Experts recommend you brush your teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth at least once a day to maintain good oral health. Poor oral hygiene can lead to cavities, bad breath, tooth loss, gum disease and tooth loss.
Brushing your teeth is a great place to start improving your oral health, but brushing alone is not enough. The annoying food particles, plaque, and bacteria that hide between your teeth need attention too. Unfortunately, the bristles of your toothbrush are not small enough to really clean effectively in those tight spaces. To truly ensure a clean and healthy mouth, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends including interdental cleaning - such as flossing - to your daily routine.
Knowing how important interdental cleaning is for your oral health, how do you decide which tools for cleaning between your teeth are best for you? Your hygienist or dentist can help make suggestions for your specific needs, but here is some information about the most common tools for interdental cleaning.
The two main tools for interdental cleaning are dental floss and oral irrigators - the most well known brand being Waterpik. There are pros and cons for both tools, but which one is better? Or should you consider using both?
Waterpiks aka Oral Irrigators
Waterpik water flossers are also referred to as dental water jets or oral irrigators. The first oral irrigator was invented in 1962 by a Colorado dentist who was helped by his patient, a hydraulic engineer.
Water flossers use a pressurized stream of pulsating water to clean away food particles, bacteria, and plaque between teeth and under the gumline.
Good for:
People with braces
People with nonremovable bridgework
People who have crowns
People who have dental implants
People with arthritis
Anyone who finds string floss too difficult to use
But - the rinsing action of Waterpiks may not be enough to remove plaque completely from the surface of teeth. They’re also much more expensive than traditional floss and can be difficult to use correctly. They can also make quite a mess in your bathroom, especially when you are first getting the hang of it.
Traditional String Floss
An oldie but a goody, dental floss use dates back as far as prehistoric times. It was first recommended in print by a dentist named Levi Spear Parmly, in his book, “A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth,” in 1819.
Floss was formally patented 55 years later by Asahel M. Shurtleff. He designed floss in packaging that included a cutter, similar to the way some floss is sold today.
String floss is great at removing bacteria, plaque, and food particles from between teeth. The main benefit of using floss vs a Waterpik is the level of control. Flossing manually allows you to meticulously wipe down each tooth, in an up and down motion, and to maneuver the floss between teeth. This allows you to completely wipe each tooth clean of sticky plaque before it can turn into tartar.
Should I floss before I brush or after?
The ADA says that either way is acceptable, as long as you do a thorough job. Some people argue that they like to floss first to loosen food and debris from between teeth, which can be brushed away after.
Others prefer to brush first to remove the bulk of plaque before flossing, and to allow the fluoride from toothpaste to reach areas that could be blocked by food.
A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that the floss first, brush second technique, was better at reducing the amount of plaque between teeth.
However, the ADA and American Academy of Periodontology recommend brushing and flossing in any order - it’s more important that you actually do it. Whether you floss or brush first is up to you!
So which method is the best?
The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning in between the teeth once a day. Both Waterpiks and flossing are good ways to take care of teeth and gums, in addition to brushing. However, most dentists (including Smile New Braunfels) still consider regular flossing the best way to clean between your teeth. And, many people prefer the control they get from manual flossing. This tried-and-true method lets you scrape up and down the sides of your teeth to remove plaque. If you are finding the floss gets stuck in small spaces, try waxed floss or dental tape.
On the other hand, many people enjoy the ease of use, and the fresh, deep-clean feeling they get after using a Waterpik. The American Dental Association says water flossers with the ADA Seal of Acceptance can get rid of plaque. (That's the film that turns into tartar and leads to cavities and gum disease.) But some studies find water flossers don't remove plaque as well as traditional floss. For the ultimate in clean and plaque removal, you can consider using both twice a day. Use string floss first, to scrape off and loosen plaque, then a Waterpik can be used to efficiently rinse out residue and plaque left behind.
Overall, the best dental hygiene method is the one you’ll actually see yourself using daily.
Be sure to speak with Smile New Braunfels about any concerns you may have. We can help you determine the best option for you. Schedule an appointment today!
