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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.