Whether you have braces or not, flossing after every meal makes sure you don’t leave food particles on your teeth and in your braces, so they can form plaque.
It’s advised to gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all of your teeth. Alternatively, you can make use of an oral irrigator.
Using an Oral Irrigator is a great supplement to your oral hygiene routine, this is great especially for people with braces as it helps to remove food particles from between your teeth and prevent cavities.
Is an Oral Irrigator Effective
An Oral Irrigator also known as a water floss is an all-in-one device for effective cleaning and plaque removal. It’s ultimately a power washer for your teeth while removing plaque and reducing inflammation.
Oral Irrigators spray a focused stream of water that can flush out hard-to- or impossible-to-reach places in the mouth. As the water pulsates, it lifts and flushes food debris and bacteria from the spaces in between teeth and below the gum line.
Things to know about Oral Irrigators
- In 1962 Dr. Gerald Moyer came up with the idea for an electrically powered device that could pump a stream of water between the teeth and gums to clean out debris lodged there.
- Dr. Moyer teamed up with a hydraulic engineer by the name of John Mattingly, and together, they developed the world’s first oral irrigator. It later became known as WaterPik.
How to Use Oral Irrigator
Like anything else, water flossing is something you need to get used to.
You want to close your lips slightly around the tip of it and lean over the sink so water doesn’t go everywhere. Then you’ll want to direct the tip of the oral irrigator down toward the gums and go in a scalloped motion along the gumline of each tooth on both the inside and outside.
Is Water Flossing as Good as Dental Floss?
An Oral Irrigator aims a stream of water at your teeth. This helps to remove food particles from your teeth and might help reduce bleeding and gum disease — but it isn't generally considered a substitute for brushing and flossing. It doesn't generally remove visible film and plaque on your teeth, but can aid in the reduction of bacteria even below the gumline.
For the ultimate clean and plaque removal, consider flossing at least once a day. When you forget to floss, you increase your risk of developing cavities or other oral issues.
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