Water flossers are becoming more and more common and new brands are popping up. It’s easy to ignore new technology when it seems like Kickstarter has a new gadget every day. However, we recommend you sit up and pay attention to this trend that isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.  Let’s take a closer look at why people swear by these fancy flossing tools.

Water flossing helps to get where even regular floss can’t reach. Water flossers work by sending streams of high-pressured water directly at the gum-line in small bursts. These bursts help to dislodge food  and break up plaque. It can even reach below the gum-line to fight bacteria your toothbrush and regular floss can’t reach. You can adjust the amount of pressure to meet your specific needs.

This is the most important question. The investment in buying a water flosser is obviously much higher than picking up a canister of floss from the store. (Although over time you may recoup your costs!) If the water flosser doesn’t make a difference, then it’s definitely not worth spending the cash. A study was published by the Journal for Clinical Dentistry proving that there is a significant improvement in plaque removal when participants used a water flosser in addition to their manual toothbrush. Participants who were instructed to use traditional dental floss and a toothbrush only noticed a 57% decrease in plaque. Those who used a water flosser with their manual toothbrush experienced a 75% decrease in plaque!

Honestly, anyone with teeth. Water flossing helps to reach between the teeth and gums to clean places that are nearly impossible to clean otherwise. However, water flossers are especially important for anyone with crowded teeth or dental appliances. Crowded teeth and permanent appliances create pockets that are hard to reach with a brush or floss. Bacteria can grow and multiply in these missed spots, wreaking havoc on your oral health. Anyone gum disease should also consider investing in a water flosser. Water flossers remove bacteria while also gently massaging and stimulating your gums. Since  half of the population of the USA is fighting off gum disease, the water flosser is an essential household tool. Think you may have gingivitis? Check out our post here for more information!

The main disadvantage to water flossers is they really work best on your own bathroom counter. They can be bulky and hard to take with you when you travel. They need to be plugged in, so if you are camping or off-grid it is ineffective. Don’t ditch that tiny container of floss in your purse for on-the-go emergencies, but don’t rely on string floss all the time if you can afford to invest in a water flosser.

As we showed above, water flossing is much more effective at plaque removal. So does that mean you can stop using traditional dental floss? Ideally, you should use both! Confused? Here’s why: String floss helps to dislodge food wedged between teeth better. And, when properly executed it’s a great option for on-the-go or when you don’t have electricity. The main problem is, most people are technically not proficient at flossing. Although it seems simple, executing a perfect cupping “C” with dental floss around each tooth (some of which are placed inconveniently at the back of your mouth) is difficult for many people to master. Our recommendation? String floss in the morning and Water flossing at night.

Let us know what you think of your water flosser! Can you feel a difference?

The post Water Flosser: Step Up Your Flossing Game appeared first on West One Family Dental.