Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry
(410) 939-5800
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
  • Services
    • All Services
      • General Dentistry & Oral Hygiene
        • Gum Disease Treatment
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Tooth-Colored Fillings
      • Porcelain Veneers/Lumineers
      • Teeth Whitening
    • Restorative Dentistry
      • Dental Crowns
      • Dental Bridges
      • Cosmetic Dentures
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Emergency Dental Care
  • Dental Implants
    • What Are Dental Implants?
    • Our Implant Solutions
      • Tooth Replacement Treatments Compared
      • Finding a Dental Implant Provider
    • Advantages of Dental Implants
    • Implant Process
    • Dental Implant Candidacy
    • Single Tooth Restorations
    • Implant-Supported Overdentures
    • Full-Arch Replacement Options
    • New Teeth in One Day
    • Tooth Loss & Your Health
    • Proven Benefits of a Healthy Smile
    • Dental Implant Care
      • What to Eat After Dental Implant Surgery
      • How to Protect Your Implants From Peri-Implantitis
    • Supplemental Treatments
      • Bone and Gum Grafting
        • Bone Grafting
  • IV Sedation
    • What is IV Sedation?
    • Benefits of IV Sedation
    • Are You a Candidate for IV Sedation?
    • IV Sedation vs Other Sedation
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • New Patients
  • Payment Options
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Flossing v Dental Irrigators

June 22, 2017Richard GrubbOral Health

It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day because brushing removes plaque that can damage your smile. Plaque is the filmy substance that forms on your teeth after you eat something. If the plaque isn’t removed promptly, it can harden and become tartar, the rough substance that your dental hygienist scrapes off your teeth when you get them cleaned.  

You need to get rid of the plaque and tartar on your teeth because otherwise it can lead to cavities and gum disease, which are both serious threats to your smile. Of course, you also need to remove the plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach.

Devices for Cleaning Between Your Teeth

Devices for cleaning the areas between your teeth are called interdental cleaners.  Dental floss and dental irrigators like Waterpik are two types of interdental cleaners you can use.  Flossing and dental irrigators are both effective ways to clean between your teeth, but many people don’t floss as often as they should.  According to a recent survey, only 35 percent of patients occasionally use dental floss, and only 2 to 15 percent floss daily.”

Flossing Gets Negative Reviews from Patients

Why don’t people floss even though it’s so important for protecting your smile? The main reasons people report for not flossing are:

  • It causes pain and/or bleeding
  • They don’t think flossing is necessary
  • It’s not easy to hold the floss
  • They think brushing by itself is sufficient for protecting their smile
  • It’s takes too much time
  • They have trouble reaching all parts of their smile

Dental Irrigators–A New Way to Clean Where Brushes Miss

Dental irrigators have been an option for people who don’t like flossing since the Waterpik was introduced in 1966.  There are now several other models available. Sometimes it gets a little bit confusing because dental irrigators are often referred to as dental water jets or water flossers.  But whatever you want to call them, many people report that they find dental irrigators to be more gentle than flossing.  

Dental Irrigators are Gentler on Your Teeth

According to American Dental Association spokeperson Mary Hayes, compared to flossing, Waterpik “is gentle on the gums and is less likely to cause bleeding in people with sensitive gums.”  Four major advantages of dental irrigators over flossing are:

  • They are gentler on your gums than flossing
  • They are much easier to use for people with braces or dental bridges
  • People are more likely to use them
  • It’s easier than flossing

Many people who suffer from gum disease don’t like to floss because it can cause pain and bleeding.  Unfortunately, failure to clean the interdental regions will probably exacerbate gum disease. Dental irrigators can be an effective choice for people with gum disease because they are “up to 93% better at reducing bleeding” when compared to flossing.

Visit Your Dentist in Havre de Grace

Whichever type of interdental cleaner you select, it’s important to visit your dentist at least twice a year to prevent cavities and gum disease. Give us a call at Family Implant and Restorative Dentistry to schedule your next appointment today.

Tags: gum disease, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators, oral irrigators v flossing, Waterpik

Related Articles

Gum Disease—A Major Threat to Your Smile

June 9, 2017Richard Grubb

Is Vaping Better than Tobacco for Your Oral Health?

June 10, 2018Richard Grubb

See How WaterLase Can Vastly Improve Your Experience With WaterLase

May 7, 2018Richard Grubb

Recent Posts

  • How Does Stress Impact the Health of Your Smile?
  • Is Vaping Better than Tobacco for Your Oral Health?
  • Dental Staining – What Causes It and What Can Be Done?
  • 4 Popular Habits to Avoid for a Healthy Smile
  • See How WaterLase Can Vastly Improve Your Experience With WaterLase

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016

    Categories

    • Academy of General Dentistry
    • Continuing Education
    • Dental Emergencies
    • Dental Hygienist
    • dental hygienist duties
    • Dental implants
    • Dental Research
    • Dental Staining
    • Dental Technology
    • Diet and Your Smile
    • Family Dentistry
    • Habits and Our Smile
    • Oral Care at Home
    • Oral Health
    • Sedation
    • Smiling
    • Smoking
    • Tongue Health
    • toothache
    • Uncategorized

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    • Home
    • About
    • Services
    • Contact
    • Sitemap

    Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry

    203 S. Washington Street Havre de Grace, MD 21078
    (410) 939-5800

    Mon, Wed, Thurs: 8am – 4pm
    Tue: 9am - 6pm
    Fri. Sun: Closed
    Sat: 8am - 1pm Hygiene Appointments Only

    Connect With Us

    Facebook
    Google+
    Yelp
    ©2020 Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry