Are Waterpiks Really Better Than Traditional Filament?
Water flosses like Waterpik have filled the shelves of dental offices and retail stores. While their popularity is undeniable, does Waterpik remove plaque or clean teeth better than plain old floss?
How does Waterpiks work?
As the term “water floss” suggests, these devices use a jet of water to remove plaque and food from the gums and teeth. Waterpiks (and other brands of irrigators) use a motor and pump system to fire a pulsed, pressurized jet from a plastic tip. The pressure helps remove contaminants from the inside of the mouth, which are then washed away with water. As a result, you will get the same effect as when flossing, but without scratching your teeth and gums.
Does water floss remove plaque better than dental floss?
Irrigators do indeed remove plaque, earning them the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Excellence . But whether Waterpiks remove plaque better than traditional floss remains debatable. One study found that water flossing reduced total plaque in the mouth by 74.4% and 81.6% proximal plaque at points of contact between teeth. Filament to Filament reduced these categories by only 57.7% and 63.4%, respectively. According to this study, Waterpiks removes plaque better than traditional flossing, but some dentists disagree.
The Mayo Clinic stated that floss does not generally remove visible film and plaque like floss does. The softer nature of these machines can make them less effective at removing anything stuck on your teeth.
Water floss works well but not perfect
After all, do you need an irrigator? Probably no. If the price doesn’t bother you, or if you have sensitive gums or braces, you may find them helpful and they will remove plaque, but their benefits may not be enough to outweigh traditional floss for most people. Traditional filament is much cheaper, less messy, and can be just as effective. While it can be harsh on the gums or difficult to use for some people, its benefits are hard to ignore.
The most important thing is to find something that you will use every day. If you need a $100 irrigator for your regular oral hygiene, there’s nothing wrong with buying one. But if you can reliably use traditional filament, you can ditch Waterpik and save your money.