Metal Mouth Message Board

I got a Waterpik about a month or so ago and I've been using it after practically every meal. Tonight, for the first time I noticed that on the box it has info about how much more effective brushing & waterpik'ing is over brushing & flossing. Well, all this time I've still been flossing even while using the Waterpik.

Is this ridiculously redundant? It didn't even occur to me that the Waterpik was supposed to be a complete replacement for old-fashioned flossing. I'm still skeptical and have no plans to abandon flossing -- my teeth have tight spaces in between and there have been times that the Waterpik missed bits of lodged food. However, there are times when I just want to go to bed and don't want to spend 10+ minutes flossing when I could just use the Waterpik for 1 minute!

suetemi: I have yet to be braced but did ask my ortho about this topic at my last visit. He said the waterpik shouldn't replace floss - what does your ortho say about it? I'm considering buying one before brace day. Is it worth the money?

LaLaDee wrote:suetemi: I have yet to be braced but did ask my ortho about this topic at my last visit. He said the waterpik shouldn't replace floss - what does your ortho say about it? I'm considering buying one before brace day. Is it worth the money?

I agree with your ortho. I was just surprised to see on the box the way they seemed to pit those things together (flossing vs. Waterpik as if to imply they're mutually exclusive).

I didn't get my Waterpik until about a month after being braced, and honestly, it was the best 50 bucks I've ever spent -- I use the thing religiously. It's so nice to not have to spend 20 minutes cleaning out everything from my braces after eating food that tends to cake itself into the wires and brackets, like sandwiches and muffins. If I had a Waterpik when I was kid, I probably would not have so many fillings and root canals now.

What is the best model? I've looked into these but there are many different models. Is there like a newest and best one?

I was extremely skeptical about the waterpik. I bought one last week and have no regrets.

The only downside side is its messy, for the first few days I was literally covered in water, its like a mobile shower unit

I now lean over into the shower unit as opposed to the basin because it does deliver a lot of over spray bouncing off ur teeth and gums.

You can counter that by closing ur mouth slightly but then u cant see what ur doing.

But overall its a great unit and with braces its a lot easier using this than a manual flosser.

One of my teeth which has a bracket on it is so far in brushing doesnt clean it nor flossing helps, i was extremely concerend until i bought the waterpik, that solved the problem.

tryinthis2 wrote:What is the best model? I've looked into these but there are many different models. Is there like a newest and best one?

I got the Waterpik Ultra. It's the perfect size for one person, I think. There's one meant for 2 people, and also the cordless, which doesn't compete with the plug-in kind.

I bought the Waterpik Ultra model WP-100. I love it! I have a RPE and it's the only way to get food unstuck from that thing. It also does a great job getting stuff out of my brackets that brushing would leave behind. That said - I still floss. My mouth has never been as clean as it has since I got my braces a month ago!

I spoke with a dental hygenist and she said that the Waterpik doesn't replace flossing, contrary to what the box says. I own a Waterpik because I have never flossed my teeth, and even if I did I can't seem to manage flossing, so the Waterpik is my newfound friend now that I have braces because it's inevitable to miss things with the toothbrush.

- Bill

I use a waterpik and wooden dental sticks for awkward stuff - can't be bothered with floss, far too awkward. It works well for me.

I use my waterpick every day but I do floss at least twice a week. I love my waterpick is so convinient, you can take it everywhere.

I know dentists recommend you still floss even if using the waterpik, but I don't. Haven't flossed since I got my braces and have had excellent reports at every 6 month check up. In fact the hygenist goes on and on about how I don't even have any plaque at all. I do however, use the waterpik several times a day. And I let the stream of warm water run between every tooth for a few seconds, at full blast.

My friend's dentist did tell her she didn't have to floss if she used the waterpik twice a day. She hasn't flossed in years and went from having 3 month "deep" cleanings, to regular 6 month cleanings with excellent reports.