Is a Waterpik Better for My Oral Health than Dental Floss?

While brushing your teeth is certainly a crucial part of a proper oral hygiene routine, it is not sufficient to adequately clean your teeth every day. Dental floss is used to clean food debris and plaque from between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach, but many people find using it to be uncomfortable or just a hard habit to get into. Here’s a quick guide to using a Waterpik to clean between your teeth and why one of these methods may be a better choice for you.

Why Isn’t Brushing Enough?

While brushing your teeth is excellent for clearing plaque and food residue from the fronts, backs, and chewing surfaces of your teeth, it cannot reach in between them. This becomes especially problematic if you have crowded teeth since they will overlap each other, thereby increasing the surface area that your toothbrush cannot clean. Failing to remove food debris and plaque from between the teeth will allow harmful oral bacteria to multiply and lead to nasty oral infections such as tooth decay and gum disease.

What Should I Know About Waterpiks?

Waterpiks use a stream of water at varying pressures to clear away bacteria, food debris, and plaque from between your teeth and beneath your gumline. Many patients who have dental appliances such as braces, dental bridges, crowns, or dental implants find that Waterpiks are an excellent alternative to floss, and these devices are often great for people who live with arthritis or find it difficult to comfortably maneuver floss between their teeth.

Waterpiks are easy to use and completely safe. However, they also have a few downsides such as being costly, messy, and they may not remove all plaque. Some people like to use dental floss to clean their teeth before using a Waterpik to rinse out anything left behind.

You may find that using a Waterpik is an easier and more comfortable way to thoroughly clean your mouth. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to ensure the spaces between your teeth stay fresh and healthy.

About the Author

Dr. Heather Heil earned her dental degree at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and stays current with the latest dental methods and technologies by regularly completing continuing education coursework. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Her office in Freedom, WI, provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To learn more about proper oral hygiene, contact her practice online or dial the front desk at (920) 788-6280.