Water flossers

I have a water flosser but either I'm not using it correctly or it isn't much use for me. A friend loves hers and enthuses about how much cleaner her teeth are with bits in the sink after use that she couldn't get through cleaning alone. My water flosser doesn't seem to dislodge anything at all. I even experimented with it before brushing to see what it might move. Nothing! Will see if my dentist can see any noticable improvements at my next check-up.

I was advised to buy a water flosser by my hygienists some years ago. My teeth are ‘overcrowded’ so too close together to use floss effectively. The same hygienist more recently told my husband who has more conventional teeth spacing, that water flosser were a waste of money and advised flossing bows for him. Perhaps advice has changed or perhaps different mouths benefit from different methods. I like my water flosser ( I’m on the second one now) and have better gum health since using one. I use a Philips rechargeable water flosser.

Thanks so much everyone for your very useful advice and info about water flossers. I do use interdent (or internet as I always want to call them) brushes and they’re good, but not perfect. Some of my teeth are very close together (especially at the front) but I’ll give a water flosser a go. They sound like some sort of water explosion in the mouth, so I’m a bit daunted but I want to preserve my teeth if I can. Thanks again.

I get tonsil stones now and then, Muffin, I never thought of using the water pick on them. My current method is to poke at them with a cotton bud, which is a bit sick 🤢 inducing.

I have dry mouth as a medication side effect and I've begun to suffer with tonsil stones. The WaterPik was recommended for tonsil irrigation.

The blasted thing is like using a power washer in your mouth so I guess it must be brilliant at flossing. I only use it on my tonsils when I'm really in need. No gentle stream of water is it!

Tepe brushes for me !

I find the long-handled Tepe brushes much easier to use, especially for reaching teeth at the back www.boots.com/boots-expert-tepe-angled-interdental-brush-yellow-0-7mm-10219588

If you're worried about the amount of plastic thrown away, try Curaprox which sells the brushes and handles separately - but be aware that the Curaprox colours and numbers are not the same as Tepe's numbering system curaprox.co.uk/shop/interdental/interdental-brushes/cps-07-prime-start

We use a Phillips water flosser. Tried cheaper ones but they were ineffective. It is rechargeable. Lasts nearly 2 weeks before it needs recharging. We bought from Argos as it's easy to get it exchanged if there are any issues with it. Not the cheapest, but worth paying a little more for a product that does as it claims.

I use a water pic and due to
Some oral surgeries I need the special “soft tips” and use it on a low power setting.

I bought a Waterpik on the advice of my dentist but found it difficult to use. Made my gums bleed so I gave up

Muzzypops Agree! It's like electric toothbrushes, people think they are the "must have" in dental care whereas using a toothbrush properly ie circular motion does the job.

Congratulations on seeing a dentist...if only

Why don't you try the rubbery soft type interdental brushes. Very easy to use, not hard and rough like the metal ones and really get into the smallest space as well as massaging gums inbetween.

My dentist said that nothing takes the place of brushing and to use interdental brushes of different sizes to fit the gaps.

I asked my hygienist about using one, but fortunately she said my hygiene is so good that I don’t need one. I’m another fan of the silicone TePe ‘brushes’.

I have a Waterpik and don't know how I managed without it for all these years. I'm recommending it to everyone.

I’ve used this dental floss for the last 20 years or so. I get it from Amazon. It really does glide easily!

karmalady

tepe are best for properly cleaning in between teeth. Water flossers are a waste of money. It is also worth while seeing a dental hygienist for advice and instruction

That’s not what my hygienist said at all karmalady, she rated water flossers, used properly they are very effective according to her.. However, she said the most important thing you can do is to dedicate the time at least once a day to cleaning between your teeth, whatever method works for you. I’ve tried everything, and concluded that for me the most effective is the tepe silicon picks, and the string flosser on the sticks, I can’t get on with winding that round my fingers either. At the end of the day anything will work if you use it daily and are thorough.

I use a water floss. It took a bit of getting used to but great now. As others have said, use it over the sink on lowest strength and keep it in your mouth otherwise the jet will hit your eyes! My dentist and hygienist think they are great especially for implants. They are gentler for teeth than pics and floss and better for the environment. You need to clean it with Milton.

My dentist gave me full marks on my check up this week. It turns out she also uses the silicon brushes as she herself can’t manage brushes or floss. Dh also got 10/10 for his teeth, using a water flosser. The dentist pointed out that the best flosser is the one that you can use, not the one that sits on the shelf.

These are the TePe silicon things, which they call picks. www.boots.com/Boots-TePe-EasyPick-toothpicks-ML-60s-10294688P?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc-_-PLAs_HeroCompare-_--_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Toiletries&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt63Pq6TGgwMVf2VBAh0eYAJ6EAQYAiABEgJErfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sliced Bread programme has an edition about water flossers, might help you make your mind up. (26th May 2022).

I tried a water floss but did not like the messiness. I use floss and have also the wire brushes and silicon ones as back up. I think the more you use floss, the easier it gets. But there are always a couple of awkward bits with implants or bridges where water floss is the perfect tool.

I’m seriously considering a water flosser but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Saw a semi-serious suggestion to use the gizmo when in the shower for the first few times, until you’ve got the hang of it!

I have used a Water pic and the Tepe brushes for about 7 years. They are both excellent and at 77 I have not had to see the Hygienist or had any dental work done for all that time. I do visit the Dentist every 6 months and he says my regime is exactly what is needed.

Lots of teeth/gum issues in the past so have used floss, interdental brushes and water flossers for many years but I had no idea there was such a thing as a Tepe silicon brush. I waste a lot of money when the ordinary Tepe brushes get so easily bent out of shape and have to be binned.
I find the dental tape is easier to use than ordinary floss and always use hot water with the water flosser. Not convinced the water pick is very useful but anything to try to avoid more dental problems.