It’s important to floss your teeth regularly when you wear braces, but you need to be careful to prevent any damage during teeth cleaning. So, you might want to know, Is Waterpik flosser good and effective for braces?
Waterpik flosser is safe to use with braces as it doesn’t hurt any parts of braces or teeth. Moreover, The water flosser can remove plaque and food debris from teeth and gums. Since braces make it difficult to clean teeth properly, it makes the tooth cleaning procedure easy while wearing braces. However, it shouldn’t be used as an alternative to regular floss.
From this article, you will know why you should get the Waterpik with braces and what you need to know before you buy one.
So, do you want to reach even the hardest areas of your teeth to make it clean? Let’s begin.
What is a Waterpik flosser?
A water flosser is a special type of dental floss whereas Waterpik is the band name of the water flosser. The water flosser is also known as Powered Interdental Cleaners, an oral irrigator, or dental water jet.
Just like regular flossing, it removes plaque and food debris in between teeth and the margin of gums. But, this handheld device uses the flow of water to clean your teeth.
You don’t need to floss manually, as the water flosser sprays streams of water in steady pulses.
Just hold the handle and point the tip toward the area you want to clean. This makes the job easy for you.
While wearing braces, this flosser also helps you reach the difficult area of your teeth.
Why is Waterpik safe for braces?
Here are the reasons why Waterpik is safe for braces.
Don’t hurt braces
One of the prime concerns of cleaning teeth with braces is getting hurt by the cleaning instruments. Waterpik flossers are completely ok to use with braces.
It doesn’t have any components that hurt the brackets or wires and make them loose or fall off.
Regular floss may cause damage if you aren’t careful while flossing teeth with braces. But, water flossers do nothing like that.
No bad effect on gums
Some people may experience bleeding gums when they floss with regular floss since it puts pressure on the gums. It may also happen when you apply too much pressure accidentally.
Sometimes, it may cause gum inflammation or swelling. But, Waterpik doesn’t apply any pressure on the gums. So, there is no chance that you have bleeding gums or inflammation.
However, if you experience any bad effects, it may be due to the wrong technique or pressure settings of using it. Proper use of the device shouldn’t do any harm.
Anyone can use
Regular flossing can be difficult to perform for kids and people who have problems with hands and wrists because it needs the movement of the hand in different directions and to be more technical.
But, Waterpik can be helpful for them, as it doesn’t require any special movements or techniques. All you need to do is hold the handle and place it in the area that needs to be cleaned.
Besides, people with gum inflammation or bleeding can also use this device as Waterpik only applies the flow of water in your gums and braces and doesn’t touch the gums. So, kids and any person can use it.
However, if you have any disability or other dental problems, we recommend you consult with your orthodontist. For kids, check if the device is made for them or not.
Are water flossers good and effective for braces?
Water flossers are good and effective for braces because they are safe and easy to use, lessen gum inflammation, and can remove food debris and most of the plaque effectively from braces, gum lines, and in between teeth.
Waterpik uses the flow of water and washes away the debris. It works tremendously to eliminate large plaque and food particles.
Braces create many rough surfaces in your mouth. So, bacteria, food debris, and plaque accumulate there more with braces than without them.
That’s why to get into all the surfaces to remove debris, tartar, and bacteria to maintain good oral hygiene. This powered interdental cleaner can help braces wearers to prevent it.
However, it may not be effective as conventional flossers in some cases. Every product has pros and cons of its own. Let’s take a look at its advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits of Waterpik for braces
Here are the benefits of Waterpik flosser:
Greater control
Waterpik has a handle to have good control over it. You can direct it smoothly to clean the teeth and braces.
It also provides a pressure setting. You can change the setting easily to control the flow or pressure of water.
Besides, you get tips and nozzles of different sizes. You can change it according to your need to clean a certain area.
Easy to use
Anyone can use the Waterpik with ease. You don’t need any special training for that. Just follow some simple steps of using it.
Since the Waterpik has a handle and a long nozzle, it makes the work easier. By placing the tips and nozzle in a certain area of braces and teeth, you can clean it nicely.
Get into hard-to-reach areas
One of the most important features of the Waterpik is getting into those difficult to reach surfaces of teeth and braces that regular floss can’t do. It can access the gumline and interdental space and clean the areas effectively.
Friendly for gums
Waterpik doesn’t cause any gum bleeding, inflammation, or swelling even after using it for the first time.
But, if you are familiar with traditional flosses, they can do these as they make contact with your gums.
Reduction of gum inflammation
One of the most important advantages of Waterpik is reducing gum inflammation and bleeding by removing plaques and food debris.
You need to prevent any problems with your gums as early as possible or you may end up having gum bleeding, gingivitis, or periodontitis.
Moreover, when the stream of water is applied to the gums, it massages the gum tissue.
This increases the blood circulation of gum tissue. By performing all of these activities the Waterpik improves oral health by minimizing inflammation.
Remove food debris effectively
Using high-pressure water, Waterpik can remove food debris effectively. It’s important more in terms of removing food particles from under the braces wire.
It may seem hard to remove debris when it gets stuck in between teeth and braces.
Sometimes, you may damage the braces when you try to remove them with conventional floss. But, Waterpik can do it easily without hurting your braces.
