{"id":3800,"date":"2020-04-07T09:18:02","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T09:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.princeviewdental.com\/?p=3800"},"modified":"2023-09-01T08:20:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:20:44","slug":"waterpik-vs-flossing-which-is-better-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1stonthelist.website\/temp\/blog\/waterpik-vs-flossing-which-is-better-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterpik vs. Flossing: Which Is Better for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dental<\/a>When it comes to oral care, we all know the benefits of twice-a-day brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Doing this regularly removes food particles and plaque from the surfaces of your teeth, helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Not to mention that even more serious conditions like heart disease have been linked to a build-up of oral bacteria.<\/p>\n

But are you clear on whether you should be using a Waterpik or flossing? To give you a better idea of what might be best for your home oral hygiene routine, here\u2019s a breakdown of the two methods.<\/p>\n

Flossing<\/h2>\n

Flossing aims to remove the plaque and food debris from in between the teeth and just below the gumline, where the toothbrush can\u2019t reach. You need to reach these areas to avoid cavities, tooth decay and gum disease; brushing alone doesn\u2019t suffice.<\/p>\n

Floss, once made from silk, now consists of nylon filaments or plastic monofilaments. Wrapping the floss string around your fingers, you pass it in between each of your teeth, scraping the particles away from the sides of the teeth and from under the gumline.<\/p>\n

If you have trouble sliding it in between your teeth, you can get floss in waxed form. You can also get flavoured floss (e.g. mint), though it has no health benefit. But if it encourages you to floss more often, go for it!<\/p>\n

When to Floss<\/h2>\n

According to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), flossing is an essential part of oral care. They recommend you floss at least once a day.<\/p>\n

When<\/i><\/em> you do it really depends on your personal routine and preference.<\/p>\n

You can incorporate flossing into your morning and evening brushing routines, if you wish. Or floss after lunch at the office and before bed at home. Really, whatever time jives best with your personal schedule is optimum, as that means you\u2019ll do it consistently.<\/p>\n

Now, how about before or after brushing\u2026does it matter?<\/p>\n

Some feel it\u2019s more effective to floss immediately after they brush, as brushing first removes the biggest areas of plaque and also allows toothpaste to get into the spaces between the teeth.<\/p>\n

However, a 2018 study<\/u><\/a> in the Journal of Periodontology<\/i><\/em> showed it may actually be better to floss first, then brush, as the debris loosened by flossing can be worked on further by brushing after. The study showed that this order of things led to a greater reduction in plaque.<\/p>\n

However, the CDA stresses that the most important factor is just the act of flossing. As long as you\u2019re flossing and brushing your teeth at least once a day, you\u2019re benefiting your oral health greatly.<\/p>\n

Pros of Flossing<\/h2>\n

Flossing is essential to good oral care and highly beneficial to your overall health. When comparing it to the Waterpik method, it has a few pros:<\/p>\n