We recently asked a number of dentists about whether or not most people should incorporate a water flosser into their oral hygiene routine.
A follow-up question that frequently comes up is whether or not these devices eliminate the need for traditional floss altogether. Here’s what the dentists had to say:
“If you brush thoroughly and floss thoroughly and STILL want to do more, a Waterpik or air flosser might make sense. I do not routinely suggest a Waterpik due to its limited usefulness.”
Jerome L. Faist, DDS – Beachwood, OH
“There is nothing wrong with using these products, but since they cannot remove the plaque film that causes nearly all dental disease, you absolutely need to floss and brush. Just to be clear, for an irrigator to remove plaque film it would have to operate at a pressure somewhat akin to a car wash sprayer, which you would definitely NOT want to point at your mouth.”
Richard E. Nichols, DDS – Littleton, CO
“For a response to this particular question I deferred to my hygiene team in order for them to share their professional knowledge and experience.
Yes, you need to floss even when incorporating a water flosser into your daily oral care regimen. A water flosser does not replace brushing or flossing your teeth. Effective flossing with the correct technique wipes away sticky plaque above and below the gumline. The water flosser is an aid, along with brushing and flossing, to help remove food debris that remains in hard to reach areas.
Incorporate a water flosser once a day, on the lowest setting, before brushing. All patients benefit from water flossers. It can be used for children (with supervision), patients with implants, bridges, orthodontics, and anyone who wants to maintain their oral health and overall health.”
Timothy P. Sulken, DDS and hygiene team – Fostoria, OH
“Despite its benefits, we recommend a Waterpik as a supplement to traditional flossing, not a replacement. Traditional floss tends to clean tight contacts between teeth better than a water flosser, and, so, is still an essential part of a complete home care routine. We recommend flossing, water flossing, brushing, and rinsing as a regular routine.”
Steve A. Sato, DDS and hygiene team – Dayton, OH
“Flossing still needs to be done if you use a Waterpik. Flossing helps remove the larger particles between the teeth and should be done prior to using the Waterpik.”
Robert A. Morabito, DDS – Falls Church, VA
“Yes. Keep in mind that water flossers are only an adjunct to brushing and flossing. If you only use water flossers and don’t floss you can still get cavities in between your teeth. You need to break the contact between your teeth with floss. I recommend hand flossing first to get the food debris out, then brushing to remove stain and plaque and then water flossing to finish the clean. Substitute Listerine for water to kill bacteria and your smile will love you for it!”
Daniel Florian, DMD – North Royalton, OH
If you’ve been considering trying out a water flosser, we hope the information provided by these dentists and their teams proves useful.
To learn more about these dentists, read what their patients have to say by clicking on their name.
If you don’t currently have a dentist and don’t live near one of the dentists we interviewed, you can click the “Find a Dentist Near Me” to read about dentists in your city.