Using a water flosser can complement your dental hygiene and help you in removing more plaque. Flossing is an important line of defense at managing bacteria levels in your mouth, which is an essential step at keeping your mouth clean and free of cavities. Bacteria is responsible for a host of health complications ranging from gum disease to heart disease, and is also the primary culprit when it comes to dental decay. Knowing which water flosser tips to use to preserve your dental health is a vital step in keeping your mouth clean and bacteria-free.
The Importance Of Flossing
While brushing and rinsing your mouth twice a day does a great job at managing your dental health, your toothbrush can’t reach all the spaces in your mouth that bacteria collect, especially below the gum line and between your teeth. Flossing twice a day is a dental hygiene step that lots of patients neglect but it’s an essential part of the process. Using an oral irrigator or water pik can make the job much easier and more comfortable.
The Benefits Of Water Flossers
String floss isn’t necessarily easy for everyone to use, especially children and people who may struggle with mobility of their hands. Furthermore, string floss can irritate inflamed gums and make them bleed easily if not used properly.
Water flossers are ideal for people who may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, older patients and children. They also make dental hygiene significantly easier for patients who wear orthodontic braces and need to clean in hard-to-reach spaces.
Knowing which water flosser tips to use for which applications can make dental hygiene so much easier.
Which Water Flosser Tips Should You Be Using?
Orthodontic Tips
While orthodontics can straighten your smile and help you to feel more confident about your teeth in the long term, the short term reality can be quite frustrating when it comes to keeping them clean. Not only do patients who wear braces tend to feel less confident about smiling openly, the very real prospect of having food caught in the braces may just add to this sentiment.
When you use orthodontic water flosser tips, you can rest assured that any food particles will be washed away if you use it after every meal and snack. Wearing braces creates small spaces that food can easily be caught up in, which even your toothbrush may not be able to access. Using the orthodontic tip, which is created especially for this purpose, makes this job so much easier.
Tongue Cleaning Water Flosser Tips
Your tongue harbours a lot of bacteria and needs to be cleaned properly every time you brush. In fact, the tongue is often the cause of persistent bad breath even after you have brushed your teeth. Using a water flosser with tongue cleaner will ensure that bacteria cannot build up on your tongue, by scraping it off and then rinsing it out of your mouth.
The Toothbrush Water Flosser Tip
Water flossers can make brushing your teeth that much simpler with a toothbrush tip. This is quite similar to an electric toothbrush but includes jets of water to ensure that food particles and bacteria are rinsed away without the use of toothpaste. If you add the plaque cleaner and tongue cleaner it can manage your oral care completely.
The Plaque-Seeking Tip
Plaque can be tricky to remove, and requires time sensitivity in order to prevent it from turning into tartar. The plaque seeking tup makes use of fine bristles that are firm enough to remove plaque but also gentle enough not to do any damage to your gums and soft tissue. By adding water to the mix, you rinse away any accumulated film quickly and effectively.
The plaque seeking tip is ideal for use by patients who have dental implants, restorations and crowns, and dental bridges. It’s especially useful if you have lost teeth due to decay or extractions and need to improve your dental hygiene.
The Pocket Tip
Ideal for use by patients who have had gum disease, the pocket tip has been designed for use on a water flosser, even if the gum disease has been treated. Very often periodontal pockets remain in place even after treatment of gum disease. This makes it easy for gum disease to return, because the pockets can trap bacteria and debris.
This is a specialised water flosser tip designed especially for use by patients who have had gum disease, to help preserve your future dental health.
Water Flosser Tips For Safe And Effective Use
It’s always a good idea to start using your water flosser on a low setting, until you have got used to how it works and what the sensation feels like. Water flossers have been found to remove bacteria of up to 6mm depth from periodontal pockets without causing damage but it’s always a good idea to start slowly and familiarise yourself with the device.
Make sure you select the right tip for what you need. See our tips above if you’re unsure.
Don’t forget to fill the reservoir up with lukewarm water before you begin. Lean over your basin and look into the mirror to avoid making a mess.
Follow your gum line, using the appropriate angle. Make sure you give each tooth individual attention.
If you need more info on the right water flosser tips to use to optimise your dental hygiene practice please get in touch with us: (02) 8806 3799.
