Best Water Flossers for Braces
Why are Water Flossers Great for Braces?
Even without braces, maintaining a daily flossing routine can be difficult. However, when you have braces, regular flossing becomes even more cumbersome, especially when flossing around wires and brackets, where food particles tend to accumulate. Plaque build-up around brackets can lead to a variety of dental problems, including gum disease, if not treated in time. A water flosser, also known as an oral irrigator, is an excellent solution alongside traditional flossing for people wearing braces. The pressurised water it uses proves to be one of the most effective methods of removing food particles from braces, eliminating the need for intricate threading of traditional floss between teeth.
Water flossers, combined with traditional string floss, offer the optimal solution for a comprehensive interdental clean between teeth, especially when dealing with braces.
Effective Cleaning Around Braces: Water flossers are particularly beneficial for individuals with braces as they can effectively clean around the wires and brackets where food particles tend to accumulate. The pressurized water stream can reach challenging areas that may be difficult to access with traditional string floss.
Prevention of Plaque Buildup: Braces create additional surfaces where plaque can accumulate, potentially leading to dental issues like gum disease. Water flossers, when used in conjunction with traditional floss, help prevent plaque buildup around brackets, reducing the risk of oral health problems.
Ease of Use and Convenience: Flossing with traditional string floss can be challenging and time-consuming for those with braces. Water flossers provide an easier and more convenient alternative, allowing individuals to maintain a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine without the complexity of threading floss through the braces.
Why is cleaning dental braces and orthodontic appliances important?
Food debris often gets trapped in brackets and wires, which can lead to plaque build-up around them, resulting in decalcification (white spots) on the teeth. In addition, the presence of extra hardware can increase the difficulty in preventing gum disease.
What are the benefits of a Water Flosser for dental braces and orthodontic appliances?
Water floss uses an optimal combination of pressure and pulsation to remove plaque and food particles from brackets and wires. It also massages and stimulates the gums, improving gum health and reducing plaque build-up.
More convenient and quicker – Taking just approximately 1 minute per day, water flossing proves to be easier and faster compared to traditional flossing methods using dental floss or a floss threader.
Eliminates food residue – Water flossing effectively removes trapped food from dental braces and orthodontic appliances.
Eliminates plaque – the water floss is designed to effectively remove plaque around brackets and wires.
Best Water Flossers for Braces?
Using a water flosser makes the task of flossing with braces much more manageable. However, with a multitude of options available, determining the right one for you can be challenging. Ultimately, the ideal model depends on the features that align best with your specific needs and preferences. The best water flossers for individuals with braces would ideally have the following characteristics:
Multiple Modes: Look for a water flosser with multiple modes, similar to those in Oral-B’s lineup. These modes, including a sensitive mode for those with sensitive gums, provide customization for effective cleaning around braces and in hard-to-reach places.
On-Demand Pulse Setting: A water flosser with an on-demand pulse setting is beneficial. This feature offers a precise, targeted clean with adjustable pressure and pulsation, aiding in the removal of plaque and food particles from brackets and wires. This is particularly important for maintaining oral health while wearing braces.
Gum Stimulation and Massage: Choose a water flosser that provides gum stimulation and massage. This feature helps improve gum health, reducing the risk of issues such as redness, puffiness, bleeding, and gum disease—common concerns for individuals with braces.
Neglecting proper dental care while wearing braces poses several risks. Even if your teeth are properly aligned, improper care can lead to red, swollen gums that are prone to bleeding, increasing the risk of gum disease. In addition, unsightly stains can appear and detract from the beauty of your smile. Including flossing in your oral care routine is an ideal complement, as it promotes gum health and protects your investment in orthodontic treatment.
People also ask
Many dentists and oral health professionals do recommend water flossers as a valuable tool for oral hygiene. Water flossers can be especially beneficial for individuals who have difficulty using traditional dental floss or those with specific oral health concerns, such as braces, dental implants, or sensitive gums.
Although water flossers effectively eliminate food particles and rinse away plaque with a directed water stream between teeth, they lack the scraping motion of string floss. This scraping action is crucial for removing tartar-causing plaque, which, if left untreated, can lead to gum disease over time.
It’s generally safe to use a water flosser once or twice a day for two minutes at a time.
Additional Reading
