Should I Get a Water Flosser for My Braces?

The popularity of dental braces has surged over the past few decades. Since 1982, the number of Americans getting braces has increased by more than 100%. Today, some 4 million Americans wear dental braces, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. However, keeping braces clean can feel like quite a chore without the proper tools. One of the most popular oral hygiene tools for those with braces is a water flosser, also known as a water jet, oral irrigator, or by the brand name Waterpik^®. Read on to learn more about this nifty oral hygiene gadget!

About Oral Irrigation

A water flosser is an electronic device that cleans between teeth and under the gumline using a stream of water. Most water flossers have a dial to adjust the pressure, as well as tips of various styles, to suit the patient’s preference. Virtually any patient would benefit from adding water flossing to their oral hygiene routine, especially those with braces. Many people find that using a water pick allows them to easily remove food particles stuck in between their braces that would be hard to reach otherwise with only a toothbrush and traditional floss. Keep in mind though that we still recommend using traditional floss every day. In conjunction with daily brushing and string flossing, a water flosser will give your teeth and gums an added cleaning boost.

Additional Tools

Here are even more oral hygiene tools that might enhance your oral hygiene routine while you straighten your teeth:

• Floss threaders that have a stiff plastic thread to make threading string floss through the arch wire simple
• A “platypus” flosser, which has a spatula on one end that is easily maneuvered under the arch wire of braces so you can floss like normal in between the brackets
• Interdental toothbrushes squeeze through the spaces between teeth and around the braces to remove food particles and plaque
• An electric toothbrush with an “ortho” head

More Questions? Ask Us!

If you have additional questions about tools to help keep your braces clean, feel free to give us a call at Summit Family Orthodontics. Dr. Allen and his team are here to help!

Categorised in: Braces, Oral Hygiene