Water flossers, sometimes called “oral irrigators,” make an excellent addition to your regular home care regimen of brushing and flossing. Especially helpful to those who suffer from periodontal disease and those patients of ours undergoing orthodontic treatment with full-bracketed braces, water flossers use powerful tiny bursts of water to dislodge food scraps, bacteria, and other debris nestled in the crevices of your mouth. Children undergoing orthodontic treatment may find using a water flosser is beneficial if their toothbrush bristles tend to get caught on their wires or brackets.
When you use a water flosser, you’re not only dislodging any particles or debris and bacteria you might have missed when brushing, you are also gently massaging the gums, which helps promote blood flow in the gums and keeps them healthy. While water flossers are an excellent addition to your daily fight against gingivitis and other periodontal diseases, they are incapable of fully removing plaque, which is why Dr. Kau and our team at Infinite Smile Dental want to remind you to keep utilizing traditional flossing methods with your everyday brushing..
If you have sensitive teeth or gums and find it uncomfortable to floss daily, water flossers are a good alternative to reduce discomfort while effectively cleaning between teeth. If you have a permanent bridge, crowns, or other dental restoration, you may find that a water flosser helps you keep the area around the restorations clean.
So how do you choose the right water flosser?
Water flossers are available for home or portable use. The home versions tend to be larger and use standard electrical outlets, while portable models use batteries. Aside from the size difference, they work in the same manner, both using pulsating water streams. A more crucial difference between water flossers is the ability to adjust the pressure. Most home models will let you choose from several pressure settings, depending on how sensitive your teeth and gums are. Most portable models have only one pressure setting. If you want to use mouthwash or a dental rinse in your water flosser, check the label first; some models suggest using water only.
Please give us a call at our Pleasanton office if you have any questions about water flosser, or ask Dr. Kau during your next visit!
