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Brushing your teeth twice a day is undoubtedly an excellent habit for oral hygiene, but only brushing is not enough to take out food bits and clean plaque and bacteria from between the teeth.
According to recent studies, several Dentists do recommend the use of Waterpik/ water flosser. A Waterpik or water flosser is an oral cleaning device that cleans the plaque and food particles between the teeth and gum lines with a stream of water and helps eliminate food debris, which is hard to remove with brushing. It is clinically more effective than air flossing and string flossing for removing plaque.
Which Is Better- Water Flossing Or String Flossing?
The term water flossing and string flossing are closely related to each other with a minor difference. Both help clean the plaque and gums to reduce the risk of gingivitis and tooth decay. Dentists recommend water flossing over string flossing, as water flossing is a better and advanced technique for dental care. It can remove 99.9% of bacteria from teeth.
Waterpik (a brand name) or Water flossing is a better way to clean your teeth. A water flosser is a device that sprays water in between the teeth with pressure, whereas a string flosser cleans the teeth with a string. The Waterpik/ water flosser, like traditional floss, removes food from between teeth.
What Is Kind Of Waterpik/Water Flosser Best For You?
It is clinically proven that water flossers are far more effective in reducing gingivitis, cleaning gums, and removing plaque in a better way than regular flossing. Using it just for one minute per day, you get healthier teeth than regular oral brushing.
Flossers that have been tested under the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of acceptance are safer and more effective in removing plaque. Water Flossers with ADA seal can lower the risk of cavities and other gum diseases and also reduce gingivitis at an early stage.
In a study conducted by Waterpik, people use unusual things like forks, pins, hard papers, and fingernails to remove food items stuck in their teeth; these habits later cause pain, bleeding, and even gums infections.
Who Is Suggested To Use A Waterpik and Why?
Everyone can use Waterpik or water flossers, but in some cases, dentists suggest people use Waterpik rather than regular string floss.
- If the patient is wearing braces, it is not possible to remove struck food from teeth in this case, so the patient is suggested to use a water flosser instead of floss, as it is perfect for cleaning area around braces.
- If the patient has crowns, then he must require deep cleaning to maintain oral health. Crowned teeth are still prone to decay; Waterpiks can be a better option to avoid any oral problems.
- Waterpiks or other water flossers are suggested after dental implants to prevent the accrual of plaque around the implant. Studies have proved that Waterpik or other oral irrigators are effective. Flossing daily is important to prevent the accrual of plaque around the site of each implant.
We all know how important it is to brush and floss our teeth regularly; people still doubt whether water flossing and traditional flossing are the same. We have gathered much information on both the techniques and compared the techniques to clear the doubts and determine which technique is better and why.
Traditional Flossing
In the traditional flossing technique, we use a thin piece of string and pass it through the teeth, gradually rasping the plaque and other food particles between the teeth.
There are several benefits of using this technique, such as
- Easy to use
- Cheap and light on the pocket
- Easily Available
- An effective method of taking out food particles
Despite these advantages, there are also many disadvantages to this method like-
- Not able to reach every corner of the mouth
- Some people find it difficult to handle
- It may cause bleeding sometimes.
- It may also cause gum sensitivity in some people.
A Waterpik or water flossers
A Waterpik is a machine specially designed to clean and scrapping teeth with a stream of water that gently remove plaque and other food particles. The water pressure can be adjusted according to a person’s comfort while cleaning gums and teeth.
This new technology is many ways better than the older technique, as it is
- Easy to use
- Very helpful for people with braces or other dental work is done.
- Can easily clean the areas that are hard to reach in traditional flossing
Although it has several benefits for our dental health, some people find it difficult to manage as well, as it is a bit expensive compared to traditional string flossing, which is quite cheaper. It starts at $70 upfront. But if we notice, it is nothing as compared to future dentist bills.
When should I floss?
The question arose in people’s minds when to floss, before brushing my teeth or after?
According to the American dental association, both ways are fine, whether one floss before brushing or after. The main concern is your oral health. The center of disease control and oral health report statistics shows that around 90% of America’s total population has cavities. Half of the people above the age of 30 have gum disease.
To avoid future dentist visits and teeth problems, one must make a habit of using water picks or other water flossers in their daily routine. In 2013, a study showed that brushing, along with water flossing, is more effective in removing plaque and cleaning teeth than brushing with string flossing.
ADA recommends making flossing a part of your life to enjoy your favorite food and smile for a lifetime.
Recent statistics on dental health and oral disease
- According to FDI (FDI World Dental Federation), over 3.9 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases.
- People aged 35 to 45 have lost their teeth due to gum disease, which is almost 15 to 20 %.
- Kids under the age of 5 have tooth cavities in their milk teeth (primary teeth.
- All over the world, 30% of old age people have no natural teeth.
- 100% of adults and 60 to 90% of school-going kids suffer from oral diseases, such as pain and tooth decay.
- Around 23% of children from age 2 to 11 have untreated dental caries, and the condition is even more severe in children from low-income families.
These numbers are expected to increase due to a lack of dental care and increased sugary drinks and food intake. Not only dental problems but the increase in sugar consumption has led to other severe diseases also. Dental caries (cavities) are the most common and fourth most expensive oral disease to treat.
Why do dentists suggest water flossing?
Dentists worldwide emphasize improving eating habits and implementing healthy habits of water flossing and brushing regularly in life. In the year 2013, ADA started a worldwide movement (Action for Dental Health) for providing dental care to people suffering from oral diseases. In most cases, the situation can be improved through prevention and proper care.
The dentist says: “Flossing will make a difference.”
To see the severe conditions of poor oral health, dentists must have a water flosser in the bathroom. Because it is impossible to reach in the hard corners of the mouth with traditional flossing, and most of the bacteria make their home in the tight spaces like between the teeth and under the gums. No threaded flosser or tiny brushes could clean those tight spaces.
Few words from Experts
Dentists say, if traditional flossing is not working well for you, then you should go for water flossing for better results because your oral health is essential. Plaque is a sticky coating that contains millions of bacteria; brushing alone cannot remove it, so water flossing is the best option for it.
Are you using water flosser for the very first time, no need to be worry; here are some instructions to be followed while using water flosser/water pick-
- Fill the tank with warm water, place the tip into the holder.
- Adjust the pressure of the water accordingly; you may first start from low pressure.
- Bent a little over the sink, place the tip in your mouth
- Close the lips, leaving enough space to let the water flow out from the mouth
- Turn on the device and aim at the gum lines in the middle of the mouth.
- Slowly pause and then continue with all the teeth.
- After completely cleaning the mouth, turn off the device and eject the tip.
- Now clean the device, and you are done.
Few hygiene habits for good oral health
Practice these hygiene habits for good oral health:-
- Brush at least two times a day
- Floss daily for proper deep cleaning
- Make a habit of using mouthwash for cleaning remaining food particles.
- Visit your dentist every six months.
- Improve eating habits, avoid sugary foods and drinks
- Avoid the use of tobacco.
If you feel any discomfort or pain in your teeth, you must visit your dentist as soon as possible. Avoiding dental problems may result in serious health problems in the future. There must be a careful inspection of your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck in these check-ups.
To avoid future oral health problems, dentists recommend water flossing; these gadgets are so simple to use that even a six-year-old kid can use it easily.
I’m a General Dental Practitioner from Belgium living in the USA. I work Biotech Dental with my 20+ years of experience working in the dental industry and dealing with 1000’s patients, I hope to inform you and help you with my knowledge and the importance of dental hygiene.
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