Is A Water Flosser A Good Substitute For Dental Floss?

Dentists always tell their patients to floss their teeth, and this is primarily because flossing helps you clean the areas of your teeth your toothbrush cannot reach. Recently, numerous companies have come out with a device called a water flosser, which is a device that uses water to floss the teeth. Are you wondering whether this would be a good investment as a way of substituting it for regular dental floss? If so, here are three things you should know.

The Purpose Of Flossing

Flossing is something that you should do each day to remove particles of food and bacteria that become lodged in between your teeth. Flossing is important because toothbrushes have limitations. Using a toothbrush will help you clean your teeth and gum line, but it may not be effective for removing trapped food between your teeth.

This is why flossing is needed and suggested for daily use. Flossing is completed with a thin strand of wax-like thread. As you use this, you will be thoroughly cleaning the areas between your teeth. This will help you reduce your chances of:

• Having bad breath
• Developing cavities
• Developing gum disease

Your mouth is healthier when you brush and floss every single day, and this is why your dentist will stress the importance of both habits.

How A Water Flosser Works

Water flossers are typically electrically operated devices that spray water out. You must fill up the reservoir in the device before using it, and you can then turn it on. The device will come with attachments you can use to insert in your mouth, and you can aim the attachments at your teeth.

You will also have control over the power of the water that sprays out. You can mess around with the controls to find a setting that is comfortable for you. As you get used to it, you may find that you can increase the speed of the water, and this will help you clean your teeth more thoroughly.

Which Is Better

There are times when water flossing is a good alternative to dental floss; however, this is not true in all cases. According to Mayo Clinic, water flossing does not remove plaque, whereas dental floss does. Because of this, it is not necessarily recommended for use as a substitute for dental floss.

There are certain conditions, though, where using a water flosser is a good idea. Here are some examples of times when water flossing can be extremely helpful:

• For braces – When a person has braces, flossing with dental floss can be a difficult task. It takes time to learn how to do it properly, and you could actually damage your braces if you do not follow the right steps. Because of this, water flossing can be extremely beneficial. It will help eliminate food and bacteria trapped in the brackets and wires, and it could help you keep your teeth cleaner and your breath fresher.
• For sensitive teeth – People with sensitive teeth may find that using a water flosser is less painful than regular dental floss.

Recent studies have suggested that water flossing is a good alternative to traditional flossing; however, this is not something that all dentists agree with. If you are considering getting a water flosser to help you clean your teeth, you should still continue brushing them twice a day and using floss at least once a day.

Having good oral care habits is the best way to avoid getting cavities and gum disease. Taking care of your teeth will help them last for an entire lifetime, and you can learn more by contacting a dentist in your area. You can also visit sites like http://www.desmoines-dentalassociates.com for more information.