A dental question: Is electric water flossing just fancied up mouthwashing in effectiveness?

[UTUSN]

After a few months of dental work, I let the dentist gung ho me into buying a water squirting machine. Recent commercials for mouthwashes are making me think that the machines are just glorified mouthwashing. I don't use the machine, but *do* use the mouth wash, non-alcoholic and with the strong active ingredient. Always valuing Lounge input, thx!

[CurtEastPoint]

1. I have used one for years. Do this test:

Do your normal routine w/o water floss. Use one of those rubber-tipped things to go around your gumlines and see what gunk is still there.

THis thing:

THEN do your normal routine followed by the waterfloss and THEN use that rubber thingie and compare the difference.

Not to be gross but w/o water floss you will see all sorts of white gooey tartar on the tip.
WITH water floss, you will see quite a bit less.

Mine goes about 2 minutes and it makes a difference. And I have gum issues (under control)

[UTUSN]

6. Many thanks to all 1-5 posters for the enthusiasm. I'm just overwhelmed adding one more task.

I just feel that the mouthwash with the relatively strong active ingredient gets in there and leaves an extra clean sensation. The commercial that grabbed me said something like: Brushing only gets to X percent of the teeth, mouthwash Brand Name flushes 100%. Hence it seems to me that the mouthwash is doing the same flushing as the machine.

[pennylane100]

2. I use a water flossing machine.

The part of the machine that squirts water is funneled through a special flossing brush that has bristles on the end which allows the water to go through between my teeth and under my gum line and it has enough force to flush out debris and remove plaque. It seems to work pretty well and my dentist tells me my teeth and gums are healthy. However I am not sure how well the battery operated hand held ones without a flossing brush work.

My dentist tells me that flossing is a must regardless of what other measures, including using the best type of mouth wash for your particular needs, will take the place of flossing. Hope that helps, it works well for me but is a little time consuming.

[Squinch]

3. Get the Waterpik. You won't believe how much stuff you have been leaving in your

teeth. Also, it's like a power wash, so it gets rid of tartar. And tartar contributes to heart issues, so its good to get rid of it regularly.

You'll love it.

[MontanaMama]

4. I was in dentistry for 21 years.

Always was a Sonicare fan. Can’t deny the studies and what they do for oral health. That said, my kiddo is in braces and his orthodontist gives each patient a waterpik or a sonicare...since we have a sonicare we happily took the waterpik. I am VERY impressed with the Waterpik. It gets all kinds of gunk out of our teeth and does a great job of getting between teeth and just below the gum line. We use the waterpik, sonicare and regular toothbrush regularly. Water flossers are cheap. Costco has them. I would recommend getting the name brand. Cheers!

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I couldn't live without my water flosser. I have reduced saliva production as a

result of radiation treatment for cancer. Try this test. Brush your teeth for 2 minutes. Then use the flosser. You will be disturbed by the amount of debris that is flushed out from between your teeth.

[Phoenix61]

7. Brushing gets rid of the big stuff

Flossing gets rid of the smaller stuff. Water flossing gets rid of everything else. You can put stuff in the water. I like to use a little tea tree oil. It's a natural antibiotic .

[Bleacher Creature]

8. I'm not kidding when I say that I LITERALLY asked my dentist this exact question this morning.

She told me that it's not a substitute for manual flossing, but that the two together is optimal.

What a weird coincidence.

[UTUSN]

12. This makes me feel unwired, thanks for that!1

[Big Blue Marble]

9. The only one that works is the Hydrofloss.

My husband is a dentist. At his suggestion, I started using one over 25 years ago.
It is the only dental irrigator that actually treats periodontal disease. It is
uses a magnetic technology to change the water so that it significantly reduces
the amount of plague that forms around the teeth. I have seen it reduce and
heal serious periodontal diseases conditions in patients.

It is especially helpful for braces, crowns, bridges, and implants. It helps protect
your investment in your oral health.

[UTUSN]

11. Hmm, i'll look into this, am intrigued.

[elocs]

10. My dentist's wife cleaned my teeth a few years ago

and she teaches dental hygiene. My regular hygienist was gone so over the decades (yes, I had the same dentist for 44 years until he retired last year) she has cleaned my teeth occasionally. Anyways, she told me that if I lived to be 100 that I would have all of my teeth because my gums were in great shape. I decided that I wouldn't tell her that I don't floss more than a couple of times a year and never have much more than that. I know this is live the 103 year old woman who drinks and smokes a cigar everyday--it's just me and doesn't generally apply to others.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. My dentist recommends it.

Especially now that I have a bridge (permanent replacement tooth). She's not a big fan of mouthwash though, especially those that contain alcohol. I had dental surgery last week and was instructed to rinse with salt water.