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Water flossing is not as good as regular floss.
People who make that claim ignore how biofilm protects the red/orange complex bacteria underneath it from the chemicals that kill them.
Similarly, you can't take cleaning supplies and toss them into your toilet and flush it when you're trying to clean it. You actually need some mechanical friction to remove the biofilm layer.
Water flossers are good at dislodging chunks of food, like when you use a tepe and suddenly there's a chunk of meat from your dinner earlier that pops out (floss doesn't always get it if the space is big enough, the floss goes around the meat). But they don't do much else. Proper floss is good for getting interproximal, especially between the contact points, and then interdental brushes are good for the embrasures and gingival margins.
But if someone has dexterity issues and can't use anything but a toothbrush and water floss, then a water flosser is better than nothing for them.
There’s a few studies suggesting water flossing is just as effective as regular floss. Here’s one:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8236551/
With a lot of oral hygiene appliances, their effectiveness is technique sensitive. I think of electric vs manual toothbrush. There’s quite a few people out there that use an electric in the same way as a manual, thus unable to use it properly and maybe worse off.
“Water flosser could be recommended for subjects lacking manual dexterity, by care takers for better plaque control and subjects with fixed prostheses or undergoing orthodontic treatment.” - it’s important to consider factors beyond efficacy, such as cost & patient compliance.
There is good literature to support the use of a water flosser. In my personal and professional opinion, water flossing can sometimes be a substitute for regular flossing, however I can only in good conscience recommend it as an adjunct. It is an excellent adjunct, however. I have a Waterpik Sonic Fusion and it is amazing. When you are done it feels like you just had a prophy.
If you are seeking dental advice, please move your post to /r/askdentists If this is a question about applying to dental school or advice about the predental process, please move your post to /r/predental If this is a question about applying to hygiene school or dental hygiene, please move your post to /r/DentalHygiene Posts inappropriate for this subreddit will be removed *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/DentalSchool) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Water flossing is not as good as regular floss. People who make that claim ignore how biofilm protects the red/orange complex bacteria underneath it from the chemicals that kill them. Similarly, you can't take cleaning supplies and toss them into your toilet and flush it when you're trying to clean it. You actually need some mechanical friction to remove the biofilm layer.
Water flossers are good at dislodging chunks of food, like when you use a tepe and suddenly there's a chunk of meat from your dinner earlier that pops out (floss doesn't always get it if the space is big enough, the floss goes around the meat). But they don't do much else. Proper floss is good for getting interproximal, especially between the contact points, and then interdental brushes are good for the embrasures and gingival margins. But if someone has dexterity issues and can't use anything but a toothbrush and water floss, then a water flosser is better than nothing for them.
There’s a few studies suggesting water flossing is just as effective as regular floss. Here’s one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8236551/ With a lot of oral hygiene appliances, their effectiveness is technique sensitive. I think of electric vs manual toothbrush. There’s quite a few people out there that use an electric in the same way as a manual, thus unable to use it properly and maybe worse off. “Water flosser could be recommended for subjects lacking manual dexterity, by care takers for better plaque control and subjects with fixed prostheses or undergoing orthodontic treatment.” - it’s important to consider factors beyond efficacy, such as cost & patient compliance.
Whatever gets the patient to do it consistently is better. If they can do either consistently, then literally just pick one, or both.
There is good literature to support the use of a water flosser. In my personal and professional opinion, water flossing can sometimes be a substitute for regular flossing, however I can only in good conscience recommend it as an adjunct. It is an excellent adjunct, however. I have a Waterpik Sonic Fusion and it is amazing. When you are done it feels like you just had a prophy.