you have questions about water flossing, discuss it with our Folsom dental staff during your next exam.
