You know what\u2019s a frustrating feeling? Having something stuck between your teeth. You chomp into that apple or take a bit of that salad and you can just feel it wedging itself between your teeth. Ugh.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Clinic<\/a> is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy<\/p>\n

But what about all the stuff that gets stuck in your teeth that you can\u2019t feel or see? If it\u2019s not cleared away when you brush and floss, it hardens into dental plaque, a sticky film that can lead to all kinds of oral health concerns.<\/p>\n

Your dental health plays a huge role in your overall health, and it can even impact your mental health. So, needless to say, it\u2019s pretty important that keep your mouth clean. And a water flosser can be a great way to boost your oral hygiene habits \u2014 but it\u2019s important to know what they can and can\u2019t do.<\/p>\n

Periodontist Sasha Ross, DMD, explains why you might want to invest in a water flosser, how to use it and why you\u2019ll still need to keep using traditional floss.<\/p>\n

What are water flossers and what do they do?<\/p>\n

Water flossers, sometimes known as oral irrigators or dental water jets, are handheld tools that shoot a stream of water at your teeth and gums. This removes extra plaque and food particles that brushing and flossing have missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times, when you use a water flosser, you\u2019ll see chunks of food coming out, even after you\u2019ve brushed and flossed,\u201d Dr. Ross says.<\/p>\n

Do water flossers work better than dental floss?<\/p>\n

Record scratch, back it up! That\u2019s the wrong question to ask. \u201cWater flossers aren\u2019t a substitute for string floss,\u201d Dr. Ross states, \u201cbut they can be used in addition to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That means that if you choose to use a water flosser, it shouldn\u2019t be a replacement for traditional floss. Why? Because flossing with string can reach all surfaces of your teeth, including between the teeth and below your gum line, where water flossers can\u2019t always get to.<\/p>\n

The American Dental Association (ADA<\/a>) recommends flossing with string at least once a day to help remove plaque and prevent gum disease and tooth decay. But you can think of a water flosser as a bonus for your mouth.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe people who can benefit most from adding a water flosser to their routine are those who have dental implants, bridges in their teeth or a lot of gaps between their teeth,\u201d Dr. Ross notes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You know what\u2019s a frustrating feeling? Having something stuck between your teeth. You chomp into that apple or take a bit of that salad and you can just feel it wedging itself between your teeth. Ugh. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[260,235,233,261,268,91,61,264,240,245,72,237,244,242,243,101,122,239,263,246,241,269,226,80,254,251,234,114,255,267,258,116,102,93,249,248,250,262,259,252,129,253,257,266,232,236,256,145,247,265,238],"class_list":["post-8482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oral-health","tag-amalgam","tag-braces","tag-cavity","tag-ceramic","tag-clearcorrect","tag-cosmetic-dentistry","tag-dental","tag-dental-anxiety","tag-dental-assistant","tag-dental-bridge","tag-dental-care","tag-dental-clinic","tag-dental-crown","tag-dental-equipment","tag-dental-examination","tag-dental-health","tag-dental-implants","tag-dental-insurance","tag-dental-phobia","tag-dental-restoration","tag-dental-surgery","tag-dental-technology","tag-dentures","tag-digital-dentistry","tag-emergency-dentistry","tag-endodontics","tag-filling","tag-gum-disease","tag-implant-dentistry","tag-invisalign","tag-laser-dentistry","tag-oral-cancer","tag-oral-hygiene","tag-oral-surgery","tag-orthodontics","tag-pediatric-dentistry","tag-periodontics","tag-porcelain","tag-preventive-dentistry","tag-prosthodontics","tag-root-canal","tag-sedation-dentistry","tag-sleep-apnea","tag-smile-makeover","tag-teeth","tag-teeth-whitening","tag-tmj","tag-tooth-decay","tag-tooth-extraction","tag-veneers","tag-wisdom-teeth"],"yoast_head":"\n