Flossing every day is as important as brushing your teeth. However, flossing teeth is a type of oral routine that is often neglected by many because they think that mere brushing is enough to protect their mouth from bacteria. With this being said, a lot of people aren’t able to thoroughly clean their mouth because there are areas in their mouth that toothbrushes can’t reach, unlike flossers. When you floss, you can remove the food debris left in between your teeth or along the gum line, thus not letting a single bad bacteria live in your mouth.
What Will Happen If I Don’t Floss My Teeth?
If you don’t floss every day, your teeth will be full of plaque and tartar that will, later on, turn into cavities, creating holes in your teeth. This is due to the food debris in your mouth which turns into acid that feeds the growth of bad bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria will create plaque and tartar in your teeth and if not attended to right away, it will result in tooth decay which gives you toothache and even bad breath.
Not flossing teeth may also lead to gum diseases such as gingivitis because the plaque in your teeth will trigger the inflammation of the soft tissues in your gums. Gingivitis can also make your gum bleed so it totally takes over your confidence in your oral health as there is no way you can smile if your gums are swollen with blood all over them. Flossing for 2-4 days a week is also recommended to fight periodontitis according to PubMed.
What is Water Flosser?
A water flosser is a handheld device that is used to floss your teeth. Instead of a string, the streaming water will be the one responsible for cleaning your teeth to remove food debris, plaque, and tartar. It is ideally used nowadays because it is easier than traditional dental floss which takes a lot of time and effort to use.
What Is the Difference Between Dental Floss and Water Floss?
The main reason why people don’t floss their teeth is that they don’t have enough time to do so. It is not that hard to admit that the use of a regular dental flosser is tiresome because it takes a lot of patience to do the procedures without hurting your teeth or your gums. Good thing technology has evolved making teeth flossing easier than ever.
Yes, you’ve read that right! A water flosser is a new way of cleaning your teeth and gums effectively. Here is a table that shows you the difference between dental flossers and water flossers.
Everything shown inside the table will be elaborated on in the next sections of this article. Check them out below!
What Are the Benefits of Using a Water Flosser?
Water Flosser Is Easy to Use
Just like the information stated above, one of the benefits of a water flosser is that it is very easy to use. Unlike dental floss in which you have to control your hand to remove plaque between your teeth, with a water flosser, all you have to do is to turn it on and off and let the water stream on your teeth to remove food debris and plaque. There is also a dial that can be adjusted according to the pressure of water that you want to stream. Here is an in-depth explanation of how you can easily use a water flosser.
Steps in Using Water Flosser- Fill the reservoir with warm water before placing it on the base.
- Water flossers come with different tips so choose the one that you favored the most.
- Click the tip on the handle.
- Turn on the water flosser and set the control dial too high to let the water flow. (The next time you will use it, you can set the control dial to any type of pressure you want.)
- In a sink, you have to lean over so that the water won’t stream down to your clothes.
- Place the tip at the gumline and let the water flow to clean each tooth.
- Move it from one gum to another.
- Once you have finished flossing your teeth, turn the water flosser off and remove the tip.
Are you still confused about how to use a water flosser? You can also check out the video demonstration below.
Effectively Remove Plaque and Tartar
Plaque and tartar removal is very important because when left unremoved it will lead to cavities or tooth decay which needs a dental procedure from the dentist. If you don’t want to go over your budget by going to the dentist most of the time to have your plaque removed, it is best to get a water flosser. It serves as your prevention tool against anything that may cling to your teeth. Without plaque and tartar, there is no way for the bad bacteria to reside in your mouth.
If you floss your teeth using a water flosser regularly, the acid from the food that you eat every day will not harden and form into tartar or plaque. In this way, you will also be free of any gum disease because it is the tartar in your teeth that triggers discomfort causing gum bleeding. If you don’t floss daily, a bigger problem will arise that will force you to spend more money and it will take a lot of effort to book a dental appointment.
Effectively Clean Food Debris Between Your Teeth
One thing that people are very conscious about after eating is the food that may be stuck in their teeth, this is very embarrassing if your mode of work is to present and meet a lot of people. With the use of a water flosser, there is no way you will experience this again. It is recommended by most dentists because, unlike dental floss, water floss can reach the deepest parts of your teeth, to remove food debris. According to a dental study, when water floss is used together with a manual toothbrush, they remove significantly more plaque from tooth surfaces than mere tooth brushing itself.
Very Ideal for People with Dental Prosthetics
One of the agonies of people with dental prosthetics is difficulty in brushing and flossing their teeth. It is normal for people to have dental prosthetics such as braces and brackets, that is part of taking extra care of your oral health. What’s unusual is not being able to clean your mouth with your prosthetics on because metal attachments are more prone to bacteria. However, with the use of dental floss, there is a big tendency that your gum will bleed because the string used in flossing is a very complicated type of flosser for braces.
