Waterpik: Replacement for flossing?

[Phokus]

So yeah, i went to the dentist on saturday for my usual twice yearly deep cleaning/shaming. It's hard as hell to keep a regular flossing schedule. I read about a product called waterpik and asked her about it and she told me i could get away from flossing as long as i used waterpik TWICE a day.

I bought one today and it totally cleared out the popcorn skins that were trapped between my teeth from the popcorn i had today. Amazing. But i'm wondering if it's as effective as flossing and if i'm getting EVERYTHING out?

 

[MikeMike]

toothpicks can also be a replacement for flossing... my Dentist said so

 

[WraithETC]

It does work well my orthodontist recommended it to me.

On another note phillips/sonic care is coming out with another flossing alternative similar to waterpik, which is even more effective. Its more effective because the little bursts of water travel much faster. I have an engineering sample from a friend who worked in the sonic care division and its quite nice.

 

[Kelvrick]

It does work well my orthodontist recommended it to me.

On another note phillips/sonic care is coming out with another flossing alternative similar to waterpik, which is even more effective. Its more effective because the little bursts of water travel much faster. I have an engineering sample from a friend who worked in the sonic care division and its quite nice.

That sounds interesting. I have a waterpik now but sometimes floss feels a little better and isn't as messy.

I've been looking into one of those little floss sticks that you can put a new piece of floss in. The use and throwaway sticks seems wasteful.

 

[Ika]

/waiting for Mosh's answer

 

[Phokus]

It does work well my orthodontist recommended it to me.

On another note phillips/sonic care is coming out with another flossing alternative similar to waterpik, which is even more effective. Its more effective because the little bursts of water travel much faster. I have an engineering sample from a friend who worked in the sonic care division and its quite nice.

Huh, i heard if the water is too powerful, it can damage your gums.

 

[MovingTarget]

What is so hard/inconvenient about flossing before you brush your teeth prior to bedtime? Waterpiks are nice but are not a 100% analog for flossing.

 

[AreaCode707]

The dentist told me that the latest studies are showing waterpicks to be more effective than floss, which is the opposite of what they've been advising people the last few years (according to her.) That's good enough for me.

 

[Saint Nick]

You can use warm water with it to clean out your ears, too.

 

[Andy22]

I always thought the flossing was to clean between teeth at the contact points where the teeth touch. Is a water pick able to clean there? Yeah I can see where it cleans out at the gum level but not where the teeth are touching. WTF do I know though.

 

[Homerboy]

<Seinfeld>
"You're not giving away my Waterpik!!!"
</Seinfeld>

 

[TwiceOver]

Just floss each each night before bedtime brushing... I guess I have a routine down. Shave, floss, brush, bed.

 

[purbeast0]

I always thought the flossing was to clean between teeth at the contact points where the teeth touch. Is a water pick able to clean there? Yeah I can see where it cleans out at the gum level but not where the teeth are touching. WTF do I know though.

flossing is to clean between your teeth and the gums.

the proper way to floss is to go between the 2 teeth and push down under the tooth on the left side about 4-5 times hitting the gum so that you cant push the floss down any further, and then to push down under the tooth on the right side about 4-5 times the same way.

if you are flossing correctly, it is not comfortable and can actually be painful, probably the first 5 or so times until you toughen up your gums.

 

[Wyndru]

My gums still bleed every time I floss, even though I've been flossing frequently for the last 5 years. I also have to use the Satin floss because my teeth are so close together. I might check out this waterpik if it is more comfortable.

 

[kamikazekyle]

I brush twice a day, floss once, and use flouride every day. I started getting a lot of cavities between my gums. So, I picked up a waterpick to suppliment my flossing. After using it three times, it pushed water/gunk underneath a filling, infected the tooth, and led to me getting a root canal paid for entirely out of pocket since my insurance capped.

It's still sitting on my bathroom sink until I get the urge to gamble again.

