How to Use It
A water flosser doesn’t replace your toothbrush or traditional flossing. You still need to brush your teeth twice a day, but you can use the water flosser before or after.
Fill your water flosser’s reservoir with lukewarm water, then put the flosser tip in your mouth. Lean over the sink to avoid a mess.
Turn it on and then it’s time to clean. Hold the handle at a 90-degree angle to your teeth and spray. Water comes out in steady pulses, cleaning between your teeth.
Start at the back and work your way around your mouth. Focus on the top of your teeth, the gum line, and the spaces between each tooth. Remember to get the back of your teeth, too.
The process should take about 2 minutes. Empty any extra water from the reservoir when you’re done so bacteria doesn’t grow inside.
How It Works
Like regular flossing, water flossing helps remove food stuck between your teeth and the bacteria lingering there before it hardens into plaque. Your toothbrush can’t get into those small spaces.
Is Water Flossing as Good as Dental Floss?
Some studies find water flossers don’t remove plaque as well as traditional floss.
Don’t throw away your traditional dental floss just to try something new. Most dentists still consider regular flossing the best way to clean between your teeth. The old-fashioned stuff lets you scrape up and down the sides of your teeth to remove plaque. If it gets stuck in small spaces, try waxed floss or dental tape. Flossing might be uncomfortable at first if you’re not in the habit, but it should get easier.