Flossing vs. Waterpik: Which is Best for Your Teeth?

Conventional flossing and water flossing have been going at it for years now, but which of these two give your teeth a pearlier shine? You’ll find all the answers you need right here.

Flossing

Brushing may be a great way to remove plaque from the surfaces of your teeth. But it’s not great at removing food particles that get wedged between the teeth and under the gum line.

Flossing involves using a thin piece of string in which users pass between their teeth. But the string needs to be moved gently between the teeth to avoid the risk of bleeding.

Pros

• Easily available at pharmacies and general stores
• Quite affordable in that a single string reel will cost less than $5.
• It is relatively easy to learn and complete
• Portable where you can carry it anywhere around the world with you.
• Physical contact with a string allows you to scrape away both plaque and tiny food particles.

Cons

• It could take time and plenty of practice to do it properly
• It can be a bother to reach in and around your teeth while trying to control the string with your fingers and thumbs
• You can cut up and into your gum’s soft tissue and initiate bleeding if you’re not careful.
• Without being cautious, you could end up applying too much force with your floss.
• There’s a bit of a learning curve to using a string floss before you get it right.

Water Picking

Flossing with Waterpik involves a different method of flossing your teeth than with a string.

Water picking allows users to make use of a certain machine and that shoots streams of water into the mouth and gums. This method uses water pressure to massage your gums in order to push food out of your teeth instead of using a string to scrape it off.

Pros

• The water flosser’s long nozzles allow users to reach into the mouth with ease, especially the back where it’s usually hard for string flossing with hands and fingers
• The machine’s tip and handle provide better accuracy and control than a string floss
• Unlike a string, water is softer on the gum tissue and helps stimulate blood flow
• Users can control the amount of water pressure on their teeth and gums with the water flosser’s pressure settings.
• Special nozzles and tips are suitable for cleaning the mouth of users with braces and dental appliances
• The water particles and molecules generated by a water flosser can help reach tight spaces, especially under the gum line where string flossing can’t reach

Cons

• Although sold at a variety of stores, water flossers are not easy to source as string flossers
• Purchasing a water flosser is more expensive than a string floss
• It’s bigger and heavier to carry around during travels
• They take up more countertop space
• Might not remove all plaque
• You may need to lean over a sink to drain water

As you can see, both flossing and water picking have their ups and downs and involve a number of preferences, needs, and requirements between their purchase. So go with whichever you find most fulfilling.