Keeping our gums healthy is an important task that requires consistentbrushing and flossing on a daily basis. Some dental professionals also recommendusing a water flosser, especially for patients with a history of periodontaldisease.
Water-flossers, also known as water irrigators or “Waterpicks,”are an oral hygiene tool that uses a high-powered stream of water to flush awaybacteria and food debris. While water flossing typically might not always replacestandard string floss, it can serve as a great adjunct to your at-home oralhygiene routine.
For some people, maneuvering string floss between teeth,especially in the back ones, can be extremely challenging. If string floss seemsto be too difficult, water flossers can be a great alternative to help clean partsof your mouth that a toothbrush doesn’t reach.
For teens, kids, or adults with braces, water flossers canbe a fantastic addition to help keep their teeth and gums as healthy aspossible during orthodontic treatment. Brackets and wires tend to accumulate foodand plaque faster than usual. With the help of a water flosser, this buildupcan be flushed off surfaces with ease. A water flosser may even have specialattachments made exactly for cleaning between brackets and under wires.
Dental bridges and implants are a great way to restore yoursmile after losing one or multiple teeth. However, they can come with a changein oral hygiene routines. While there are other dental aids to help keep theserestorations clean, water flossers are one of the more popular and easier-to-useoptions. By aiming your water flosser below and between your fixedrestorations, it will help prevent inflammation and possible new areas of decay.
For best results, use a water flosser at least once a daywith your toothbrush and traditional floss, in addition to seeing your dentistfor regular preventative care visits.