How to Water Floss
Incorporating flossing into your daily oral care routine holds significant importance – it’s a seemingly small task that may appear inconsequential in the moment, but you’ll regret neglecting it when issues arise!
While regular flossing plays a key role in maintaining pristine oral health, using traditional string floss can be cumbersome, messy, and challenging to execute correctly. If you’re seeking a more efficient alternative to string floss, consider opting for water flossing!
This method not only offers exceptional cleaning benefits but is also much more user-friendly. Here’s a guide on how to effectively use a water flosser.
How to use an oral irrigator in 6 simple steps:
Step 1: Fill the Reservoir
This could involve linking it to the water tap or filling the reservoir with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Select a nozzle
Position the nozzle inside your mouth, beginning with your molars. Keep the irrigator at a distance from your teeth and gums, avoiding direct contact. Consider leaning over the sink to prevent water splashing on your countertop when you activate it.
Step 3: Adjust Water Pressure
Begin by setting the pressure to the lowest level, lean over the sink, and insert the tip into your mouth.
Step 4: Follow the gumline
Address each tooth individually by directing the water towards your gum line and the spaces between teeth. Target the top of the tooth, the gum’s baseline, and the gaps between each tooth. Maintain the water flow over each tooth for approximately two seconds, repeating the process on both the inner and outer sides of your teeth until your entire mouth is treated. This process typically takes around two minutes to complete.
Step 5: Empty the reservoir
After finishing, switch off the device, detach the nozzle, and empty any residual water. Leaving stagnant water in the reservoir can foster the growth of bacteria.
Step 6: Clean your device
Don’t forget to rinse the reservoir of your water flosser after each use to maintain its hygiene.
People also ask
When you use dental floss correctly, the continuous flow of water can remove more plaque than traditional dental floss. We’re not exaggerating. The jet reaches effectively between your teeth and deep beneath your gums, eliminating that soft biofilm that resides beyond the reach of a toothbrush.
Remember, dental flossers CANNOT remove tartar!
To use a water flosser effectively, start by filling the reservoir and connecting it to a water source. Begin with the lowest pressure setting, place the nozzle in your mouth, and move tooth-by-tooth, targeting the gum line and interdental spaces. After each session, turn off the device, remove the nozzle, and drain any remaining water to prevent bacterial growth. Regularly rinse the reservoir for ongoing hygiene. This process takes about two minutes and ensures thorough oral cleaning.
We recommend to utilize the Water Flosser before toothbrushing. The removal of food and debris enhances the efficiency of both toothbrushing and toothpaste. Encouraging patients to use the Water Flosser first improves compliance, and witnessing the effective removal of food particles and debris can serve as motivation for daily Water Flossing.
It’s generally safe to use a water flosser once or twice a day for two minutes at a time.
An oral irrigator can help remove food particles between teeth and remove plaque from tooth surfaces.
After each use, it’s recommended to clean the reservoir to prevent the growth of bacteria. Also, clean and store the nozzle in its compartment to shield it from exposure to the air and potential contamination.
Gingivitis symptoms don’t vanish overnight. Similar to traditional dental floss, you can expect to observe an improvement in inflamed or reddened gums after about two weeks of consistent daily water flosser use. The good news is that anyone can commit to this two-week regimen, and it’s all you need to successfully combat gingivitis.
In other words, using a water flosser does not mean you should stop brushing your teeth. You should always use it after brushing for more effectiveness.
If you feel you have a wound or canker sore in your mouth or on your tongue, you should not use a water flosser, as the jet could harm or enlarge the wound.
Additional Reading
