Flossing is an essential step of a strong oral hygiene routine. But can a Waterpik replace string floss? At Country Club Dental, we want to help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile with the most effective flossing method. Continue reading to learn more about string flossing and the benefits of using a Waterpik to optimize your oral health.
What Is a Waterpik?
Although a “Waterpik” is a specific brand of water flosser, the term is generally used to refer to all water flossers. A water flosser uses a stream of pressurized water to remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles from your teeth and gums. To use a water flosser, you simply fill the machine’s reservoir with water and select a pressure setting. Then you place the cleaning tip in your mouth, aim it at your gum line, and turn it on.
Benefits of String Floss and Waterpiks
String Floss
Unless you have limited mobility, traditional string floss is typically easy to control. Even flossing with braces can be easy if you use a floss threader that allows you to easily slide the string between your teeth.
Unlike a Waterpik, string floss allows you to scrape plaque from each tooth individually. Rinsing your mouth after flossing will get rid of the loosened plaque and food particles and help prevent gum disease. Floss is also easy to take on the go so you can always be prepared to remove food stuck in your teeth.
Remember to be gentle with string floss—flossing too roughly can make your gums bleed or make them sore. However, if your gums regularly bleed from gentle flossing, you could have gingivitis, and you should speak with your dentist about preventing it before it can progress to advanced gum disease.
Waterpik
One of the main advantages of a Waterpik is that it is very easy to use. Waterpiks remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas to help prevent gingivitis and the later stages of gum disease. You can even choose different types of cleaning tips depending on your needs.
Keep in mind that Waterpiks can be messy and expensive, and may slightly damage gums if used incorrectly. They also take up a lot of space and require electricity, so they aren’t very convenient for traveling. If you’re deciding between using a Waterpik vs. traditional string floss, flossing with string is the best choice.
Does a Waterpik Replace Flossing with String?
Dental string floss is the most effective method of removing plaque from between your teeth—just make sure to choose floss with the ADA seal of acceptance. While using a Waterpik provides many benefits, it just can’t replace the power of string floss.
If you’re looking to up your dental care, using both string floss and a Waterpik is the ultimate solution for keeping bacteria at bay. String floss helps loosen and remove much of the plaque and food particles from between your teeth. Using a water flosser on your teeth and gums afterward eliminates the debris loosened by string floss, giving you a cleaner, healthier mouth.
If you have trouble using string floss due to limited mobility, speak with your dentist about the best alternative for you.
Professional Teeth Cleaning in Flagstaff, Arizona
Whether you regularly use string floss with or without a Waterpik, some parts of your mouth can still harbor plaque and bacteria that only a professional dental cleaning can remove. If you’re due for a dental checkup, contact the compassionate team at Country Club Dental by calling 928-526-4314 today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (8/22/2022). Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels
