The effectiveness of using a thread to clean the surfaces of teeth as a practice has been extensively studied. Many different types of dental flossing threads are available, such as waxed and unwaxed threads. However, many individuals are apprehensive about using the traditional flossing thread.
A study by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) showed that more than a quarter (27 percent) of U.S. adults are dishonest with their dentists when asked about their flossing habits. Fortunately for them, they have another, more convenient alternative, known as the water flosser.
The effectiveness of this innovation depends on how well the owner uses it. Let's discuss this device and how you can use it to maximize its benefits.
Why People Skip Flossing – And Why That’s a Problem
Although some people avoid flossing out of simple forgetfulness, most of them skip it because they find it awkward, uncomfortable, or just too difficult for them. Using traditional string floss can be quite hard, especially for those with braces, fixed dental work, or limited hand dexterity due to disabilities or inexperience, making many individuals give up on this essential hygiene technique. That's where a water flosser becomes a real game-changer.
How Important Is It To Floss?
Using a toothbrush is not enough. Brushing your teeth can leave leftover bacteria and plaque, which adversely affects one's oral health. This is why dentists recommend flossing and brushing as a standard oral hygiene maintenance protocol.
Consequences Of Not Flossing?
Unfortunately, skipping flossing entirely increases the risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease by inducing tissue inflammation and infection due to the buildup of dental plaque and harmful bacteria accumulation. Moreover, these issues can progress silently even before symptoms arise, making their treatment complex and, most times, during advanced stages where treatments are more expensive and challenging. Also, while it might appear as a complementary technique, flossing is a fundamental part of oral hygiene—without it, even the best brushing technique is incomplete.
Also read: The Most Common Gum Diseases and Their Symptoms
What is a Water Flosser?
A water flosser is simply a device that uses a stream of water to remove food debris, bacteria, and plaque present on the surface of your teeth. The stream can also go between your teeth and beneath the gumline to reach those difficult areas where the toothbrush cannot reach while respecting the anatomic boundaries and doing deep cleaning without harming healthy tissues.
The size of a water flosser depends upon the type you purchase, and there are even portable water flosser options available on the market.
The Science Behind Water Flossers
Water flossers use pulsating water pressure to flush bacteria from your teeth’s surface, between teeth, and under the gumline. Current clinical research shows that water flossers can reduce bleeding gums by up to 93% and plaque by up to 52% compared to traditional string floss. These devices are also highly effective in reducing gingival inflammation and improving oral health in patients with diabetes or braces.
Are Water Flossers as Good As Traditional Flossing Threads?
Research shows that a water flosser is approximately 29% more effective than regular string floss. The water can better reach the sides and crevices of teeth that are ignored by a toothbrush and are also more convenient to use than string floss.
Can Water Flossers Damage The Gums?
Most individuals are anxious when using string floss because of the risk of cutting the gums and inducing a bleeding episode with the thread.
Fortunately, however, such an annoyance is alien to water flosser users. The pressure of these devices can be adjusted per the user's requirement, avoiding inadvertently damaging the gums. The steam of water is placed in each position for a few seconds. Hence, if you know how to use the device properly, you will most likely not damage your gums.
Choosing the Right Water Flosser
If you decide to obtain a new tool for your oral hygiene routine, choosing the appropriate one makes all the difference. Therefore, picking a new water flosser is no exception. Some options like the Oclean W10 Water Flosser, designed with 5 cleaning modes and a 200mL water tank, make the perfect choice for on-the-go cleaning and daily use. This innovative tool has all the features you should look for in a water flosser:
● A lightweight and manageable size
● A rechargeable battery with multiple days of autonomy.
● The appropriate design that fits well into any modern bathroom routine.
Thus, whether you're managing braces, or dental implants, or just want to step up your oral care routine, practical and advanced tools like the Oclean W10 provide you effective and effortless results.
