When it comes to maintaining your oral health, a good dental hygiene routine is essential. Brushing and flossing regularly are key to preserving a healthy and radiant smile. However, flossing can be hard, especially when you have braces or other orthodontic devices in the way. Luckily, there are solutions such as water flossers that can help you easily clean even the hardest-to-reach places around your teeth and braces.
#1. Effective Alternative to Traditional Flossing
As important as brushing your teeth is, it’s not enough on its own to protect you from cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Regular toothbrushes cannot always reach all the tiny little nooks and crannies in your mouth, so in order to protect yourself from various oral health issues, you also need to floss between your teeth.
Many problems with teeth and gums are caused by bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria feeds on trapped food particles and forms plaque, which erodes the teeth’s enamel and leads to cavities. Plaque can also harden into tartar, cause irritation of the gums, and even lead to tooth decay.
In order to remove trapped food, plaque, and bacteria from the little spaces between your teeth, you need to floss. Despite how important this habit is, many people skip this important step in their oral hygiene routine because maneuvering floss in these tight spaces can be difficult and tedious.
Instead of traditional flossing, many people find water flossing to be easier and more convenient. Unlike regular dental floss, water flossers utilize a pulsating stream of water to get in between your teeth and effectively remove bacteria and plaque, ensuring your mouth is thoroughly cleaned.
#2. Gentle on Gums, Tough on Plaque
Another reason many people avoid flossing is because their gums are sensitive. If you don’t floss regularly, you may have gum disease, which can make your gums swell and bleed easily. Flossing can exacerbate gum pain and cause bleeding, so if you have gum issues, you may be tempted to skip flossing. However, even though it may hurt, it’s more important than ever to keep your mouth free of plaque to give your gums a chance to heal.
Instead of regular dental floss, you may want to try a water flosser. The controlled water pressure soothes gums while removing plaque, making it perfect for people with gum sensitivity.
#3. Ideal for Orthodontic Patients
If you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment and have braces, permanent retainers, or aligners, it can be extra difficult to keep your teeth clean. Especially with braces, flossing with regular dental floss is nearly impossible.
However, when you’re going through orthodontic treatment, it’s more important than ever to prevent bacteria and plaque from building up in all the little spaces of your mouth. Because braces create so many nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide, water flossers are an excellent way to keep your teeth clean and healthy. They can easily maneuver around your brackets and wires to clean both above and below the gum line and reduce your risk of cavities and tooth decay.
#4. No More Bad Breath
Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often caused by the accumulation of food particles and bacteria in the mouth. Bad breath can be embarrassing and frustrating, but with a good oral health routine, you can eliminate halitosis-causing bacteria and get your breath back to smelling nice and fresh.
In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day and using antibacterial mouthwash, consider also using a water flosser. These devices can be highly effective at combating bad breath by flushing out trapped food particles, bacteria, and plaque that have built up over time.
#5. Water Flossers Save Time
In your fast-paced, busy life, you may not always have time to spend several minutes flossing your teeth the old-fashioned way. Luckily, water flossers are quick and easy to use and can get the job done in a fraction of the time. Additionally, the varying pressure settings make it suitable for anyone to use, from children to seniors.
High-Quality Care From VIP Smiles
At VIP Smiles, we offer braces and aligners to correct crooked or misaligned teeth and get our patients’ smiles looking great. Our professional team members are highly trained and specialize in providing high-quality care to all our patients. If you’re looking for excellent orthodontic services in the Syracuse, Utah, area, look no further than VIP Smiles! Contact us to schedule an appointment today.