Have you ever wondered the difference between water picks and air picks?
Flossing is essential to a daily oral regimen, thereby creating a market for companies to develop different methods of flossing to fit everyone’s fancies. A debate remains, however, as to which method of flossing proves the most effective. Prior to choosing a method of flossing for you and your family, consider the following information, personal preferences, and your dentist’s recommendations.
Manual Flossing:
The majority of customers are most familiar with manual flossing, or the traditional way of flossing. Manual flossing involves using bound fibers tofloss the gum lines and in between teeth. Floss, sold in plastic cases, may vary in texture, material, and scent, from wax, non-wax, nylon, plastic, or silk to mint or cinnamon scented. Large oral care corporations even created dental floss wands to help floss the difficult to reach areas, creating less hassle while attempting to encourage consumers to floss more regularly. Floss picks are available in both “Y” and “F” shapes, allowing individuals to choose which shape is most beneficial to their personal needs.
Manual flossing allows patients to clean any spaces without many constraints, but manual flossing is difficult for patients who have dental bridges or currently wear braces. As the most cost-effective solution, manual flossing allows people to maintain oral health without the price of more expensive flossing devices.
Water Pick Flossing:
As an alternative to manual flossing, or in conjunction with manual flossing, companies created water picks to help people treat periodontal diseases, like gingivitis, and pockets in the gum lines. Water picks use a water reservoir and a battery powered motor to blast away plaque buildup and food debris left behind after brushing. Water picks allow people to concentrate more thoroughly on specific areas within the oral cavity, thereby targeting regions with a higher risk of periodontal diseases or infection.
Ranging in price from $30.00 to $300.00 or more, a water pick is an investment in oral hygiene costing much more than just manual floss. But conducted studies suggest that a water pick can help reverse receding gum lines within as little as two weeks. Discuss your flossing options with your dentist to see if a water pick is the right choice for you.
Air Flossing:
Similar to a water pick, an air flossing device is a handheld agent that helps to treat and reverse periodontal diseases. An air flosser uses a small reservoir to store small quantities of either water or mouthwash. Battery powered or electrically charged, the air flossing device uses compressed air and micro-water droplets to clean in between teeth and the difficult to reach areas by blasting away debris and plaque from targeted areas.
Air flossers are priced between $50.00 and $150.00 on average and are most beneficial to patients with braces. Air flossing creates a virtually mess free method of flossing, encouraging people who despise repetitive oral care to use alternatives methods to keep that bright smile dazzling.
Keep your oral hygiene pristine by brushing and flossing regularly using whichever device you prefer, but attend the dentist twice annually to help maintain the utmost oral health possible. Contact Dr. Alexander Ash at Studio Dental Care, in Studio City, to make an appointment for a routine teeth cleaning. Dr. Ash and his team of professional hygienists will help to treat every patient, offering a variety of cosmetic and general dentistry services. For flossing and oral health care advice in the Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Toluca Lake, and Burbank areas, contact Dr. Ash today!
By Alexander Ash, DDS
Dr. Ash is the founder of Studio Dental Care. He earned his Doctorate at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, followed by two General Residencies at New York-Presbyterian / Weill-Cornell Hospital and the UCLA Sepulveda VA Hospital.