What is a water flosser?

In the early 1800s, New Orleans dentist Levi Spear Parmley wrote of the importance of flossing as part of a daily in-home oral hygiene routine. Parmley described plaque and food debris as “irritating matter which no brush can remove” as “the real source of disease” more than 200 years ago. He recommended that patients pass a waxed silk thread between the teeth to clear out plaque and other debris.

Floss string changed little throughout history, but nylon floss did eventually take over as the preferred string material due to its abrasion resistance and commercial availability. It took until the 1970s for flossing to become a prominent staple in daily oral care routines, however. The overall idea of using a string to get between teeth and below the gumline remained unchallenged overall.

That is, until the water flosser came along.

These oral irrigators started off as niche devices found in dentists’ offices, spraying away plaque and debris during annual cleaning visits that many of us pushed off to the last minute. Likely because we didn’t want to be fussed at for not flossing enough. In recent years, water flossers have become a more mainstream solution as the technology for at-home devices has improved.

How water flossers work

Water flossers are a little more of a technological leap from the simple waxed thread that came before, but they’re still a fairly simple device overall. The main idea is that clean water is pumped from a reservoir through a nozzle that the user aims at crevices in the teeth and gum line. Pressurized water is then sprayed into the mouth and dislodges plaque and debris from between the teeth and gums.

There is some wiggle room for innovation and unique features on various models of water flossers — typically with the tip and pressure settings. Standard tips for daily use are often available, but some models may also include orthodontic tips for use when cleaning braces and dental implants.

The flosser’s pump will pull water from the reservoir to create either a steady or pulsating stream of lukewarm water with adjustable pressure options. Adjustable pressure and stream settings make water flossers ideal for people with sensitive gums, who might experience small cuts or abrasions from string floss.

The water jet helps to flush away plaque, food particles, and other bacteria-causing debris that lurk between the teeth and just below the gum line. What you may not know, however, is that the pulsating stream of warm water massages your gum tissue, further improving oral health by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation.

A well-rounded oral care routine

Dentists regularly stress to their patients the need for flossing as part of a good oral care routine, but no one solution is going to be a perfect fit for everybody. Ongoing research into oral hygiene does suggest that water flossers are an effective tool for removing plaque and reducing gum irritation and bleeding. Introducing a water flosser to your daily dental routine alongside brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing with string can boost your oral hygiene overall with healthier gums, cleaner teeth, and fresher breath.

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