If there’s one thing we could all do more of, it’s floss. In fact, just mentioning flossing probably makes you immediately recall your last dental visit and the “don’t forget to floss” speech! With flossing being so important, you’d think there would only be one way to do it. But there are two different camps: string flossing and water flossing. So which is which flossing method is better for your teeth?
WATER FLOSSING CAN REMOVE MORE FOOD AND BUILDUP THAN STRING FLOSSING, MAKING IT A MORE EFFECTIVE FLOSSING METHOD.
MedicalNewsToday.com cites a study published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry that compared the efficacy of a water flosser to string floss used in combination with a manual toothbrush. The researchers found that the group who used the Waterpik had a 74.4 percent reduction in plaque as compared to a 57.7 percent reduction in the group who used the string floss.
WHEN IT COMES TO FLOSSING, THOUGH, ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL.
Bottom line: if you find string flossing too cumbersome or uncomfortable, try water flossing! If you’re going for a cheaper, less high-maintenance flossing routine, stick with string flossers. Water flossers are more effective and easier to use. However, they’re also more expensive, require more maintenance, and take up more space than string flossers do. Statistics aside, you should use whatever flossing method you find easiest to use. Because the easier it is to floss, the more often you will do it!