How to Use a Water Flosser
Using a water flosser is simple and easy. Dentists recommend using a water flosser before brushing your teeth to remove pesky food particles and bacteria stuck in inaccessible areas on and around teeth. The handy toothbrush continues the cleaning process over a wider area. Follow these steps to use a water flosser effectively:
1. Fill the reservoir with water: Use lukewarm water to fill the reservoir that was received as part of your device.
2. Select the tip and attach it to the handle.
3. Carefully adjust the pressure setting and place the tip in your mouth while leaning into the wash basin. It is recommended to start with a low-pressure setting to avoid an unpleasantly strong stream of water attacking your gums.
4. Position the tip to aim at the gum line.
5. Close your mouth around the device. This will prevent splashes from occurring during the cleaning process.
6. Turn the device on. Steady pulses of water will be released from the device to clean the teeth and gums.
Change the position of the water floss every few seconds to allow the stream of water to be a more effective method of plaque removal.
The whole procedure hardly takes around 1-2 minutes.
Tips for First-Time Users
Consider following these simple steps:
● Start on the lowest setting and work your way up as your gums adjust to the stream.
● Use lukewarm water for extra comfort if you have sensitive gums or teeth.
● If you have braces, consider using the orthodontic tip that comes with many devices, like the Oclean W10—designed to clean around wires and brackets efficiently.
● Don’t forget to clean the water tank every few days to prevent bacterial contamination in the water supply.
● Finally, keep your device clean and stored in a safe place and at an appropriate distance from the toilet to prevent cross-contamination.
The Benefits of Using a Water Flosser
There are many reasons why water flossers are considered better than a traditional piece of string floss. Oral irrigating devices:
1. Offer deeper cleaning, which is essential in treating gum diseases;
2. Clean more efficiently around the wires and brackets associated with braces;
3. Offer superior cleaning around implants,
4. It is more gentle to the teeth since flossing thread is generally more abrasive than the water used in the water flosser;
5. Remove plaque and bacteria that are hard to reach, reducing the chances of periodontal problems from occurring; and
6. It is more practical when the user has manual dexterity issues, such as patients who have arthritis or users who simply cannot reach all the surfaces of the teeth easily.
7. Do not need to be discarded as often. The conventional flossing thread has the potential to act as a breeding ground for bacteria after use, which is why the thread is discarded right after it has served its purpose. The tips of water flossers only need to be discarded after 6 months have passed, and you can simply reload the device by filling the reservoir with water.
Who Should Use a Water Flosser?
Water flossers are particularly helpful for those with braces, crowns, bridges, implants, or periodontal pockets. They’re also highly beneficial for individuals with limited mobility or conditions like arthritis who cannot use traditional flossing methods effectively. According to the American Dental Association, water flossers with the ADA Seal of Acceptance have been shown to be both safe and effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis.
The Takeaway
The American Dental Association has recommended brushing twice daily and flossing once daily. Flossing is undoubtedly an indispensable part of one's oral hygiene maintenance routine, without which an individual is prone to an extensive buildup of plaque and bacteria, leading to bad breath, gum diseases, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
Oclean's water flossers are practical oral irrigating devices that are easy to use and are sure to leave you with healthier gums and teeth.
References
1. Barnes, C. M., Russell, C. M., Reinhardt, R. A., Payne, J. B., & Lyle, D. M. (2005). Comparison of irrigation to floss as an adjunct to tooth brushing: effect on bleeding, gingivitis, and supragingival plaque. The Journal of clinical dentistry, 16(3), 71–77.
2. Mohapatra, S., Rajpurohit, L., Mohandas, R., & Patil, S. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of water flosser and dental floss in plaque reduction among adults: A systematic review. Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 27(6), 559–567. https://doi.org/10.4103/jisp.jisp_597_22
3. Abdellatif, H., Alnaeimi, N., Alruwais, H., Aldajan, R., & Hebbal, M. I. (2021). Comparison between water flosser and regular floss in the efficacy of plaque removal in patients after single use. The Saudi dental journal, 33(5), 256–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2021.03.005
4. AlMoharib, H.S., Alqasem, A., Almusfer, G. et al. The effectiveness of water jet flossing and interdental flossing for oral hygiene in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Oral Health 24, 498 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04166-0
