When brushing your teeth, there are hard-to-reach areas in your mouth that you rarely get to by simply brushing. Interdental cleaning plays a significant role in your dental health. Besides string flossing, water flossing is another efficient alternative that you may find helpful.
Water flossing is a practice that cleans around and between your teeth. An oral irrigator or water flosser is handheld to direct a stream of water between your gums and teeth, removing plaque, bacteria, and food debris. The information below closely examines some reasons to consider water flossing.
Benefits of Using a Water Flosser
Water flossers have earned the ADA acceptance seal, having been tested and found to be effective and a safer alternative to string flossing. They effectively get rid of plaque, thus significantly reducing the risk for gum disease and cavities. Some of the primary benefits of using a water flosser include:
Deep Cleans the Gums and Teeth
Water flossing provides deep cleaning hence why many doctors recommend water flossers, especially for individuals with gum disease. The jet of water can easily penetrate the periodontal pockets where bacteria like to stick. The flosser removes food, plaque, and particles between teeth.
Ideal For Braces
Flossing around braces can be challenging. Cleaning around the dental aids usually requires extra gadgets to remove plaque and particles. However, getting the floss in the right place can still be difficult and time-consuming.
Some people will simply skip flossing in such areas. But a water flosser can easily clean these areas well. And it will not take much time.
Improves Gum Health
Getting rid of bacteria and plaque around the gums is key to keeping them healthy. This practice enables one to remove food debris and plaque from hard-to-reach areas, which can help them avoid gum-related diseases such as gingivitis.
Studies show that those who use water flossing daily notice a significant decrease in bleeding and inflammation.
They Are Less Abrasive and Gentler
Water floss is a great choice over traditional floss because water flosses are gentle and less likely to irritate your gums.
With traditional flossing, you have to employ a certain technique. It is very important to wrap the floss around every side of your tooth and gently glide it in an up and down movement. When you misuse traditional flossing, you can damage the tissue attachment. The floss may cut the gum from aggressive flossing.
However, this is not the case with water flossing. There is a learning curve to aiming for the best angles and placement for the flosser. But cuts and abrasions are not an issue as in traditional floss.
Should You Use a Water Flosser?
Using a water flosser should never be a substitute for flossing or regular brushing. Instead, it is an excellent supplement for your dental hygiene routine. A water flosser may also come in handy in various instances like the one listed below.
If You Have Braces
When you have braces, food gets stuck behind brackets and beneath wires. Water flossers will reach these areas where food likes to hide. If left untreated, food or bacteria stuck in brackets can lead to multiple dental problems.
Bleeding Gums
Your gums may bleed for multiple reasons, including periodontitis or gum disease. This is a bacterial infection in the gums that, if left untreated, could result in tooth loss. Flossing hard can also cause bleeding gums. Water flossers are ideal for painlessly cleaning areas that ache or bleed from regular string flossing.
Food Usually Gets Stuck In Your Teeth
Many people usually have food stuck in their teeth. This could be because of their teeth’ shape or because they are not perfectly aligned. Food may also stick around dental work like dental implants and bridges. Water flossers are a suitable tool to clean specific areas that often retain food particles due to implants, bridges, or genetics.
Dry Mouth
Some people do not produce enough saliva to clean their mouth and prevent sticky plaque buildup. This could be due to genetics or medications. Unfortunately, it leads to dry mouth, which comes with dental problems, including bad breath and tooth decay. A water flosser makes a dry mouth moist and helps remove sticky plaque.
Water Flossing Vs. String Flossing: Which Is Better?
Water flossers and regular dental floss remove food debris and plaque between teeth and gums that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush.
Water flossing has become the talk of the town in the past few years, with various brands selling easy-to-use and affordable flossers for home use. Manufacturers often market it as a safer and gentler alternative to string flossing. This has left many people wondering whether it is a better option than traditional flossing.
Water flossers have a steady water flow that effectively reaches between the teeth and under the gum line. They are beneficial for patients with different types of braces or special dental work that require a special care routine. Water flossers are also helpful to people with arthritis, gum sensitivity, and people who struggle to manipulate regular dental floss.
String flossing is inexpensive and easily portable, while a water flosser is bigger than a spool of dental floss and can be challenging to travel with. Additionally, water flossing requires electricity, counter space, and enough water. But unlike a string floss, you can reuse a water flosser for many years with proper cleaning and care.
Flossing can help you attain and uphold optimum dental health with routine dental visits and daily brushing. Combining string flossing and water flossing is advisable for optimal cleaning power and gum health. But eventually, the right flossing for your smile is one that you can stick to daily.
Conclusion
Dental flossing is an integral part of your oral health routine. With a water flosser, you can seamlessly clean your teeth without hurting or messing up your gums. By ensuring regular visits to your dentist for cleanings and routine check-ups, you can be sure that your mouth will be free from oral health issues for longer.
