Long gone are the days of lying to the dentist about whether you floss regularly or not (and trust us, they always know when you're lying). Because flossing has had an upgrade in recent years. These days, it's all about water flossing.
For those who don't know, the water flosser — or oral irrigator to use the technical term — is having a TikTok moment. Indeed, it's the latest trend in hygiene — a TikTok trend that's actually good for you. It will also keep the dentist off your case.
Look, we know the struggle. You're not alone. Flossing can be a hassle, but it is an essential part of maintaining a healthy mouth. For those who can't commit to traditional flossing methods, we recommend checking out water flossers.
Do you actually need to floss?
We're sorry to burst your brushing bubble, but good dental hygiene involves more than just brushing your pearly whites. Brushing is obviously an important part of the process, and still helps to remove plaque and prevent cavities, but you need to do more to keep your teeth healthy and prevent gum disease. Flossing is the answer, because it get in between your teeth to lifts and removes plaque. Flossing helps keep your mouth squeaky clean by reaching all the places that your electric toothbrush can't access. Brushing can only clean the front and back of your teeth, so what about the sides? If you don't clean these areas, you're asking for plaque buildup and gum disease.
How do water flossers work?
It's clear that flossing is absolutely essential, but can you get away with just using a water flosser? The experts at Oral-B state that it's "not recommended to replace traditional flossing with water flossing." Instead, you should incorporate both traditional and water flossing to your daily routine.
Water flossers shoot a stream of water into your mouth to remove food particles and plaque build-up. They get into the periodontal pockets — the gaps between teeth and gums — which prevents gum disease. Another advantage is convenience. There's no fumbling around with slippery floss. They're also great for anyone who wears braces.
How do you use a water flosser?
Water flossers are easy to use, but we'll still breakdown the process so there are no doubts. We're nice like that. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Add water — OK, this might seem obvious, but you'll need water to use your water flosser. Simply fill the reservoir with lukewarm water. Water reservoir capacities will vary model to model.
Aim — Don't start your water flosser without first placing the nozzle firmly in your mouth. We wouldn't want you to spray water all over your bathroom. Aim the device away from your target area rather than directly against your teeth and gums.
Find your perfect pressure setting — At this point you can play around with the water pressure. The pressure should be high enough to actually get the job done, but always start with the lowest pressure setting and work your way up. Water flossers tend to have a selection of pressure levels to chose from.
Direction — Work your way around your mouth, targeting one tooth at a time. Direct the water at your gum line and at the areas between your teeth. There's no golden rule for how long on each tooth, but two seconds is more than enough. Most flossers come with a selection of jet tips that each have a specific cleaning function.
Remove water — We've come full circle, and at this point you just need to turn off the device, remove the nozzle, and drain the remaining water from the reservoir. Don't skip this step — leaving water in your reservoir can result in bacterial growth.
Cleaning — This whole process is about improving your oral hygiene, so it would kind of defeat the point to not clean your water flosser’s reservoir after every session.
Follow these steps and your dentist is going to ask you for tips.
What is the best water flosser?
We've covered the benefits of flossing, whether water flossers work, and how to use a water flosser, and now there is only one thing left to cover. There are plenty of water flossers on offer from top personal care brands, but which model is the best?
We have checked out everything out there from top brands like Oral-B, Panasonic, and Waterpik, and highlighted a selection of your best options. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list — for experienced and newbie flossers.
These are the best water flossers in 2024.
