Your mouth is home to billions of bacteria. Some estimates put that at 20,000,000. My patients are constantly reminded by me, a dentist, of the importance of brushing their teeth. But it is safe to say that this number speaks for itself.
The water flosser is one of the newest trends in oral hygiene. Water flossers have existed for many years. In fact, the first “oral irrigation” was invented in 1962. As technology has improved, water flossers have become more attractive. Are they really that amazing?
The short answer to this question is no. Water flossers are basically devices that can shoot water jets. Although they are advertised as an alternative to cleaning the teeth, their effectiveness in cleaning the teeth is questionable.
They don’t work.
The University of Michigan did a study in 2010 where they created bacterial biofilms in laboratory conditions. A biofilm is a layer of bacteria which accumulates within your body. Plaque is an example of dental biofilm.
Researchers wanted to determine what happens to biofilm after it is exposed to water flosser jets. They measured the force (or water pressure) required by a water flosser in order to disrupt, disorganise or eliminate the biofilm from the sample under controlled conditions.
Periodontists are responsible for removing bacterial biofilm from the teeth. You don’t have to get rid of it all. Effective disruption can suffice to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
The study found that water pressure required to disrupt biofilm would cause severe, intolerable pain. This means that water flossers are not strong enough to disorganise biofilm effectively for long-term, lasting benefits.
What can we do instead?
A toothbrush is the best way to prevent gum disease from developing around dental implants. You may be surprised to find out that many people, including myself before I started my career, don’t know how to properly use a toothbrush. It’s simple enough: Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards the gumline and use small circular movements to brush.
Manual toothbrushes are great if you use them correctly and don’t cause damage to your enamel or gums. Brushing for less than 2 minutes per day can lead to serious health problems. There is a lot of evidence. I spend a lot time thinking about my teeth and I will be the first to admit that I still have trouble with it sometimes.
You can hold yourself accountable by using an electric toothbrush with a timer such as the OralB.
For an even better oral hygiene, I recommend that you use cylindrical TePe toothbrushes. These brushes are better than the ones with tapered edges because they clean both sides of your teeth. You might think that your teeth aren’t large enough to take interdental brush.
There are many sizes of interdental brush, so it is important to use them properly. Most people can clean their teeth easily with a little education. London Dental Specialists teaches patients how to properly insert the toothbrush. You should feel some resistance as you insert the brush. If you have to force the brush into place, you can choose a smaller size and then move the entire length of the toothbrush back and forth a few times. This will help you prevent plaque buildup and get rid of any food stuck between your teeth.
Is it really so important to brush your teeth well?
When I talk with patients, the analogy I use is that your teeth are likened to the tiles in your bathroom. Let me explain. After cleaning out your bathroom tiles, you can check their cleanliness by performing the “squeak test”. If the tile squeaks when you move your finger, it means that your bathroom is clean and tidy. This means that you have successfully destroyed the bacterial community.
It is obvious that you cannot achieve the same result if the tile was simply sprayed with cleaner 1 week later. It is necessary to scrub the tile with a sponge. This requires some elbow grease. Brushing your teeth is the same. This is another reason water flossers don’t work. They are like spraying cleaner on the tiles and hoping it works.
Simple is the best
My motto after 17 years working in the dental industry is simple: simplicity is the best.
All my patients know that I only recommend the products I personally use. It is important to keep things simple when it comes down to your oral health. It can be scary to believe that there is too much fear surrounding dental hygiene tools.
Your mouth is actually designed to clean itself. Your smile will look beautiful and healthy as long as your teeth are clean and you brush properly every day for at least 2 minutes.
Please complete the form below to learn more about maintaining and creating a healthy smile. Our multidisciplinary team can help you with any issues. We also have the technical expertise and most importantly, a smile. Book a complimentary virtual consultation online.
Get In Touch
If you have any symptoms of gum disease or would like more information, give us a call at London Dental Specialists on 0207 589 7792.