 

[Phokus]

I brush twice a day, floss once, and use flouride every day. I started getting a lot of cavities between my gums. So, I picked up a waterpick to suppliment my flossing. After using it three times, it pushed water/gunk underneath a filling, infected the tooth, and led to me getting a root canal paid for entirely out of pocket since my insurance capped.

It's still sitting on my bathroom sink until I get the urge to gamble again.

Ouch... is it possible that you used too high pressure?

 

[kamikazekyle]

Maybe -- it's a waterpik brand, but I can't remember the name. I used a setting of 3/4 out of 10. Though it's also possible the dentist messed up the filling or gave me a filling when something else might have been more appropriate. Honestly, after that insurance ran out I haven't been to the dentist since and I desperately need a cleaning and maybe more work done. But in order to get stuff done, I had to switch to a dental HMO, and that means it's a 40-60 minute drive to the nearest dentist that MIGHT take new patients. Beyond that, we're talking 2 hours one way.

Anyway. My one-off incident aside it does help suppliment flossing (or did for me in the few times I used it). Traditional wisdom has always been it's not a full on replacement but a very, very good suppliment.

 

[Fritzo]

I love my waterpik- it gets stuff out of my molars that floss would never get

 

[Fritzo]

Ouch... is it possible that you used too high pressure?

I'm thinking he had a cavity below the filling in his tooth in order for that to happen. Not sure how that would have been possible otherwise.

 

[Phokus]

I'm thinking he had a cavity below the filling in his tooth in order for that to happen. Not sure how that would have been possible otherwise.

I used 8/10 on the pressure setting with the normal waterpik attachment, is that too high?

 

[moshquerade]

So yeah, i went to the dentist on saturday for my usual twice yearly deep cleaning/shaming. It's hard as hell to keep a regular flossing schedule. I read about a product called waterpik and asked her about it and she told me i could get away from flossing as long as i used waterpik TWICE a day.

I bought one today and it totally cleared out the popcorn skins that were trapped between my teeth from the popcorn i had today. Amazing. But i'm wondering if it's as effective as flossing and if i'm getting EVERYTHING out?

it's better than your routine of not flossing daily, but imho, a waterpik will not get all the plaque off/out. it does do a good job of removing debris like popcorn skins as you know.

do you have periodontal pockets? what i mean is, when she did your periodontal exam measurements were there readings above 3mm? If so, a waterpik is good for flushing out those pockets, but you still should floss.

 

[moshquerade]

toothpicks can also be a replacement for flossing... my Dentist said so

flossing > toothpicks

but if someone won't make their lazy ass floss daily, a toothpick still helps out.

What is so hard/inconvenient about flossing before you brush your teeth prior to bedtime? Waterpiks are nice but are not a 100&#37; analog for flossing.

:thumbsup:

 

[moshquerade]

It does work well my orthodontist recommended it to me.

On another note phillips/sonic care is coming out with another flossing alternative similar to waterpik, which is even more effective. Its more effective because the little bursts of water travel much faster. I have an engineering sample from a friend who worked in the sonic care division and its quite nice.

Your orthodontist recommended it because it's great for flushing debris out of your braces. :thumbsup:

/waiting for Mosh's answer

Well.. hello :awe:

 

[moshquerade]

flossing is to clean between your teeth and the gums.

the proper way to floss is to go between the 2 teeth and push down under the tooth on the left side about 4-5 times hitting the gum so that you cant push the floss down any further, and then to push down under the tooth on the right side about 4-5 times the same way.

if you are flossing correctly, it is not comfortable and can actually be painful, probably the first 5 or so times until you toughen up your gums.

You seem to be describing the proper technique, but you need to do this gently. It should not hurt. You should slide the floss under your gum on both sides of the tooth until you meet resistance as there is a natural space there that needs to be cleaned, but you shouldn't jam the floss so it hurts.

 

[zokudu]

Mosh do you work in the dental field?