Summary
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.
Abstract
A review of the literature answers many questions related to the use of water flossers, the first of which was introduced in 1962. Numerous studies suggest that water flossers remove biofilm from tooth surfaces and bacteria from periodontal pockets better than string flossing and manual toothbrushing-together or alone. Clinicians should review these findings and consider recommending water flossers for appropriate patients to improve their oral health. As different irrigation or water-flossing devices now on the market 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.