Today, we shall take a look into one of flossing alternatives: water flossing. As an alternative, water flossing accomplishes the same as flossing normally with a piece of thread. The only thing that changes is the way you do it.
These alternatives are very helpful as flossing is not always something you can do, either for one reason or another. The idea here is to get all the benefits you can from flossing.
So in this article, we shall explain a little bit about flossing, water flossers and the benefits you get.
Flossing everyday
We want to make a little space for how important it is to floss once a day, every day.
You see, the brush does a good job removing dental plaque and food debris from our teeth, but the space between them is a bit difficult. That is where flossing comes in. Flossing provides us with a way to clean in between our teeth.
For as the best moment you should floss, it does not matter much. It can be before or after brushing your teeth, or in the morning, evening or at night. They are all valid options!
Failing to get rid of the bacteria and plaque hiding between your teeth and gums leads to many issues:
- Gingivitis.
- Bad breath (halitosis).
- Tooth discoloration.
What is water flossing?
As we have mentioned multiple times already, it is an alternative way to flossing. Water flossing, in short words, is a handheld device that uses water streams to spray onto your teeth in order to remove all the food and plaque buildup.
We know what you are thinking: is water really enough to remove plaque? Water flossing has been put to test many times in the past, and it does yield results. The jet of water does indeed remove the plaque biofilm from between your teeth. But that’s only when used right, so you need to read the instructions!
And as for the execution, you might also think that it is quite messy to use. After all, it is constantly spraying water left and right! As it turns out, it is actually quite the same curve with flossing. You start quite sloppily at the beginning, and then get the trick as you keep practicing every day. Not only that, but water flossing also reduces the overall bleeding.
Who should use water flossers?
Our dentists in Los Algodones recommend the use of water flossers to those that have issues using and managing dental floss. So for example, elders and people who wear braces would benefit greatly from water flossing.
Benefits of flossing
Tackling the habit of flossing everyday is beneficial to your oral health, and overall reduces your chances of suffering from gingivitis. So to sum it up, we have these items for you to go ahead and start flossing:
- Flossing decreases the chances of gingival bleeding. In other words, it helps you keep your gums healthy.
- Removes the plaque buildup that the toothbrush cannot get to.
- Dental floss itself is very portable and easy to carry around. Though unfortunately, water flossing is inconvenient in that aspect, as it would require a place to plug it in.
Remember to visit your dentist regularly at least once every 6 months. And even more so if you are a smoker! Smoking makes it difficult to detect gingivitis, so make sure you mention it to your dentist so they take it into account.
Also, if you ever find yourself in a position where you are not able to floss, you might wish to chew on some sugar-free gum.