Benefits of Using a Waterpik

Using a Waterpik, along with brushing and flossing, can be very beneficial in eliminating plaque, food deposits, and germs from between teeth and below gum margins. If you’re interested in amping up your oral hygiene, a Waterpik may be just the thing you are looking for. Your Fuquay-Varina dentist at Hamby Family Dental would like to help you in improving your oral health. Read further for more benefits of using Waterpiks.

What is a Waterpik?

A Waterpik is a brand of water flosser, also called an oral irrigator, that sprays water to remove food between your teeth. Waterpik has become used as a generic term for oral irrigators, much like Xerox for copying. Water flossers are good options for people who have trouble with traditional flossing. But, using a water flosser is also a great supplement to your regular oral care. Note that the Waterpik doesn’t replace your toothbrush or traditional flossing. You should continue to brush your teeth twice a day and floss, if you are able. Then you can use the water flosser either before or afterward.

Benefits of Using a Waterpik

The Waterpik is very effective in expelling bacteria from gum pockets. Clinical studies have shown that the use of a Waterpik results in penetrating 50% of the gum pocket, which is about two times as far as can be reached with dental floss. Here are some of the benefits of using a Waterpik in improving oral health.

Preventive Oral Care

Using a water flosser as part of your daily oral hygiene routine helps prevent tooth decay, gum issues, and bad breath. The Waterpik has been shown to help keep the mouth clean. And, cross-contamination isn’t a problem because it continually flushes bacteria away. Plaque forms around teeth all the time. Simply brushing can’t reach efficiently between teeth to remove bacteria as it accumulates. A water flosser removes plaque better than traditional floss because it combines water pressure with power pulses.

Useful for Diabetes Patients

Water flossers are important tools for people with diabetes because diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease. Traditional flossing may cause gum bleeding and pain for people with diabetes. Studies have shown that people with diabetes who used a water flosser for three months, had a 44% better reduction in gum bleeding and 41% reduction in gingivitis as compared to those who did not use the water flosser.

Helps Maintain Oral Hygiene with Dental Implants and Bridges

If you have dental implants or bridges, it is even more important to keep healthy gums because these can be excellent breeding grounds for germs. But, sometimes dental implants make traditional flossing a bit more difficult. The water flosser shows superior reductions in plaque, bleeding, and gingivitis, all of which can affect the survival of dental implants long-term.

Cleans Around Orthodontic Appliances (like Braces)

Keeping food cleaned out from between teeth when you have orthodontic appliances like braces can be challenging. It’s difficult to floss in the traditional way when you have braces. A water flosser is a definite help in cleaning teeth more effectively than just brushing and attempting to floss around an appliance.

Effective in Fighting Gum Disease

Because a Waterpik is gentle, it is a great choice for patients with sensitive gums. But, it is a superior choice for patients with active gum disease, or a history of gum disease, because it flushes bacteria from deep pockets where floss can’t reach. Regular use of a Waterpik can actually help reverse gingivitis. Since traditional floss actually scrapes off the film, it should be used in tandem with the water flosser.

Contact our Fuquay-Varina Dentist to Schedule a Cleaning Today

A Waterpik may be the perfect solution for you.  Contact us at Hamby Family Dental to schedule your dental check-up today by using the form below or calling (919) 552-2431 to request your appointment.