Not only does it save you time and a step, but it also doesn't cause bleeding like traditional flossing sometimes does and is much easier to use for people with "dexterity issues" (meaning it's hard to get the proper angle or leverage from your hands), Tozzi added. While you should still use traditional floss regularly, flossing toothbrushes are a great better-than-nothing item, and Waterpik Sonic Fusion is one of the best available, Michaela Tozzi, DMD, a general and cosmetic dentist in Las Vegas, told Insider. (She recommends using it with a hydrogen peroxide solution as well to "amplify the effectiveness.") She commended the product's battery life compared to others, and the more "effortless process" when compared to hard-to-hold string floss.įlossing toothbrushes are an ingenious category for the seriously lazy (which I count myself among): As you clean with the electric toothbrush, these special devices will also spray water between the teeth, which helps to remove stubborn food particles and harmful plaque both between the teeth and below the gum line, Caprice Marjenin, DDS, the general dentist and owner of Magnolia Dentistry on Market in Frederick, MD, told Insider. Rather than a constant stream of liquid, the product uses bursts of air and microdroplets of water, Dr. The main difference for me when using the Sonicare AirFloss Pro/Ultra compared to other water-based flossers, including the Waterpik, was a cleaner and less.
What's more, he worries the Waterpik's narrower head design and hole could push bacteria and food debris further down the sulcus (that's the space between the teeth and gum). Moreover, Salim added that in his opinion, the Sonicare AirFloss Pro/Ultra is the best electric flosser. But technology has greatly evolved in nine years, and Sonicare reports that its current model of Airfloss Pro/Ultra also removes 99.9% of the plaque in between teeth. It's worth noting that an older study out of Canada found the Waterpik Water Flosser did eliminate more plaque compared to a Sonicare AirFloss ( 99.9%). However, Joseph Salim, DMD, a cosmetic dentist in New York, told Insider the Sonicare Airfloss Pro/Ultra is actually his first choice of products for lazy flossers.Ī company-backed study says the Sonicare Airfloss Pro, which can be used with plain water or mouthwash, makes for healthier gums in just two weeks (alongside brushing, obviously). Water flossers and airflossers work by spraying water, mouthwash, air, or a combination of these between the teeth. Now, if you're considering a water flosser, chances are pretty high you're considering a Waterpik. Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and recommends health products. The products featured below can be used to completely replace flossing, even if you don't floss at all, though some dentists assert nothing is quite as good as the real (read: annoying and painful) thing. We tested a variety of plaque-banishing alternatives to narrow down which are actually effective and helpful for fairweather flossers. Luckily, there are other options to nix plaque than just the traditional string - and dentists say they work pretty darn well.
Still, some 14% of Americans said they'd rather clean a toilet than run the white string between their teeth, according to the America n Academy of Periodontology - which means we desperately need a viable alternative. Fifty-five percent of people found it too "time-consuming" in a 2017 survey conducted by Waterpik and the American Dental Association.īut if you aren't flossing once per day or more, you may face bone structure issues, periodontal disease (better known as gum disease), cavities, painful dental procedures, and even tooth loss down the line. There's plenty of reason to: It's awkward, painful, smells funny, feels funny, causes bleeding, and is difficult to do. Despite the fact that flossing is crucial to get rid of harmful plaque build-up that a toothbrush can't reach, roughly one - third of Americans lie to their dentist about how much they floss.