Should You Use a Water Flosser?

Ask any dentist in Bloomer, and he or she will tell you that it is very important to floss your teeth regularly. Regularly means at least once in each 24-hour period. We recommend that you floss at night before you go to sleep.
At any rate, flossing regularly is crucial to healthy gums; yet, as we have noted at our family dental clinic in Bloomer, many people simply don’t get it done. One reason they cite is that flossing is messy, takes a long time, and seems to be more trouble than it is worth.
If this is you, you may want to consider using a water flosser. While a water flosser has some drawbacks, it also has some advantages. If you’re not sure, please carefully consider the benefits of using a water flosser versus using nothing at all.

Advantages of a Water Flosser
A water flosser has a number of advantages to traditional string floss. First and foremost, it is easier to use, and for this reason alone many of our patients choose it. Secondly, a water flosser does not require that you put your hands in your mouth and deal with used dental floss.
Unlike traditional string floss, you can easily learn to run a water flosser by feel, meaning you don’t need to have the setup of a mirror and good lighting to get the job done. After a few times of using it, you will be able to do it pretty much anywhere.

Drawbacks to Using a Water Flosser
Of course, some of our patients have tried a water flosser and been dissatisfied with the result. Studies have shown that water flossers simply don’t get the job done as well as using traditional string dental floss. Normal flossing on a regular basis leads to lower incidence of gum bleeding and plaque formation than water flossing alone.
So, why would you choose a water flosser? Well, as you can imagine, using a water flosser is definitely better than using nothing at all. Although a water flosser will not bring the same results as string floss, it does help keep things clean, and the fact that it is so easy to use can help people who would not otherwise floss engage in some sort of regular dental hygiene practices.
We have been practicing dentistry in Bloomer for a long time. We have seen the advantages of dental floss, but we also acknowledge that water flossers have their place in your oral hygiene toolkit. Perhaps the best approach would be to use traditional floss whenever you can, and supplement it with a water flosser when you simply don’t have the time to use string floss.
If you have any questions about flossing, brushing, or anything else related to your oral hygiene practices, please feel free to call us at any time. Or, make a note of it, and be sure to bring it up at your next routine cleaning appointment. We are here to help you keep your mouth healthy and happy!