There is no doubt whatever that flossing your teeth is one of the best ways of preventing the build-up of plaque and keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy. The only question that remains is the method you should use, water or traditional string flossing?
When trying to decide which method is best for you, these are some of the things you should think about:
In traditional flossing, a string of thin filaments is drawn back and forth between the teeth, scraping against them and removing plaque. Water flossing uses jets of water to wash particles of food and plaque from between the teeth. Most dentists agree that the scraping motion of the string does a far better job of removing plaque build-up than merely washing with jets of water.
The force of the water is effective in flushing out bits of food and some plaque but scraping is a better way of breaking down any build-up of plaque that has occurred during the day. So to answer the question above, experts are of the opinion that traditional flossing is the most effective way of keeping your teeth plaque-free and healthy.
Traditional string flossing, in conjunction with regular brushing, of course, is the recommended way of keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but for some people, it might not be the best method. String flossing can be problematic for people with:
In these cases, water flossing is recommendable as the alternative is no flossing at all. The same goes for people who never seem to get round to regular flossing. If you’re one of those people for whom regular flossing is just too much of a chore, try a water flosser. It might not do quite as good a job as traditional flossing but like we said, any flossing is better than none.
Just keep in mind that whichever method you use, it’s still a good idea to get your teeth cleaned by a professional every six months or so. Not only will this keep your smile a dazzling white, it’ll also give your dentist or dental hygienist the chance to spot any potential problems that are developing and deal with them before they become major issues so schedule an appointment with us today for expert cleaning and dental care in a compassionate environment.