Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes is a great start to oral health, but it’s not enough to completely clean your mouth. Due to toothbrush bristles being too large to get in the small spaces, tiny bits of food can linger between your teeth or hide on the backs of your molars. If left for too long, water-yellow sticky residue known as plaque can start to build up. Plaque can then negatively affect your hygiene and cause bad breath, cavities, and gum disease.
That’s where flossing steps in, to really target those hard-to-reach places. There are two main types of flossing techniques: string flossing and water flossing. But which is more effective and better for you?
What is string flossing vs water flossing?
In general, flossing is a technique that cleans in between the small spots that a toothbrush may commonly miss. You can floss with dental string or with water spraying in between your teeth.
Standard dental floss is made up of a string which can be just rolled out or cut and used with your hands or at the end of a toothbrush-like handle. It’s been around for centuries, yet as time has evolved, more varieties have been offered. Nowadays, you can find floss in various flavours, waxed or unwaxed.
A water flosser, also known as a dental water jet or an oral irrigator, is a device that aims a stream of water towards the hidden tooth spots. This water is more powerful than just drinking or gargling, because it’s pulsating to clean away leftover food particles and bacteria. It was originally created by a dentist and an engineer back in 1962, who was on a mission to make flossing more convenient and effective. The most popular brand these days is Waterpik.
Now, are water flossers better than floss or vice versa? Let’s see.
Pros and cons of normal flossing
Normal flossing gives you full control of exactly where you want to floss as it allows you to carefully target regions around your teeth. It effectively cleans everything away. However, it requires you to angle your hand near your mouth to get in between your teeth, so if you’re someone who has a hard time with this maneuver, such as someone with arthritis, choosing a water flosser where you don’t have to move as much may be a better option.
Benefits of water flossing
Do water flossers work? Yes, they effectively clean your teeth and are great for those who prefer less wrist and arm movement. All you need to do is hold it up, aim it at your teeth, and slowly spray along your gumline, ensuring it’s easy for anyone. It’s also perfect for those who have any metal in their mouth that makes threading traditional floss a challenge. Whether it be braces, crowns, retainers, or dental implants, water flossing uses its power to get the debris away without cranking your wrist.
However, there is less control with the water flossing compared to traditional floss, as you aren’t putting string right against the debris spot. Water has a high likelihood of getting plaque out, but it still may miss some bits. It can also be messy for those still learning to use it. They may spray it all over without having the right technique of slowly moving it against your gumline.
Comparing price, standard floss will be a fraction of the price, at around $2 to $4, whereas a water flosser is more of an investment, ranging from $20 to $150.
Pick the right flossing for your needs
Tooth flossing is the best habit to combine with your daily brush. If you floss once in the morning and once at night, your gums will be happy and healthy. You can do it before or after you brush—it’s up to you and how you like to manage your routine! No more red or bleeding gums either; you’ll experience less pain the more consistent you are.
And consistency is key to maintaining good oral health, so pick the type of floss that you think you’ll be more consistent with. You can try one type and then switch to the other, alternate, and figure out which is your preferred method. At the end of the day, it’s just important that you’re prioritising a clean smile with little to no plaque. So as long as you’re doing that, you’ll be good to go!
If you’d like to speak to a professional about the flossing process, the best flossing tools, or if waterpiks are worth it, our team of experts are here to support you. Our team at Oakleigh Dental is more than knowledgeable about dental flossers and oral health questions and concerns. If you’d like to book a 6-month check up or learn more about teeth flossing, reach out to us here.
