Flossing vs. Water Flosser
They do slightly different jobs. The best answer for many patients is not one or the other.
What floss does well
String floss physically scrapes the flat surfaces between teeth where plaque sticks. Nothing else contacts those surfaces as directly.
What a water flosser does well
A water flosser flushes debris and bacteria from deep gum pockets, around bridges and implants, and under orthodontic wires where floss is awkward or impossible.
The realistic recommendation
If you floss daily and your gums do not bleed, keep going. If you hate flossing and skip it, a water flosser you will actually use beats floss you will not.
Using both
Patients with gum disease, implants or bridges often get the best result from floss first, then a water flosser to rinse out what was loosened.
Written by the team at Uptown Dentistry, led by Dr. Nicki Tajalli, DDS, in Uptown Houston. This article is general information, not a substitute for an exam.