Can a Water Flosser Damage Gums?

Patients who are used to brushing and those that floss daily with conventional floss may be wondering about the benefits of water flossing or worrying about the shortcomings of water flossers. Will it irritate gums? Those that struggle with occasional bleeding gums may be hesitant to try out water flossers because they believe that the strong stream of water generated by these devices will damage their gums further.

Floss daily with string flossers can be a hassle, which is why water flosser cordless advanced water flossers are a great option as either a substitute or a supplement to traditional flossing devices. But those concerned about water flossers damaging their gums after use can rest easy. Water flossers will not damage gums, they actually carry a lot of benefits.

Who Benefits from Water Flossers

Before explaining how water flossers treat gums, it’s important to clarify exactly what the purpose of a water flosser is. These devices are either powered by a rechargeable battery or by small AA or AAA batteries and operate by shooting water streams, at various strengths and intervals, between teeth in order to break up and remove plaque from teeth and any food particles remaining from earlier meals.

The water, much like traditional floss, reaches parts of teeth that a toothbrush’s bristles simply cannot get to or cannot scrub sufficiently. The users select the water spray intensity that is sufficient for their comfort levels.

But is water flossing effective? Absolutely! There is some debate on whether it surpasses the efficacy of conventional string or ribbon flossers, but it is without a doubt a very effective flossing method. Dentists particularly recommend this method to patients who may struggle with regular floss for various reasons.

Such people include those who do not enjoy the sensation of putting their hands in their mouth to get to all the nooks and crannies between teeth. Those who find flossing to be a hassle and therefore do not do so regularly, could get into the much simpler habit of using a best water flosser. Some people struggle with floss because they have braces, bridges, crowns, veneers, or other dental equipment in their mouth which may cause the floss to get caught, stuck, or dislodge something out of place.

People who have crooked or overlapping teeth also struggle to floss between them, but a water flosser can blast the water into any opening, allowing for even the more complex dental situations to enjoy a nice and thorough dental cleaning and maintenance. An oral irrigator solution could efficiently solve your difficulties with the string floss.

Older patients who may have aches and pains, some spawned from arthritis also benefit from water flossers since they do not need to struggle to move their limbs and joints around to get at their teeth from every angle.

Can a Water Flosser Irritate Gums?

Those who struggle with bleeding or sensitive gums may be apprehensive about using an oral care water flosser, but the fact is that not only do water flossers not damage gums, but they also actually promote healthier ones. Those who bleed when using traditional flossing with a string or ribbon floss will find that the water does not exert as much pressure on the gums as floss, so the bleeding from the gums actually lessens.

Manufacturers of various water flosser products provide recommendations of use for their products depending on the users’ situations. For instance, those with sensitive gums should set the water pressure to its lowest intensity and angle the water dispenser of the flosser at particular angles to minimize contact with the gumline. Choose a water flosser for sensitive gums, which must be equipped with several pressure modes and multiple replaceable tips.

Of course, those who already experience sensitivity and bleeding with regular floss might experience a bit as their gums acclimate to the water flossers too, but as the user adjusts to the flossing method, the bleeding should lessen significantly. Those areas of the mouth which may have sustained some type of oral injury should, of course, be avoided.

A Gentler Form of Flossing

Some initial gum bleeding notwithstanding, water flossing is far less damaging to both teeth and gums than traditional floss. The one thing that conventional floss does have over the water floss is the fact that it can be used to thoroughly scrub the sides of teeth.

The water flosser can also effectively clean these areas, but the user needs to be angled and pointed in pretty strategic ways, and it won’t do it quite as effectively. The best water flosser for teeth is less abrasive in this regard, however.

In terms of convenience, it is hard to go wrong with a water flosser. Floss for tight teeth can be difficult to maneuver with string floss and can result in floss getting stuck, giving the user a challenge in removing it. A water flosser will have no such problems. It will shoot the water directed and blast away the plaque.

When string floss gets right up to the gumline it is actually more likely to nick at the soft tissue as the flosser tries to remove plaque from the gum line. A water flosser will simply dispense water into the area and while it will blast the plaque off the teeth, it will not cut into the gum if used on a low enough pressure setting. As for people getting braces, it’s necessary for them to choose the best water flosser for braces, which does not depend on a high price, but more user-friendly designs.

Some people like to use the pulse setting as it sends short water bursts into an area, chipping away at the bacteria and food particles on the teeth. This allows the flosser to quickly maneuver the flosser to the next space between teeth in between the pulses.

Keep It Clean

Much like you would not save floss you have used before, it is important to rinse the water flosser water flosser tips. These detach so that multiple household members can use it, or an individual can swap the tip when it gets too worn out. Some water flossers actually have different types of tips meant for differently shaped teeth

Should you floss every day? Definitely, and the experience does not need to be a frustrating or a painful one. By using a water flosser, you can remove nearly as much gunk off your teeth as standard floss, but with less effort, maneuvering, and pain, regardless of dental appliances in your mouth or the shape of your jaw. Water flossers are a great solution that will not only not damage gums but will help them be healthier and get great oral hygiene care.

Cited from https://binicare.com/blogs/binicare-blog.