Oral Irrigation and Electric Toothbrushes

Is a Waterpik Better than Flossing?- Which Is Better?

is-a-waterpik-better-than-flossing-which-is-better

Waterpik Vs Flossing…

You want to do what is best for your teeth and gums right? We already know that flossing is an effective way to keep your mouth healthy and plaque free. You may be wondering is a Waterpik better than flossing?

This article will describe the Waterpik and it’s effectiveness compared to flossing. The types of products to choose from will be highlighted. You will see why more and more people are choosing the Waterpik vs flossing for their oral health.

What Is a Waterpik? An Old Concept With New Promise

A Waterpik is a brand of oral irrigator that produces a wide range of water flossers. Water flossers are used to remove plaque, biofilm and food debris by directing a forced spray of water between your teeth and along your gumline.

The Waterpik is the most widely known and popular brand of water flosser. It accepted by the ADA (American Dental Association).is-a-waterpik-better-than-flossing-which-is-better

The ADA only awards these products with a seal of acceptance if it is proven to be safe and effective at removing plaque and preventing and reducing gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).

Flossing Can’t Reach All the Areas

Oral irrigators like the Waterpik create a pulsating action. This is a compression and decompression type of action that gets into the spaces between your teeth and gums.

This pulsating action reaches deep into these spaces up to 6mm where traditional floss only reaches 2-3mm. WaterFlosspiks produce a hydraulic force with 1,200 pulsations per minute which forces out the plaque.

This is superior to flossing as floss just cannot effectively reach these areas. 

Learn more about how a Waterpik works here from Wikipedia.

Most People Don’t Like to Floss

Clinical studies show that flossing helps clean between your teeth. Flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums by preventing cavities, gum disease and bad breath. However, only half of people floss daily and about one in every five people report not flossing at all. 

Learn more about an innovative device from Waterpik that accomplishes both brushing and flossing at the same time. This product is the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion.

Flossing requires skill to be effective and most people do not feel they have the dexterity to do it properly. As a Dental Hygienist I hear my patients complain all day long that they “Don’t like to floss!”.Floss

Using an oral irrigator requires less manual dexterity. It only takes a minute to clean your whole entire mouth.

All you need is water beyond your initial investment and it is appropriate for children and adults.With supervision children as young as 6 can easily use a Waterpik.

Waterpik Gives a Better Option

An oral irrigator reaches areas floss cannot. These areas include periodontal pockets (pockets around your teeth and gums) from gum disease, areas around braces, under bridges and around implants to name a few.

The flow of water gently and effectively removes plaque and food debris better than floss. The Waterpik is 51% more effective at reducing inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). It is twice as effective as floss at reducing bleeding gums and 29% more effective at removing plaque.

For those who have braces, the Waterpik provides three times the reduction of plaque vs string floss and a manual brush. Keeping braces clean is super challenging and this product makes it a lot easier.

Lot’s of Styles to Chose From

Waterpik has many styles to choose from depending on your needs. If you have a place on your countertop, the model with a reservoir may be right for you. There is also a portable option for those who like to travel. Some styles include an electric toothbrush which is super beneficial.

Electric toothbrushes clean better by giving you more effective brush strokes.You will get 30,000 to 50,000 brush strokes per minute compared to the average 500 brush strokes per minute with a manual version.

Electric toothbrush versions also give you a built in timer for 2 minutes. This allows you to brush for a full two minutes, the recommended time it takes to be effective.Happy healthy smile

Only Clean the Teeth You Wish to Keep

In conclusion it is important to note that you do not need to clean all of your teeth…only the ones you wish to keep! Because many people struggle with traditional flossing, Waterpik has given them a better option to do this. Is a Waterpik better than flossing? Absolutely!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this article. On the market there are many products to choose from but this brand of oral irrigator is the only one I really recommend. Please check out the top rated Waterpik oral irrigator here.

Feel free to leave your comments or questions below and I will gladly address any of your concerns.

 

Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is not intended to take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Care and investigation should always be sought from an appropriate health care provider.  I am not a doctor and do not claim to be one.  I have created this site as a way to share information and experiences. 

 

9 comments

  1. IFEOLUWA SOLOMON KOLAKALE

    This is a very educative article, It teaches people about how to maintain personal hygiene and products to use for you hygiene maintenance.

  2. Paul

    Awesome post! I was hoping you would tell me that using a Waterpik was the better option to clean my teeth I am one of those in 5 that does not like to floss. Does the Waterpik warm the water to clean your teeth? My teeth are sensitive to the cold so it would be great if it keeps the water temperature at the optimum temperature for cleaning and comfort.

    1. Michelle

      Paul,

      A Waterpik would have room temperature water in the reservoir.  If you prefer, as I do, you can put hot water in the reservoir prior to use and this will solve your sensitivity issues.  I have sensitive teeth myself and this works well.  Another thing you can do is add a fluoride rinse such as ACT diluted half and half.  This would give you the added benefit of fluoride to the hard to reach areas of your mouth such as under crowns or bridgework.  Fluoride is also a desensitizer.  

      Thanks for your comment, 

      Michelle

  3. Seun Afotanju

    This is a very informative and educative post I’ve been using floss and it has been working tremendously well for me but waterpik seem to be eye catchy and said to be two times as effective as floss which is very impressive. I’ll be getting one dinner than later but I’ve got to ask if it’s available for purchase in Africa? 

    1. Michelle

      I am glad you liked the article.  Yes, Waterpik is definitely more effective than flossing.  Although, I am glad to hear that you are flossing.  Cleaning between the teeth is an often overlooked necessity to oral health.  Please refer to this website if you would like to try a Waterpik distributor in South Africa:  http://www.istrodent.com

      Thank you and all the best, 

      Michelle

  4. Lee

    Wow! I didn’t realize that a water pick was twice as effective as flossing. I figured it would be an improvement but it is a substantial improvement and well worth the investment. My daughter uses a Waterpik because she has braces.  I need to look into getting one for myself and my family. Do you have a recommendation based on price?

    1. Michelle

      Lee,

      Waterpik is absolutely the tool of choice for orthodontic patients.  Orthodontists strongly encourage their use for optimal plaque and food debris removal.  You will be making a wise choice for yourself and the rest of the family to invest in the best oral health adjunct available to date.  Technology has made it possible to combine the proven benefits of a sonic toothbrush with the effectiveness of an oral irrigator.  This device is in the highest price range and is called the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion.  If you want to continue using your regular toothbrush, you will remove twice as much bacterial plaque than flossing by adding a basic model from Waterpik for about half the price.

      Michelle

  5. RoDarrick

    Hi and thanks for this informative post. Actually, I favor the use of floss every time and I can say it’s been working at an incredible rate worthy of being praised. However,  I am just learning of Waterpik and going by what I read in this post, this seems awesome to me and pretty well a good catch.  Considering the fact that my son can make use of it independently without adding to a burden is great.

    1. Michelle

      RoDarrick,

      Glad to hear you are regularly making use of floss.  You should definitely be praised for that.  Waterpik is a wonderful adjunct to oral health care.  Statistics have proven how effective this device is and it would be a welcome product for someone not in the habit of flossing regularly.  Please see related posts on the Waterpik Sonic-Fusion which makes use of a sonic toothbrush and water irrigation to brush and floss at the same time!

      Michelle

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