Along with daily brushing, it is important to clean between your teeth to remove food particles and bacteria that your toothbrush cannot reach. Neglecting these areas as part of your regular oral hygiene regimen, can lead to gum disease and cavities, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. A Waterpik is a commonly preferred tool that has been clinically proven to remove food particles and bacteria from between the teeth, but it is not without pros and cons.
What is a Waterpik?
A Waterpik, also known as a dental water jet, oral irrigator or water flosser, is an instrument that directs a surge of water at the teeth to help wash away food particles. Though the name Waterpik is a registered brand, the term is often used to describe any instrument that jets water into the teeth to clean them.
How to Use a Waterpik
The most basic way to use a Waterpik, is to use warm water, and start with the lowest setting. Direct the water at the spaces between your teeth. Begin with the back teeth, and work your way to the front. To begin, lean over the sink to avoid a mess. Hold the tip of the pik in one space for about 3-5 seconds, allowing it to pulse and thoroughly cleanse the area, before slowly moving along the gum line of the tooth and onto the next space. You can switch to a higher setting once your gums get used to the water pressure and you perfect the technique.
Pros of Using a Waterpik
- One benefit of using a Waterpik is that the jets of water blast food particles from between the teeth, which makes it a fast and easy way to clean your teeth.
- An oral irrigator is efficient for flushing out bacteria from deep pockets that occur when gums separate from the teeth, therefore; it is often recommended for patients with gum disease. Floss cannot reach these areas.
- People with braces can also benefit from using a Waterpik because the streaming water gets behind the metal wires to help flush out food particles.
- A Waterpik delivers high-pressure water, so it works well for cleaning around implants, crowns and bridges.
- A dental water jet is gentle on the gums, so it is less likely to cause pain and bleeding in individuals with sensitive teeth.
The Waterpik has been clinically proven to provide significant oral health benefits to users, including those with implants, crowns, braces and even diabetes.
Cons of Using a Waterpik
- The main drawback of using a Waterpik is the cost, which can be a bit pricey for most people. The cost for a Waterpik, including replacement heads, averages more than normal floss, and it is recommended that you replace the tips every 3-6 months
- When you first learn to use an oral irrigator, water may spray around, which can make it messy to use until you get the hang of it.
- A dental water jet does not clean plaque from the teeth as well as floss. Floss hugs the tooth and scrapes plaque away, which prevents it from causing tooth decay and gingivitis. A Waterpik just rinses it. Therefore, a Waterpik is not a substitute for flossing.
For patients with orthodontics, heavy restorative work such as crowns and dentures, or patients who have problems flossing routinely, a Waterpik can help keep your teeth clean better than just brushing. For all other patients, if you want to be extra diligent about oral hygiene, consider using both a dental water jet and floss.
Floss first to loosen plaque, and use the jet to flush it away, then follow up with brushing using a fluoride toothpaste. Patients who use the waterpik report less bleeding, firmer gum tissue and more comfortable dental visits.
If you are interested in using a Waterpik and would like to find out more about them, your hygienist can show you some models and explain to you more about how they work, as well as recommend the best model for you.
Please contact Dr. Stephanie Sfiroudisfor a free consultation regarding any questions or concerns about your periodontal health.
FAQs
The rinsing action of Waterpiks may not be enough to remove plaque completely from the surface of your teeth. Some people like to use string floss first to scrape off and loosen plaque. A Waterpik can then be used to efficiently rinse out residue and plaque left behind.
Why don't dentists recommend Waterpik? ›
The American Dental Association says water flossers with the ADA Seal of Acceptance can get rid of plaque. That's the film that turns into tartar and leads to cavities and gum disease. But some studies find water flossers don't remove plaque as well as traditional floss.
What is the best water flosser recommended by dentists? ›
Thousands of dental professionals recommend the WATERPIK water flosser to their patients, and they see the difference it makes. The Waterpik water flosser should be the standard of care for in-between clean. The clinical science behind the effectiveness of biofilm removal is unrivaled.
Can using a Waterpik cause gum recession? ›
No, water flossing does not cause gum recession nor damage to teeth or crowns. On the contrary, water flossing aids in flushing debris out of bridges, crowns, implants, braces, and other dental restoration better than brushing and flossing alone which can extend the lifespan of your dental restorations.
Can bacteria grow in Waterpik? ›
Because water flosser heads touch your mouth and stay wet, oral bacteria can grow on it. Even despite following the provided cleaning recommendations. That's not all, this study limited itself to studying only the nozzle, not the hose or water reservoir itself.
What do dentists say about Waterpik? ›
The ADA recommends that water flossers be used in addition to regular flossing, not as a replacement. Water flossers are effective at removing plaque and preventing cavities and gum disease. They are especially beneficial for patients wearing fixed dental appliances like bridges, permanent retainers, and braces.
Is it bad to use a Waterpik everyday? ›
In conclusion, using a water flosser every day can be a safe and effective way to improve oral hygiene. However, it's important to consider individual needs and preferences, gum sensitivity and health, and the presence of dental work or orthodontics before incorporating a daily water flossing routine.
What's the difference between a Waterpik and a water flosser? ›
The truth is there is no difference. A Waterpik is simply a brand of water flosser that has become so well known that the name of the company and the product itself have become synonymous. So now you know that a Waterpik is simply a type of water flosser, but what do these dental devices actually do?
Do you still need to floss if you use a Waterpik? ›
A Waterpik Shouldn't Replace Brushing or Flossing
Waterpiks can't remove plaque or stuck-on debris, so it's important to continue to floss and receive professional cleanings regularly. Using a Waterpik while continuing to practice good oral care can help you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
What is the number one Waterpik? ›
Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
With an average 4.6-star rating across nearly 124K+ (!) reviews, Waterpik's Aquarius model has earned its spot as one of the best-selling water flossers on Amazon.
Can a Water Flosser damage teeth or gums? Though some may find that their gums bleed when they first use one, a Water Flosser does not damage teeth or gums. It is gentle on the oral cavity and acts similar to flossing.
Can I use Listerine in my Waterpik? ›
Some people use mouthwash or other substances in their water flossers rather than tap water. Replacing the water in your water flosser with mouthwash isn't bad for you, but it won't help unless you have cavities or periodontal disease, according to dentists.
Can Waterpik damage fillings? ›
Within the limitations of this study, the use of water-jet flossing is safe for composite restorations. However, patients should be advised not to continuously use the highest-pressure setting when they have restored teeth with resin composite restorations.
Should you use a Waterpik before or after brushing? ›
We recommend using the water flosser prior to toothbrushing: Removing food and debris enhances the effectiveness of both toothbrushing and toothpaste. Instructing patients to use it first improves compliance. Seeing the food and debris that the water flosser removes can help motivate your patient to Water Floss daily.
Is it OK to use a Waterpik everyday? ›
Since flossing daily is recommended, using a WaterPik daily is also encouraged. Although you can use it in the morning, night usage is ideal. This is because typically, you'll go the longest without food or drink overnight.
Can you overuse your Waterpik? ›
The only way one can overuse a Waterpik, or any brand of an oral irrigator, is to use it at too high of a pressure which can bruise the gums. Chronic bruising of the gums can cause the gums to recede, to try to get away from the offending pressure.
