Does anyone use a water flosser?

[jens1]

I am getting my braces put on May 15th. I am wondering if anyone uses a water flosser. I currently use one and the dentist says I have good oral hygiene. Matter of fact, I rarely use regular floss anymore. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Jennifer

[Missers73]

I just use floss. Had an adjustment yesterday and my ortho said I have excellent hygiene. A lot of people use water flossers though. Personal preference.

[Kezza]

I get my braces on 3 weeks today (Did I mention that already?!) I'm going to invest in the Waterpik (the smaller one) and travel case...found reasonably priced ones on Amazon.

[katsface]

Yes. Lots of us use Water Pik oral irrigators. They're not really a substitute for actual floss (you should still use real floss at least once a day), but are really great for getting out stuff that your toothbrush misses, especially if you have extra appliances like palatal expanders etc. There's a lot of discussion about them in the Dental Do Dads section of the forum.

[rhibee83]

I bought a waterpik (I dont have my braces on yet, (on next week)) but i do have an appliance (upper lingual arch and nance, and molar bands) and it is awesome for cleaning in between that and I couldn't live without it

Yes, I also floss and use the waterpik, mouth has never felt so clean and fresh! hehe

[beckyboo0205]

Yep I have a WaterPik. I use it like 3 or 4 times a day, and it's GREAT to get the stuff out of your braces. I floss once a day though with real floss.

[isthistaken]

I got the Waterpik Ultra. I really like it and its easier to use than I thought it would be. I'm all thumbs and it is really a cinch.

[rhibee83]

I have the waterpik Ultra too also, does anyone know if you can get like a mini waterpik to take to work etc? I dont want to lug my big one with me but would be handy to have one at work!

thanks

[fosterp]

Conventional wisdom says it can't replace regular flossing. However I (and other people from what I've read) have used waterpiks exclusively without floss and maintained excellent oral hygiene according to the dentist. Anecdotal evidence aside, I would assume if you go for one teeth cleaning period using just a waterpik and your dentist approves of the state of your oral hygiene - then it is ok.

I wouldn't think it works if you have current perio problems though.

[isthistaken]

An employee at my ortho told me she never flossed, just used the WP. haha

[djspeece]

I use a waterpik, and then one of those small in-between the teeth brushes that I dip in the purple Listerine -- which my hygeinist recommended. She asked me about my flossing routine when I first started at the practice, and at the time it was just the waterpik. She was about to launch into her "flossing lecture" but caught herself and said that whatever I was doing was really working, but suggested the brush to physically disrupt congealing plaque. So I added it to the routine. As this routine grows I expect one day to end up spending an entire day on mouth maintenance. Sick.
Dan

[Corrinne]

I use a waterflosser. I still use floss though. But I find the waterfloss gets out some nasty little bits that normal floss and brushing doesn't. My dentist said that my gum health has improved since I started using it too.

I would highly recommend a Pan*^*nic one. My battery life lasts for ages - over a week even used twice a day. I tried the original Waterpik but thought it was rubbish compared to the one I use now.
If you are interested you can see the exact one I use on my blog (link below).

[Chicken]

I use a water flosser after meals and brush teeth. It is the water pik ultra. I use floss, water pik, brush and mouth wash at bedtime. I also use a SPAMTRONIC SPAMSONIC SPAMONAIDE SPAMSTER SPAM SPAMINATOR portable water flosser for travel. I started using the waterpik about a month before I had my braces. It is great you get to keep the smooth clean feeling behind your teeth that you get after a cleaning.

[Chicken]

[quote="Chicken"]I use a water flosser after meals and brush teeth. It is the water pik ultra. I use floss, water pik, brush and mouth wash at bedtime. I also use a SPAMTRONIC SPAMSONIC SPAMONAIDE SPAMSTER SPAM SPAMINATOR portable water flosser for travel. I started using the waterpik about a month before I had my braces. It is great you get to keep the smooth clean feeling behind your teeth that you get after a cleaning.[/quote]

Lol well as you can see I am brand new! That would be a p@n@s0nik :-D