WaterPiks were all the rage after their introduction in the mid 1960s, and when they became a little more affordable in the 1980s and 90s, it seemed like just about everyone bought one to try out. These days, you’re less likely to see a WaterPik or other water flossers in people’s homes, but new research indicates that oral irrigation (water flossing) may be the best way to maintain oral health for those who replace one or more missing teeth with dental implant supported restorations, which is bringing the WaterPik back in vogue. Keep reading to learn more about WaterPiks and other water flossing tools and how using a WaterPik can improve your oral health.
What is a WaterPik?
WaterPik is the brand name that introduced the oral irrigator to the public. It isn’t the only brand of in-home water flossers and oral irrigators any longer. Like regular flossing, these water flosser tools are used to gently remove bacteria and plaque between teeth and around the gum line where regular tooth brushing isn’t effective.
Some people love to floss their teeth and others do not. Unlike brushing teeth, flossing may not seem to have an immediate pay off. After you brush your teeth, your smile feels and looks cleaner, your breath is fresh, and you can instantly see the results of your efforts.
We would like our patients to use both dental floss and an oral irrigator to remove bacteria and plaque from their teeth. Soft tissue irritation sometimes occurs in people who do not floss their teeth daily. Usually, with routine, careful flossing, irritation goes away. Oral irrigation can also promote healthy gums and help you develop good oral hygiene habits. Plus, kids – who do not love flossing – find using a WaterPik to be a lot of fun. Water flossing is a great addition for many people.
Why are WaterPiks Good for Dental Implant Care?
One of the biggest concerns that lead to dental implant post failure is a condition called peri-implantitis. Essentially, this is a form of gum disease that impacts the soft tissue and supportive structures around dental implant posts. Dentists have struggled to find good oral hygiene options for patients with dental implant supported restorations, especially those with fixed bridges and dentures retained by dental implant posts. These implant supported dental prosthetics make it impossible to floss around each tooth, which allows bacteria and plaque to accumulate between the restoration and the gum line. This increases risk for peri-implantitis and dental implant failure. WaterPiks allow patients with dental implant supported replacement teeth to gently and thoroughly remove bacteria and plaque buildup between the restoration and gum line, reducing risk for oral health concerns.
Meet the McCarl Dental Group Team
At the McCarl Dental Group, our knowledgeable dentists in Millersville have years of experience partnering with patients of all ages to achieve and maintain their healthiest smiles. If you want to learn more about WaterPik or other great at-home oral hygiene products, we’d love to hear from you. Give the McCarl Dental Group team a call to find out more about great ways to keep your smile healthy and beautiful.