tried one a couple years back, ended up with water all over my bathroom and half-choking myself.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I had the opposite experience with water flossers. At first, yeah, total mess—felt like I was pressure-washing my tonsils. But after a week or two it started feeling way more effective than string floss for me. Guess it’s one of those “your mileage may vary” things...
At first, yeah, total mess—felt like I was pressure-washing my tonsils. But after a week or two it started feeling way more effective than string floss for me.
Couldn’t help but laugh at the “pressure-washing my tonsils” bit—pretty accurate the first time you try one of those. I remember my first attempt with a water flosser: didn’t realize you’re supposed to close your lips around the tip, so I basically hosed down my shirt and half the mirror. It’s definitely not the most intuitive gadget right out of the box.
But once you get past that initial chaos, they can actually be a game-changer, especially for folks who smoke or have a lot of buildup. I see a lot of patients who struggle with string floss because of tight contacts or sensitive gums, and for them, water flossers end up being less painful and more effective at getting rid of that stubborn film smokers get.
That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people swear by water flossers, others can’t stand them. I still use string floss most nights, but on days when I’ve had too much coffee (or garlic), the water flosser just feels fresher. Plus, if you’re dealing with morning breath as a smoker, anything that helps cut down on bacteria between teeth is worth a shot.
One thing I’d suggest if you’re considering giving it another go—start with the lowest pressure setting and keep your mouth mostly closed around the tip. It’s not exactly glamorous, but it does save you from redecorating your bathroom every morning.
Funny how something as basic as cleaning your teeth can turn into an adventure...
I get where you’re coming from about water flossers, but honestly, I’ve had mixed results. For me, string floss just seems to get more gunk out—especially between tight teeth. Maybe I’m not using the water thing right, but even on the lower settings, my gums feel a bit raw after. My hygienist said technique matters more than the tool, so I’ve been focusing on being gentle and thorough with regular floss. Anyone else feel like the “clean” feeling from a water flosser fades quicker? Could just be in my head...
String floss always seemed kind of intimidating to me, honestly—I get nervous about hurting my gums or missing spots. But with water flossers, I’m not sure I trust that it’s actually cleaning enough? I tried one at my dentist’s suggestion, and it felt weirdly messy, plus I was worried I’d swallow the water or something. Is it possible the “clean” feeling is just from all the water blasting around? Or am I just paranoid about not doing it right...
Is it possible the “clean” feeling is just from all the water blasting around? Or am I just paranoid about not doing it right...
I totally get where you’re coming from—water flossers do feel a bit like you’re power washing your mouth, and then you’re left wondering if anything actually happened besides making a mess in your sink (and on your shirt, if you’re me). I was super skeptical at first, too. I’ve got braces, so string floss is basically an Olympic sport now, but the water flosser made things way less stressful for my gums. Still, that “did I just rinse or actually clean?” feeling is real.
Dentist told me as long as I aim at the gumline and take my time, it’s doing its job. But honestly, I still use string floss every so often just to double-check—old habits die hard. You’re not paranoid at all. It takes practice to not spray yourself in the eye or swallow half a cup of water, but it gets easier. And hey, if you ever invent a flosser that doesn’t soak my bathroom mirror, let me know...
