I tried one at my cousin’s house and it felt weirdly gentle compared to string floss—almost too easy. Is there any way to know for sure you’re not leaving stuff behind?
I get where you’re coming from. I switched to a water flosser when I got braces, mostly because string floss was just impossible. Honestly, it did feel like cheating at first—like, there’s no way this gentle spray is doing much, right? But my orthodontist said as long as I’m thorough and take my time, it’s actually pretty effective.
Still, I sometimes use those little interdental brushes in the front where food gets stuck, just for peace of mind. I’ve noticed if I rush with the water flosser, I miss stuff, so I go slow around each bracket and tooth. My hygienist checks for leftover plaque at cleanings and hasn’t called me out since switching.
If you’re paranoid about cavities (I am too after a couple fillings), maybe try using disclosing tablets once in a while? They show you if you missed anything after cleaning. That helped me feel more confident about what’s actually getting clean.
I’m in the same boat—after my last cleaning, my dentist suggested trying a water flosser since my gums are kinda sensitive. Here’s how I’ve been figuring out if it’s working:
First, I’ll use the water flosser at night, making sure to go slow and pause between teeth. Then, every few days, I’ll chew one of those disclosing tablets you mentioned. If there’s still pink or purple stuff around my gumline after rinsing, I know I missed a spot. It’s actually kind of eye-opening—sometimes areas I thought were totally clean still show up.
I still keep string floss around for when something’s really wedged in there (like popcorn hulls...the worst). But honestly, since switching, my gums bleed way less and feel less sore. My hygienist said as long as I’m not rushing and get under the gumline, it’s probably fine.
I do wonder if water flossers are enough for everyone though—like maybe if you have tight teeth or deep pockets, you’d need both? Still figuring it out myself.
Can totally relate to the popcorn hull struggle—those things are like tiny ninja stars for gums. Honestly, it sounds like you’re doing all the right stuff. The disclosing tablets are genius for catching those sneaky spots... I always think I’ve nailed it till I look like I bit into a marker.
I switched to a water flosser a few months back because string floss was making my gums look like a crime scene. At first, I worried it was just a fancy way to splash water around, but my gums have been way less angry since. My hygienist gave me the same advice: as long as you’re getting under the gumline and not just power-washing the front, it counts.
That said, I do keep string floss around for emergencies (corn on the cob, anyone?) and for the tight spots. For most days, though, the water flosser seems to be enough. I guess if someone’s got super tight teeth or deep pockets, string might still be needed. But for the average mouth, water jets are way less drama.
You’re not alone figuring it out—dental routines are weirdly personal. If your gums are happier and you’re passing the disclosing tablet test most days, I’d call that a win.
I switched to a water flosser a few months back because string floss was making my gums look like a crime scene.
Funny, I actually had the opposite experience. The water flosser felt nice, but my dentist said I was still missing plaque between teeth. I had to go back to string for those stubborn spots... kind of annoying, but my checkups have been better since. Maybe it just depends on the mouth?
I totally get where you’re coming from—my gums used to bleed like crazy with string floss too, but the water flosser didn’t quite do the trick for me either. I ended up using both, which sounds a little ridiculous, but it’s the only way my dentist stopped nagging me about plaque. Does anyone else find that some teeth are just impossible to get clean with water alone? I feel like my back molars are stubborn no matter what I try.