Remove plaque well
One of the prime concerns is if the Waterpik can remove the plaque from in between teeth, gum line, and braces. Can the steam on water do that?
The good news for you is yes it can clean the plaque effectively from the gum line, in between teeth and braces. This device can remove large plaque quite nicely and easily.
It can also eliminate plaque from those areas where you can’t reach easily with other devices or methods. However, you must brush your teeth 2-3 times to remove the plaque completely.
Fast procedure and helpful on busy days
You must floss your teeth at least once a day while wearing braces. With conventional floss, you need to give more time to clean teeth and braces effectively.
But, not all days are the same. It can help you on busy days when you can’t give enough time to floss as it makes the procedure faster.
Authorized to use
A water flosser isn’t a random tooth and braces a cleaning product. Water flossers have been approved by the American dental association.
So, you can use it with braces without any hesitation. However, you must get that water flosser that has the ADA seal.
Helpful with a dental crown, implant, and braces
When adults get braces, they may have a dental prosthesis like an implant, veneer, or crown on a tooth.
Dental restoration makes it difficult to clean teeth. Waterpik can be your friend in this case and clean your teeth and braces without causing any damage.
Drawbacks of Waterpik for braces
Here are the disadvantages of using a water flosser with braces:
Expensive
Maybe, the main disadvantage of Waterpik is it’s much more expensive than conventional floss.
Not only do you have to spread a lot of money on that but also you have to pay more for maintenance like buying flosser tips. You have to replace the orthodontic tip or flosser tip every 3-4 months.
Not so available
You may not find the Waterpik everywhere around the world or in your local market. It’s not as available as traditional flossers.
However, it’s getting popular day by day and also becoming available. But, the good thing is you can order it online and get it easily.
Requires power source
Waterpik needs a power source to use it. So, you can’t use it when you go on a tour or camping.
Beginners feel messy to use
When you start using the Waterpik for the first time, you may not have the proper control. Often, water may spread out and it becomes messy. However, when you learn how to use it, everything seems so simple.
May not be portable
As you need a power source to function the Waterpik and it’s relatively bigger in size, you may not carry it everywhere.
May not eliminate all plaque and tartar alone
Traditional floss scrubs or rubs the surface of teeth and braces and removes the plaque. So, it can remove all types of plaque effectively if you can access it.
But, Waterpik uses the stream of water and cleans the plaque without touching the surface.
So, you may not be able to eliminate some sticky and small plaque or tartar with water floss. That’s why you need to use regular floss as well with it sometimes.
But, it doesn’t mean water floss has become totally ineffective. Remember, you can get into hard-to-reach areas with braces with the oral irrigator. It’s about accessibility.
Cleaning between tightly fit or crowded teeth
Overcrowded or crooked teeth are hard to clean. You face difficulty to remove plaque and food particles in between those overlapped teeth.
If you are using braces to treat it, a water flosser may not be going to help you much as it can’t penetrate perfectly between those tightly fitted teeth.
However, still, this floss can help you as it can clean braces and reach other difficult areas in your mouth.
Can Waterpik remove plaque and tartar?
Waterpik or water flosser can effectively remove the plaque just like traditional floss. Some studies also show that an oral irrigator can be more beneficial in removing plaque than string floss.
However, you shouldn’t use it as a replacement for traditional floss, as it can be more helpful in many cases. Using both together can give you maximum benefits.
Should you buy a Waterpik flosser for braces?
In short, yes, you should buy a Waterpik for braces. If you don’t have any problem with the cost, you must grab one for your own benefit.
Think about how much you are spreading for braces to get your teeth straightened.
Now, after the removal of the braces if you find out that you have dental problems such as gum disease or tooth decay, how will you feel?
It’s better to be aware now and take appropriate preventive measures than to face a worse situation later.
At that time, you may have to spend more time and money to fix the issue than a water flosser.
But, after knowing all of these pros and cons, you may still have another question.
Why should you buy a Waterpik?
Braces make it difficult to remove plaque and food debris from all the surfaces of braces, teeth, and gum lines. One cleaning technique can never do the work completely.
So, you need an all-out effort to maintain oral hygiene with braces. So, you should get the Waterpik, as it can reach those areas of braces and teeth that a normal flosser or toothbrush may not reach.
Moreover, the oral irrigator is easier, faster, and safer to use and reduces gum disease as well. These are the other important benefits that you need to consider before you decide where you get it.
But, should you stop using traditional floss?
Absolutely no. You have to know that Waterpik flosser doesn’t replace the regular floss, instead, it acts as an adjuvant of brushing and flossing.
So, use both flossers alternatively as well as brush your teeth 2-3 times a day to get the best result. If you follow the tooth cleaning routine in this way, you will be free from worries.
If you decide to buy a water flosser, always go with the one that has an ADA seal and check the buyer’s guide.
Takeaways
Waterpik is completely safe to use while wearing braces and is also effective to remove plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas of teeth and braces and improve gum health.
However, you must brush and use regular floss along with a water flosser to get the best results.
Always keep in mind that neglecting oral hygiene with braces can lead to various dental problems such as tooth staining, dental caries, or gums disease and you may have to spread a lot of money and time.
