Water Flossing

We all know what is flossing and many of us may not be aware of the best way to floss but how many of you have ever heard of water flossing? No! Never heard of it? Let us understand what is this water flossing is all about. Flossing as we are aware is the process of cleaning the surfaces of teeth adjacent to each other. The objective of flossing is to remove any food particles stuck between the teeth. This is an important part of oral hygiene. It helps not only keep teeth clean but also ensures less plaque buildup. Plaque is the sticky film like substance that is formed by bacteria in our mouth when they eat the food particles stuck between and on our teeth. Plaque is bad for dental health. If not removed within 24 to 48 hours of its formation it can harden into what is called as tartar. Plaque is responsible for tooth decay, cavities and eventual tooth loss in a large number of cases. Hence flossing is important for proper dental care. However just flossing any which way is also not going to be helpful, hence one must know what is the correct way of flossing.  

Most people use a dental floss to do flossing. Dental floss is nothing but a cord made of filaments which are used to scrape the spaces between 2 teeth in order to clean that area. The dental cord can be made up of one or multiple filaments which may be waxed or non waxed. The single filament floss is better that multi filament floss because it less likely to get frayed when used. And waxed floss are more easier to move up and down the teeth. 

What is water flossing?     

Water flosser also known as oral irrigator is the method by which one uses a jet spray of water to clean the area between the teeth. So instead of scraping the teeth to remove plaque, water flossing uses the pressure of the water to massage the gums and remove the food from between the teeth. 

Advantages of water flossing 

Water flossing is a good flossing technique. Some of its advantages include the following – 

1. It is easy to use. Some people find it difficult to floss their teeth using traditional flosses. Water flossing is good option for them. For dentists and dental hygienists all over the world traditional dental floss still remains the best possible way to floss. However water flossing can be handy for people who have braces on or people who have dental bridges.  

2. The pressured water stream used in water flossing also massages the gums and increases blood flow thereby promoting gum health. 

3. Some studies have found that water flosser has a better efficacy when it comes to reduction of plaque as compared to traditional flossing methods. 

4. It has also been observed that in the cases where people use water flosser as compared to string floss there was a greater reduction in bleeding of gums and gum diseases.  

5. Water flosser can reach the hard to reach areas which a dental string floss cannot even access. 

Disadvantages of water flossing 

1. A water flosser required storage and needs electricity to run hence it can be considered a more cumbersome method to floss as compared to the traditional flossing methods. 

2. A water flosser can be expensive as compared to string floss as very few people use it presently and hence its demand is low. 

3. Because of its size it is not the most potable of things and not suitable if one is travelling. 

4. It can be messier than a traditional method of flossing. 

How to use a water flosser? 

If you are thinking of using a water flosser and wondering how is it to be used? Here is a brief description of the same, 

• Step 1 – Fill the water reservoir with warm water and reattach it to the base of the water flosser device. 
• Step 2 – Plug in the machine and adjust the pressure control. Always start with low pressure and then move to higher pressure once you get adjusted to it. 
• Step 3 – Since the technique uses water pressure to clean there is likely to be mess around so always use it over a sink. 
• Step 4 – Lean into the sink. Put the device nozzle in your mouth and close your lips on top of it. 

• Step 5 – Turn the device on and start by cleaning the back teeth. Move from back to front teeth for more effective cleaning. 
• Step 6 – Aim the nozzle at the gum line and move  the jet stream from bottom to top to flush out the stuck food particles. 
• Step 7 – Once a teeth gap is cleaned, pause and allow the water collected in the mouth to flow into the sink before moving on to the next. 
• Step 8 – After the flossing is over, turn off the device, take out the tip and clean the device. 

Please note this is a general process of using a water flosser. Different products may have additional or different steps so always refer to the instruction manual before using it. 

We hope the information given in this blog would be good enough for you to understand the basics of water flossing and you may even consider using it. If you would like to know more call Ensure Dental Care (the family dentist near you) on 940-274-3229 to schedule an appointment. Ensure Dental Care is the one of the best family dental clinics at Saginaw Texas. We accept all major insurance providers. We also have in house payment plan. We have a very experienced team of dental practitioners and we look forward to serving you the best of our abilities.  

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