Clean your gums, help the rest of you
Keeping your upper respiratory tract microbiome (opens in a new tab) healthy matters. Using saline or HOCl in your water flosser may help keep your mouth healthier still and lower your risk of infection. Mouth-rinse studies used commercial HOCl products; tablet labels do not cover the mouth.
The benefits of water flossing (opens in a new tab) go further. Research also shows that gum disease may lead to other health issues (opens in a new tab) such as heart disease and diabetes. Clearing plaque and bacteria from your gums with a water flosser can help prevent gum disease and may lower your risk of those other problems.
The research
8 papers chosen for this practice, each with its source and summary. After them, every study in the database that mentions water flossing.
This study compared the effectiveness of a water flosser and regular floss in removing plaque after single use and found that the water flosser was as efficient as regular floss in removing interdental plaque, making it a good alternative for those who may struggle with manual dexterity or have fixed prostheses or orthodontic appliances.
Key points
- Water flosser was found to be as efficient as regular floss in removing interdental plaque on single use.
- Water flosser could be recommended for subjects lacking manual dexterity, by care takers for better plaque control and subjects with fixed prostheses or undergoing orthodontic treatment.
This study compares the efficacy of water flosser and regular floss in removing plaque after a single use, and finds that water flosser is as effective as regular floss, which could be recommended for subjects lacking manual dexterity, by care takers for better plaque control and subjects with fixed prostheses or undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Key points
- Water flosser is as efficient as regular floss in removing interdental plaque on single use.
- Water flosser could be recommended for subjects lacking manual dexterity, by care takers for better plaque control and subjects with fixed prostheses or undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Water flossing as an adjunct to toothbrushing effectively alleviates gingival inflammation and reduces oral malodor, possibly by depleting oral anaerobes and altering the oral microbiota to a more aerobic phenotype.
Key points
- Water flossing can reduce gingival inflammation and plaque buildup.
- Water flossing can alter the composition of the oral microbiota.
- Water flossing may be more effective than traditional flossing in improving gingival health.
- Periodontal disease is associated with halitosis (bad breath).
- The subgingival microbiome (bacteria below the gumline) is different in individuals with periodontitis compared to healthy individuals.
Using a water flosser in combination with a manual toothbrush is more effective in removing plaque from tooth surfaces than using a manual toothbrush and string floss alone, according to a clinical study involving 70 adult subjects.
Key points
- Water flosser is more effective than string floss in removing plaque from tooth surfaces.
- Water flosser is 29% more effective than string floss for overall plaque removal and approximal surfaces specifically.
- Water flosser is more effective in removing plaque from the marginal, lingual, and facial regions.
Five Benefits of Water Flossing: Why You Should and the Pros and Cons (opens in a new tab)
Water flossers offer an effective alternative to traditional flossing, with benefits including removing plaque, preventing periodontal disease, and cleaning between braces and bridge work.
Key points
- Water flossers are an effective tool for removing plaque from between teeth and along gum lines.
- Water flossing can help prevent periodontal disease by removing plaque from under your gum line that a toothbrush cannot reach.
- Water flossers are a great tool for cleaning between braces, bridges and other restorative dental work.
- Water flossing can remove debris from around these areas without damaging your gums or sensitive teeth.
- Water flossing not only helps to reverse early gingivitis it can help to improve your overall gum health.
Flossing with a Waterpik Water Flosser - Clinically Proven More Effective (opens in a new tab)
The Waterpik Water Flosser is an evidence-based, clinically-proven and effective alternative to traditional flossing methods for better oral health.
Key points
- Waterpik Water Flosser is more effective than string floss, air floss, and interdental brushes.
- Scientific evidence from independent and university-based research centers supports the effectiveness of Waterpik Water Flosser.
- Clinical Research Summary (PDF) with all research abstracts is available on the website.
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Relevance of the water flosser: 50 years of data (opens in a new tab)
The use of water flossers has been found to be more effective at removing biofilm and bacteria from teeth and gums than traditional flossing and manual toothbrushing, leading to potential improvements in oral health.
Key points
- Water flossers remove biofilm from tooth surfaces and bacteria from periodontal pockets better than string flossing and manual toothbrushing-together or alone.
- Clinicians should consider recommending water flossers for appropriate patients to improve their oral health.
- Different irrigation or water-flossing devices offer different features, designs, and combinations of pulsation and pressure.
- Clinicians must consider the needs of individual patients and supporting research in selecting a model that the patient will like and use, and that will provide improved oral health.
Safety of a water flosser: a literature review (opens in a new tab)
The literature review suggests that water flossers have been subject to numerous studies on their safety, efficacy, and delivery of antimicrobial agents and decades of use by the public continues to support their safety and efficacy.
Key points
- Water flossers have been subject to numerous studies on their safety, efficacy, and delivery of antimicrobial agents.
- Evidence based on such studies and decades of use by the public continues to support their safety and efficacy.
- Suggestions of possible detrimental effects on the attachment, junctional epithelium, or pocket depth have been disproved.