if it’s a choice between skipping flossing or blasting with water, I’ll take the splash zone every time
Totally get that, especially with braces. I geeked out and actually tried using those plaque-disclosing tablets after both methods—string got more between the teeth, but the water flosser cleared out stuff from spots I didn’t even know existed. Anyone else notice their gums feel less sore with water vs string? Wondering if that’s just me or a pressure thing.
I’m with you on the sore gums thing—string floss always left my gums feeling kinda raw, especially when I was nervous and rushed it. The water one feels way gentler to me, like less pressure or something? I get anxious about doing it “right” but at least my mouth isn’t hurting after.
The water one feels way gentler to me, like less pressure or something? I get anxious about doing it “right” but at least my mouth isn’t hurting after.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to attack my gums with string floss like I was trying to win a prize, and yeah, ended up with sore, angry gums more times than I care to admit. Switched to a water flosser and it’s honestly so much less drama—no more bloodbath in the sink. That said, I still keep some string floss around for the stubborn popcorn hulls… nothing else gets those out. But for everyday cleaning, water wins for me just on comfort alone.
Honestly, I’m still figuring this out myself. My dentist said string floss is better for scraping off plaque, but I just can’t get the hang of it without feeling like I’m hurting my gums. The water flosser feels way less intimidating—no bloody gums, and I don’t dread using it. But sometimes I wonder if I’m missing stuff between my teeth. Lately, I’ve been doing both: water flosser first (so much easier on my anxiety), then string floss if anything feels stuck. Not sure if that’s overkill, but at least my mouth doesn’t hurt after.
The water flosser feels way less intimidating—no bloody gums, and I don’t dread using it.
That’s huge—comfort matters. Water flossers are great for reducing inflammation and rinsing out debris, but string floss does remove more plaque if you can use it gently. Your combo approach isn’t overkill at all. If your gums feel better, you’re on the right track.
