I get what you mean about the satisfaction of seeing stuff on the string—there’s something weirdly reassuring about it, right? But I’ve actually seen a few folks who swapped to just using a Waterpik and ended up with plaque hiding out between their teeth, even though their gums looked way healthier. I wonder if it’s one of those “both is better” situations for some people. Personally, I still use string floss a couple times a week, just in case... maybe it’s overkill, but it keeps me from worrying.
Is it weird that I kinda trust the Waterpik more just because it feels high-tech? But then, when I actually use string floss, I always see gunk on it and it’s like, proof it worked. With the Waterpik, I never really know if it’s blasting everything out or just making my gums tingle. Has anyone ever had a dentist say the Waterpik alone is enough? I keep worrying I’ll miss something and end up with cavities between my teeth.
I’m honestly not great at using string floss every day, though—I get anxious about doing it wrong or hurting my gums. But if Waterpik isn’t really getting all the plaque, am I just wasting my time? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I’d rather not end up with a surprise filling just because I picked the “easier” option. Is there an actual way to tell if you’re getting everything clean?
I totally get where you’re coming from with the Waterpik vs. floss thing. I started using a Waterpik after my dentist suggested it for my gums, and yeah, it *feels* like it should be doing more because it’s all gadgety and intense. But then, same as you, when I go back to regular floss, I see stuff come off and suddenly I’m second guessing if the Waterpik is just giving me a fancy rinse.
The only time my dentist said Waterpik alone was “okay” was for my grandma, who has arthritis and physically can’t use string floss. For everyone else, she says Waterpik is more like a bonus, not a replacement. I’m honestly not the best flosser either, mostly because my teeth are super close together and the string gets stuck or shreds sometimes. It’s stressful.
Sometimes I wonder if those plaque-disclosing tablets would help? Has anyone tried those to actually see if you’re missing spots, or is that overkill? I’d rather know if I’m actually getting everything clean, even if it means seeing some gross pink stuff on my teeth...
I tried those plaque-disclosing tablets once after a cleaning because I was convinced I was missing stuff, even with flossing. Honestly, they’re a little gross at first—my teeth looked like I ate a pink highlighter. But it was kind of eye-opening. I thought I was being super thorough, but the tablets showed all these spots along my gumline that I’d totally missed. Made me realize the Waterpik wasn’t really reaching between my tight teeth, and even flossing was hit or miss.
I get what you mean about string floss shredding. I have a couple spots where it always gets stuck and it’s so frustrating. My dentist suggested those little waxed flossers, which helped a bit, but it’s still not perfect.
For me, using the tablets every once in a while was more motivating than anything else. It’s a little embarrassing, but it actually made me less anxious about missing something, since I could see what needed work. Not sure I’d use them every day, though—maybe just after a dentist visit or if you’re feeling paranoid.
Those tablets are honestly the cheapest reality check out there. I did the same thing and it was a little embarrassing seeing all the spots I missed, especially since I thought my Waterpik was doing the job. For me, regular string floss (the flat kind, not the round stuff) actually gets into those tight spaces better than any gadget—if you can find one that doesn’t shred. The cost of those tablets is nothing compared to extra dental work down the line, so I think they’re worth keeping around just to double-check yourself every few weeks.
