Swapping string floss for a water jet - worth it?

I get what you mean about the routine feeling easier with a water flosser. I switched about a year ago after always dreading string floss, and honestly, I haven’t looked back. My dentist said it’s “good enough” if I’m actually using it every day, though he still pushed for string now and then, especially if I eat popcorn or something sticky. Personally, my teeth feel cleaner, and I notice less gunk at my next cleaning. I think the real win is just sticking with *something* that doesn’t drive me nuts to do daily.

Yeah, I’m with you - using a water flosser actually got me to floss consistently for the first time in my life. String floss always felt like a chore, especially with tight teeth. That said, I do notice if I eat something like popcorn or steak, I still need to break out the string for those stubborn bits. Do you find the water jet gets everything out, or do you ever have to double up? For me, the main thing is just not skipping days anymore… which never happened with string.

I hear you on the convenience factor - water flossers really do make it easier to stick with daily cleaning, especially for folks who struggle with string. That said, I’ve seen quite a few patients who rely solely on water jets and still end up with plaque or food particles in those tighter spots. Water flossers are great for flushing out debris and reaching under bridges or around braces, but they sometimes don’t quite get into the contact points between teeth where string can really scrape things clean.

Personally, I use both, depending on what I’ve eaten or how my teeth are feeling that day. After something like popcorn (those kernels are relentless), string floss is usually the only thing that works. I get why people prefer the water jet - it’s way less hassle - but I’d just be careful about skipping string altogether, especially if you’ve got tight contacts or a history of cavities between teeth. Consistency is key, but technique matters too.

I’ve got braces right now and honestly, the water flosser is a lifesaver for blasting out stuff that gets stuck in the wires. But I still feel like there’s gunk left sometimes, especially between my molars. Does anyone else with ortho gear find string floss just impossible though? I’ve tried those threader things and they drive me nuts. Is it really worth pushing through with string, or am I okay just sticking to water most days?

Does anyone else with ortho gear find string floss just impossible though? I’ve tried those threader things and they drive me nuts.

I totally get where you're coming from - those threaders are so fiddly, especially when you’re tired at night. I’ve had braces twice (don’t ask...), and water flossers were my go-to too. Still, my ortho kept pushing for string flossing “at least a few times a week” because apparently the water jet doesn’t always catch the sticky plaque between molars. Have you tried the superfloss stuff? It’s a bit easier than regular floss with threaders, at least for me. Curious if anyone’s dentist actually said water alone was enough?