Flossing is a crucial step in your oral hygiene regimen. You must complete thorough and consistent oral hygiene to remove plaque and other harmful residues from your smile. Otherwise, they will linger and erode your dental structure, increasing your risk for serious oral health problems.
You can use traditional string floss at least once a day in tandem with brushing your teeth twice per day to adhere to good oral hygiene. But you might also want to consider a water flosser to give your oral cleanliness a boost.
This device generates a stream of water that you aim into your mouth, especially between teeth, to wash away stubborn build-up. However, to achieve the maximum benefits from this tool, you want to employ it with proper technique. Read on to find tips from your dentist to get the best results when using your water flosser.
Choose the Proper Settings for Your Flosser
Your water flosser features a chamber that you fill with lukewarm water. You may want to consider adding a little mouthwash for additional oral health benefits. Then you start the device to generate the stream of water you use to clean your smile.
This tool features several tips from which the water stream comes from, and you can swap them according to your unique needs. For instance, you can use the standard flossing tip, one designed to navigate dental implants or other fixed oral appliances, or a tip that targets deep in the gum pockets.
The flosser also has a few settings that control the speed and pressure of the water stream it generates. Start with the lowest option so that you can get used to the sensation. Then adjust it as needed to suit your comfort levels.
Maneuver Your Flosser Purposefully
When using your water flosser, you want to make sure you move it with purpose throughout your mouth. This ensures you get your mouth completely clean without making a mess.
To avoid splashing water everywhere as you use this flosser, keep the tip of the device inside your lips. Use the flosser while leaning over the sink. Then as you floss, let the excess water drip from your mouth into the sink.
If you can, consider buying a wireless water flosser that you can use in the shower. This will further minimize the potential mess while flossing. However, you may want to use this device in front of a mirror so that you can see your teeth and where to aim the tip of the flosser.
Begin with the back of the mouth and work your way forward. Make sure to aim the stream of water between each of the teeth and at the gumline for a thorough clean. Do not forget to complete the rest of your oral hygiene regimen too to get the best preventative dental care. Ask your dentist for more about water flossers and oral hygiene.