Flossing vs. Waterpik — Which is Better?

We get asked a lot about Waterpiks and whether they are more effective than flossing. After all, you probably know how important flossing is to dental care. The short answer is that they are a good idea and even essential for some like those with braces or who suffer from arthritis. A Waterpik can access areas of the mouth that traditional floss can’t. And yet a Waterpik simply won’t remove all the plaque that traditional flossing can. Any local dentist worth their salt will tell you how important flossing is for dental health.

What is a Waterpik?

Also known as dental water jets or oral irrigators, Waterpiks were first invented in 1962. It’s a device that shoots high velocity water into your mouth to remove lingering food debris. It’s especially helpful at cleaning hard to reach areas of the mouth many simply can’t access with floss. For those who wear braces, a Waterpik can more easily access and remove food that can get caught in the wires. This can help reduce plaque and cavities. If you wear braces or have a difficult time flossing due to arthritis or other muscle problems, flossing is an acceptable dental care solution.

Can a Waterpik Replace Flossing?

Not really. Waterpiks are great at removing food and some plaque, but they won’t remove plaque as thoroughly as traditional floss can. But as we discussed above, a Waterpik can be your next best dental care alternative if flossing isn’t feasible.

So ideally, a Waterpik is an addition to your oral health plan, to use alongside brushing and regular flossing. We see you roll your eyes! Don’t you already do enough? If you don’t have enough patience to do all 3, that’s fine. Simply stick to brushing and flossing. Both are critical to preventing cavities and gum disease. A Waterpik can help, but it really cannot replace either of the two.

However, if you wear braces or suffer from arthritis and can’t floss much of your mouth, you might consider a Waterpik. It really can help.

But Really. You Should Floss. Absolutely.

The bottom line is you definitely should floss. It’s critical to your oral health. It gets into hard to reach places your brush simply can’t, like deep within the gumline. This removes food and other debris, removes plaque, and prevents cavities and gum disease. Even if your gums tend to bleed when you floss, keep doing it anyway. That’s fine. The important thing is to do it regularly, at least once per day.

How to Follow Through on Flossing

We believe you when you say you mean to floss, but it doesn’t always happen. At least the intention is there. Here are a few tricks you can play to follow through on a flossing regimen.

Make flossing part of your routine. Whether you do it in the morning or night, routinely floss after brushing. The more it becomes a regular habit, the better you’ll be able to do it out of instinct. You won’t even have to force it after a while.

Floss in the shower. You can floss while you’re waiting for your conditioner to set. The relaxing feel of the water will make flossing an enjoyable activity. You will barely notice you are doing it.

Appreciate the feel of a well flossed mouth. There’s nothing fresher than the feel of your mouth right after flossing. Enjoy it. Congratulate yourself on a good job. (And yes, your dentist will appreciate it! We can always tell.) The more you make flossing an appealing activity, the better you’ll follow through on it as part of your dental health.