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Have you tried a waterpik? Considering an investment there myself.

by toxik 3y ago

leviathant 3y ago
My parents had a Waterpik in the 80s - it was okay, I guess, but my go-to are Plackers, have been for years. I can get to every little nook and cranny with those things. Ultimately, whatever you're using, I think the important part is that you're doing it daily, and being thorough.
tiahura 3y ago
Got one a year ago. They seem effective, however they make a huge mess - it’s a pressure washer in your bathroom.
- criddell 3y ago
  I just had a checkup and they mentioned Water Pik and recommended a cordless model you can use in the shower.
lost_tourist 3y ago
Flossing&brushing is better than a waterpik, any dentist worth their salt will tell you that. I think it's a money grab. You don't need it.
- wccrawford 3y ago
  I've never used one for its intended purpose, but my wife has one. I recently had some food stuck in my gums behind my back tooth, and it got infected. I was able to use the waterpik to remove the food when I wasn't able to get into a dentist for a cleaning right away, and by the time I got the cleaning, between the waterpik and the anti-viral medicine the dentist prescribed, the infection was gone. Having it around saved me quite a bit of pain over a few days. But I still haven't actually used it for cleaning what it's supposed to. :D
Groxx 3y ago
I'll toss in that floss has done practically nothing for me for decades. Getting a waterpik immediately made a huge improvement in just about everything. (I can't speak to plaque because I can't really measure it myself. But dentists seem to think I'm flossing quite well now. ha.) I get so much more food junk out of my teeth with the waterpik. Floss never has and still never does remove much of it - even flossing, mouthwashing, and waiting until morning to try the waterpik consistently finds junk that isn't there if I waterpik. I still keep floss handy for getting truly wedged stuff out (it can provide much more force), but it's worthless for me otherwise. Start out with a cheap one, and start both gentle and pointed across your teeth, not into your gums. It can be much too harsh when you start out. And very clearly mouths vary a lot, so if it doesn't work, it doesn't work - hence, start cheap.
- dave7 3y ago
  > I still keep floss handy for getting truly wedged stuff out (it can provide much more force), but it's worthless for me otherwise. One thing I wish I learned earlier on in life - flossing isn't to pull out chunks of food from in between the teeth (although it can do this too) - if you're flossing correctly you're breaking up biofilms formed by bacteria at the gumline.

Have you tried a waterpik? Considering an investment there myself.

by toxik 3y ago

Have you tried a waterpik? Considering an investment there myself.

My parents had a Waterpik in the 80s - it was okay, I guess, but my go-to are Plackers, have been for years. I can get to every little nook and cranny with those things. Ultimately, whatever you're using, I think the important part is that you're doing it daily, and being thorough.

tiahura 3y ago

Got one a year ago. They seem effective, however they make a huge mess - it’s a pressure washer in your bathroom.

criddell 3y ago
I just had a checkup and they mentioned Water Pik and recommended a cordless model you can use in the shower.

lost_tourist 3y ago

Flossing&brushing is better than a waterpik, any dentist worth their salt will tell you that. I think it's a money grab. You don't need it.

wccrawford 3y ago
I've never used one for its intended purpose, but my wife has one. I recently had some food stuck in my gums behind my back tooth, and it got infected. I was able to use the waterpik to remove the food when I wasn't able to get into a dentist for a cleaning right away, and by the time I got the cleaning, between the waterpik and the anti-viral medicine the dentist prescribed, the infection was gone. Having it around saved me quite a bit of pain over a few days. But I still haven't actually used it for cleaning what it's supposed to. :D

Groxx 3y ago

I'll toss in that floss has done practically nothing for me for decades. Getting a waterpik immediately made a huge improvement in just about everything. (I can't speak to plaque because I can't really measure it myself. But dentists seem to think I'm flossing quite well now. ha.) I get so much more food junk out of my teeth with the waterpik. Floss never has and still never does remove much of it - even flossing, mouthwashing, and waiting until morning to try the waterpik consistently finds junk that isn't there if I waterpik. I still keep floss handy for getting truly wedged stuff out (it can provide much more force), but it's worthless for me otherwise. Start out with a cheap one, and start both gentle and pointed across your teeth, not into your gums. It can be much too harsh when you start out. And very clearly mouths vary a lot, so if it doesn't work, it doesn't work - hence, start cheap.

dave7 3y ago
> I still keep floss handy for getting truly wedged stuff out (it can provide much more force), but it's worthless for me otherwise. One thing I wish I learned earlier on in life - flossing isn't to pull out chunks of food from in between the teeth (although it can do this too) - if you're flossing correctly you're breaking up biofilms formed by bacteria at the gumline.