Why Water Flossers Are Ideal For Cleaning Dental Implants

Flossing is an important part of dental hygiene because it removes plaque and food debris from between teeth. However, flossing around dental implants can be difficult. Using traditional floss can also harm dental work such as dental implants, crowns, and bridges. A simple and efficient alternative to typical dental floss is water flossing.

What is a water flosser?

A water flosser is a handheld device that uses a pump to generate enough pressure to pump water from a reservoir through a tip to clean between teeth. Using lukewarm water, you can lean over your sink to prevent splashing, and then spray between your teeth with short pulses.

Water flossers are ideal for cleaning dental implants for various reasons.

They can clean hard-to-reach places

Cleaning around dental implants can sometimes be difficult with traditional floss. Because some dental implants are placed at an angle for aesthetic and functional reasons, you may struggle to clean your implants thoroughly.

With a water flosser, you simply aim and the water flosser does the work for you. Since poor oral hygiene is one of the main reasons for implant failure, cleaning your dental implants thoroughly is important.

They can clean the periodontal pockets

Traditional floss can't clean the periodontal pockets around teeth very effectively. With a water flosser, you can aim the jet of water along the gum line to remove bacteria and food debris from the periodontal pockets. It's especially important to clean your periodontal pockets if you have recently recovered from gum disease.

When using a water flosser to clean the periodontal pockets, use only gentle pressure. And ensure that you clean along the pockets at a 45-degree angle. Don't aim the tip directly down into each periodontal pocket.

They won't damage your dental implants

Flossing around dental implants carries some risks. This is because you could damage your dental implants if you use the wrong flossing technique. However, there is little risk of you damaging your dental implants when flossing with a water flosser. You can adjust the water pressure of a water flosser to ensure you floss gently between your implants.

They are simple and fast to use

Some people avoid flossing simply because it can be difficult and tedious. Using a water flosser is simple and fast. And you don't have to worry about extracting the floss from between your implants after every oral hygiene session.

If you have dental implants, and you want to keep them as clean as possible, consider using a water flosser to clean between your dental implants. Water flossers are safe, effective, and easy to use.