How Water Flossing Can Perfectly Complement Your String Flossing Regime

A water flosser, which is sometimes known as an oral irrigator or dental water jet, is a great new tool that is becoming more widely used by people all across the country. Essentially, these gadgets are used to direct a thin but powerful stream of water against teeth, particularly between them and along the gum line. They can be an excellent part of your oral healthcare regime, but just keep in mind that they should be used to complement your string flossing regimen, not used to replace it entirely.

The difference between string flossing and water flossing

Beyond their obvious mechanical differences, flossing with string and flossing using a jet of water both accomplish slightly different goals. String floss is excellent at wiping the plaque away from teeth when it has become adhered to the surface; the jet of water created by a water flosser might be quite strong, but it won't be strong enough to remove that plaque as effectively as string floss.

However, water flossing can rinse away the plaque that string flossing already removed. It can also get to areas that might just have been exposed using string floss, and you can use a water flosser to reach more out-of-the-way areas. Flossing with string and then using a water flosser therefore makes for a very effective treatment together.

Water flossing where string flossing cannot be effective

Water flossing is also great for use when string flossing isn't as easy. For example, some people have a hard time reaching the back teeth with floss, so a water flosser can be used to create an effective clean. Similarly, people with braces can find it hard to slip string floss around teeth that they can't see very easily in the mirror, so a water flosser can be very useful. Again, these problems shouldn't prompt you to give up on using string floss entirely, but they do make the use of a water flosser far more advantageous.

Water flossing in deep pockets

There are areas that cannot be reached by floss but that can be very effectively cleaned using a water flosser, and these are the pockets often created by gum disease. When the gums become inflamed, they will start to pull away from the teeth. When this happens, pockets are created between the teeth and the gum line. Bacteria can penetrate into those pockets, which often results in serious oral health issues. By properly directing the water stream from a water flosser, you can hit those pockets and wash out any bacteria, which isn't something that can be done using string floss.

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