Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing your teeth and using mouthwash.
Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing your teeth and using mouthwash. You should always strive to floss, brush, and wash at least twice a day. But even if you keep to this schedule, you might still wonder: should you rely on water or string when you floss? That’s a good question, and one we’ll try to answer.
How Do They Differ?
Your next question might have to do with how water flossing is any different from the conventional string method. Besides the distinct difference in the medium used, here are some other differences to keep in mind:
Water: Water floss is delivered through a pick-like implement. The water is a gentle but constant stream that you can use to eliminate any particulates stuck in your teeth. As we note below, some people will find water flossing easier to do than using the standard string floss.
String: String floss is the most common type you will find. It might be coated in wax, or it might not. It could also be known as dental tape. Regardless, this floss comes in a small case where you unravel a long string before snapping off how much you need to use. You then wrap the piece of string your hands and fingers. After that, you have to carefully fit the line into the gaps between your teeth and your gumline.
What Do You Need to Think About?
When deciding between water and string, you must keep a few factors in mind. What might these factors be?
- Overall cost
- How easy it is to use
- Access to electrical outlets
- How well they perform
Who Would Benefit from Water Flossing?
If you ask your dentist, chances are they’ll recommend that you use both water and string methods when you perform your daily flossing ritual. However, if your gums are more likely to bleed or hurt after you use string floss, you might want to consider relying on water floss instead.
Also, people with braces may find that using string is awkward or cumbersome. In this case, it might be less of a hassle to use water floss instead. And if you have trouble with your manual dexterity, you might want to use water as well, since string floss requires precise placement of your hands and wrists.
FLOSSING ADVICE AND MORE FROM ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CENTER
Whether you need a tooth extraction or just want to get a dental health check-up, Annapolis Dental Center has the expertise and compassion to work with you to improve your oral health and get you smiling again. We value your comfort and dental health, so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy with the services that they receive. To set up your appointment today, give us a call at (410) 571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and the whole family, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and check us out on Yelp!