Do you love the clean feeling in your mouth when you leave the dentist? You can now get the same feeling at home by using a dental water flosser - a device with a pressurized or pulsating stream of water used to remove food and plaque stuck in your teeth. While a water flosser is most recommended for people with braces it can be used by anyone as it has a lot of benefits over regular floss.
Regular floss or dental water flosser why does it even matter?
We all love a gorgeous flattering smile, but taking care of your teeth is not just about good looks. Poor oral hygiene can cause gum diseases, tooth decay and plaque.
To maintain oral hygiene, brushing your teeth twice a day is a good first step. But, only brushing does not help. Regular brushing is not enough to clean out particles, plaque and germs stuck in between your teeth.
Toothbrush bristles aren’t small enough to effectively clean the food stuck between teeth or tight spaces. Hence it is recommended to go for flossing which is a better way to remove the food stuck in between teeth and avoid cavities.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of the two popular flossing methods- string and water in order to understand which is more effective.
Dental water flossers
Dental water flossers, also known as dental water jets use a pulsating stream of water to remove food particles, bacteria and plaque stuck in between teeth and under the gum lining. These are easy to use, a little expensive (value for money in the long run) and work on most areas of your mouth.
Advantages of dental water flosser
- Gets in difficult to access areas
- Gives you a clean feeling
- Easy to use
- Cleans between tightly spaced teeth
Disadvantages of water flosser
- Costly
- Messy
String Floss
String Floss is the regular one with or without a coating of wax and comes in different flavours. You can cut the floss yourself and use the string to remove the plaque and food stuck in between your teeth. String flosses have been in the market for a long time and are used by many regularly.
Advantages of string floss
- Control is in your hands
- Teeth can be cleaned completely if used properly
Disadvantages of string floss
- Can cause cuts and burns if not used properly
- Takes time to get used to it. Time-consuming process.
Now, that you know the pros and cons of both methods you can pick one based on your needs. Remember a good oral routine is one that you can do regularly and which you can stick to so pick one wisely. Based on your routine you can decide what the routine should consist of- including the steps, budget and the devices you should use.
Now that we know what the two different kinds of flossing methods are let's look at how you can go about using a water flosser for your daily oral care regime.
How to floss using a dental water flosser
- Fill the machine’s water reservoir with water. You can also consider adding a mouthwash for anti-bacterial action.
- Press the water button to check the pressure of water and see if it's right for you.
- Place the water flosser inside your mouth.
- Turn the flosser on. Close your mouth to keep water from spilling outside. Let water drain out of your mouth while you floss.
- Guide the water stream along your gum line and in between teeth.
The entire process of using a water flosser should take you between 3-5 minutes.
When choosing a dental water flosser make sure you check the following points-
- Pick a water flosser that’s portable and cordless if you don’t want a bulky one while travelling.
- There are some water flossers in the market which come with more pressure setting options than others.
- Several water flossers have the option to change the tip of the water flosser. This helps particularly if you are sharing the water flosser with your family.
So overall, you need to pick one keeping your needs and budget in mind. Also, remember it's a one-time investment but totally worth it for your and your family’s oral care hygiene.
Should you floss before or after brushing?
Some people like to use the floss before brushing and some people prefer to use it afterwards. It's an individual choice and you can do it your way. As long as you do a good job at removing all the food stuck in your mouth through brushing and flossing the order does not really matter.
If you are confused about which water flosser to buy you can check out this amazingly well-designed water flosser
Why use the Perfora dental water flosser?
- 3 pressure setting options- pulse, soft and standard based on your individual need.
- Waterproof flosser - you can shower while you floss and floss while you shower.
- No charging woes- Long-lasting 30-day battery life will ensure a hassle-free flossing regime.
- 360 degree ergonomically designed rotating nozzle which ensures efficient movement and deep cleaning of your mouth.
- Smart water flosser. Our water flosser remembers how you like to floss and restart at the same mode when you use it the next time.
Along with using a water flosser, you should ensure you follow the below steps and make them a part of your daily oral care routine
- Schedule regular dental cleanings - It's recommended to visit your dentist every 6 months and you must get deep cleaning done once every 3 months.
- Use an electric toothbrush - An electric toothbrush will help you reach the corners of your mouth where a regular toothbrush can’t. It's also easy to use and covers your entire mouth.
- Use a good alcohol-free mouthwash - A good mouthwash can help reduce the bacteria in your mouth. You should use mouthwash in addition to brushing twice a day and flossing for an effective oral care regime.