A water flosser is way different from dental floss because it helps you remove food debris stuck in your teeth that cause plaque buildup easily. You no longer have to worry about tartar forming in your teeth just because you’ve missed cleaning that part of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Water flossers for braces are very beneficial according to a dental study published by PubMed because the specialized orthodontic jet tip of water flossers helps removes plaque and avoid gum bleeding. In this way, using water flossers for braces will help clean teeth around brackets and underwires to maintain a fresh breath and a whiter smile.
Avoid Gum Bleeding
Bleeding gums could be a sign of a serious gum problem called gingivitis. It’s when you eat something or just brush your teeth, your gums would bleed so suddenly. It’s like tooth decay because the discomfort it can give you is difficult to bear. It will also affect your confidence to speak and smile, afraid that people might notice your bleeding gums. Aside from plaque, the other thing that triggers gum bleeding is how harshly you brush or floss your teeth which affects the soft tissues in your gum line. Damaged gum may also result in inflammation, making your gum very red and swollen.
So, if you have sensitive gums, use a water flosser in flossing your teeth. The pressure of the streaming water is not that high to create damage on your teeth and gums, unlike string floss. It is important that you set the control dial of your water flosser to low so that the pressure of water coming from the flosser will not be harsh enough for your gums. As you get used to using a water flosser, you can set the control dial to high or as to your favored volume in flossing your teeth and gums. There is no other dental equipment that can help you clean your teeth without hurting your gums. To prove this, a recent dental study revealed that the use of a water flosser is more effective to reduce gum bleeding than an interdental brush.
Reduce Bacteria Build-up
Bacteria build-up could be anywhere in your mouth and not just in your teeth. It can reside on your gums, cheeks, and tongue. But if you know how to floss, you can eradicate these bacteria from thriving inside your mouth because their main target is your teeth. The acids in your mouth feed the bacteria to grow and create holes in your teeth causing tooth decay. The majority of these bacteria are called streptococcus mutans that can be killed by mouth rinses, however, mouthwashes can be harmful too, as it kills the good bacteria in your mouth.
However, with the use of water flossers, it will be easier for you to reduce bacteria build-up knowing that you will be able to eliminate the food debris stuck in your teeth. The acid which came from the food you eat is the main reason why a lot of bacteria will grow in your mouth. And these bacteria will also trigger other diseases that may affect your overall health. So, if you remove the food that sustains bacteria, the healthier mouth you get. There’s no room for hesitation if the benefits of a water flosser will outweigh the number of bacteria in your mouth.
Great Option for People with Medical Conditions
One of the benefits of a water flosser is it’s very useful to people with medical conditions. People with Parkinson’s and other related diseases will find it hard to brush their teeth because of the uncontrollable shaking of their hands, more so with flossing their teeth using string floss. Thus, people with this type of condition should be given the most convenient tool for their mouth. In this way, they can take care of their oral health all by themselves without needing the help of others because an oral hygiene routine must be done every day.
People with medical conditions will only damage their teeth and gums when forced to use string floss, but with water floss, all they have to do is to let the streaming water clean their teeth and gums and they are good to go. So, if you know someone who has a medical condition that hinders them to floss their teeth, may it be your loved one, friends, or neighbor, you better recommend the use of water flossers now. You will surely throw their dental troubles away if you give them the right tool to help or motivate them to floss daily.
Best Way to Polish Your Teeth
Brushing is the #1 dental routine that should be on your list, to be followed by tongue scraping, rinsing, and many others. Out of all these things, flossing your teeth is the most important routine that polishes your teeth. So, you can’t be confident enough after brushing your teeth, scraping your tongue, or gargling an oral rinse if you haven’t flossed your teeth yet. Because water flosser is like the final seal to ensure healthier teeth and gums.
Is There A Need To Get A Water Flosser?
Yes. You should value the use of a water flosser like how you take good care of your toothbrush for your oral health. Getting one will greatly impact your teeth and gums as it removes bacteria that cause tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease such as gingivitis. A water flosser is also needed for most people especially the ones with dental prosthetics, braces, and bridges because of its feature that is way easier to use than string floss. It is also ideal for people with hand problems that are affected by medical conditions. Moreover, a water flosser is an all-in-one dental tool that everyone must have in their homes.
Where Can I Get Water Flosser?
We know that you have already made up your mind and one thing that you are up to right now is where to get a water flosser. No worries! We’ve got you covered! We have found the perfect match of the best water flosser that comes with 4 different jet tips on Amazon ideal for the whole family. Yes! Water flossers can be used by your kids too. So that as early as now they can already practice good dental hygiene that will keep their teeth white and breath fresher than ever!
Conclusion
Make it a habit to include daily flossing in your oral care routine with the use of water flossers. It is time to switch to a water flosser if you want the easiest and most effective way of flossing. The truth is already in front of you and if you’re still not convinced of the benefits of a water flosser discussed above, there is no way you can keep your mouth clean and healthy. Aside from water flossing, there are other ways to maintain oral health with just minimal spending that you may want to check out!
Disclaimer:
The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen. The author and publisher do not take responsibility for any consequences resulting from the information provided in this article.