What Is Water Flossing — And Why You Should Try It
We tried water flossing two weeks, and now we’ll never look back.
Water flossing is easy and achievable
Let’s face it: We tend to get flossing wrong. We skimp on the time spent, conveniently forget the correct frequency (daily!) and all-around fail to make it a habit. In fact, according to a recent study by Statistics Canada, less than half of Canadians floss every day. And to be honest, we were among them. That’s when we embarked on the challenge to be among the 37.5% of Canadians who do floss every day. Experts may say it takes 21 to 66 days to build a new habit, but for us it took only two weeks. Here’s what happened.
Welcome to the water flossing
After scolding us for our plaque buildup and bleeding gums, our trusted dental hygienist recommended a tool that’s been on the market for decades—the Waterpik Water Flosser. He said that it’s not only easy to use, but it’s more effective than string floss. It gets into those hard-to-reach areas to knock out bits of food and plaque, helping to prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, when we did our own research at home, we discovered that it’s clinically proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas; it’s three times more effective on braces and hard-to-treat areas; it’s two times as effective on implants; and it’s up to 50 percent more effective at protective gum health – which is imperative, of course, to overall health. That’s when we had an idea…
The challenge: Fall into a new habit
Fall’s all about personal refresh, so why not build a new habit – and make a story out of it? Knowing that it takes time to build new habits, we gave ourselves time to try a whole range of water flossers – so we tried the three most popular models: The Ultra, The Cordless Plus and the Sonic Fusion, and we tried each for a week. So what did we discover?
Water flossing: The results
First and foremost, water flossing is convenient and easy! It takes less than a minute to complete, and requires no fussing with string at awkward angles and hard-to-reach places. Just aim, click and shoot. It’s easy to navigate around each tooth, and the press of a pause button gives you control whenever you need to spit. With a range of pressure settings and flossing tips, it’s customizable for your needs and comfort, too. Not to mention – it really does lend your mouth that fresh-from-the dentist feeling. It wasn’t hard to make this a habit – in fact it’s so effortless and effective that we looked forward to it. Win-win-win!
So, which one should you buy?
The Waterpik comes in a range of models for every individual’s unique needs – but all three boast the hero benefits: They remove up to 99% of plaque from treated areas; are 50% more effective in improving gum health (compared to string floss); and are 3X as effective for removing plaque around braces. Think about the savings! For all a Waterpik does to support your teeth and gums, you can save at the dentist and the specialized treatments due to poor oral care. Plus, you can find options within a range of price points, from highly customizable countertop models to smaller portable ones.
The most popular model? The Waterpik Ultra WP-100. This countertop model is the most customizable, with six flossing tips and 10 pressure settings that can remove up to whopping 99.99% of plaque from treated areas. This model has six interchangeable rotating heads, it can address the needs of multiple family members: Braces and wires? Try the Orthodontic Tip. Plaque buildup? Switch in the Plaque Seeker Tip. Choose the Pik Pocket Tip if to treat periodontal pockets and furcations (the vulnerable structures that support teeth). Want a constant flow of water while you brush? There’s a tip for that, too. It’s quiet to use, and the switch on the handle lets you control the flow of water as you go. It’s perfect for families and individuals with more specific needs and counterspace.
The perks of the portable
The Cordless Plus WP-450 model comes with its own benefits: Light, slim and ergonomic, it’s perfect for petite powder rooms – not to mention packing it for your next trip now that travel is back! It’s rechargeable – so it allows you to move freely with it in hand (thanks in part to the 45 seconds’ worth of water in its reservoir). And it’s customizable to your needs, too: It comes with four tips, two pressure settings, and a narrow handle allows for full control and rotation around the teeth. Available in both black and white, you can match it to your bathroom look!
The fantastic flossing brush
The Sonic Fusion Flossing Toothbrush takes oral care to a whole new level as the world’s first flossing toothbrush. With three functions that allow you to either floss, brush or brush and floss all at once, this revolutionary countertop tool is quiet but powerful at the press of a button. Twice as effective as both brushing and flossing, the Sonic Fusion Flossing Toothbrush will time your perfect two-minute brush with a pulsing pacer, cleaning deep between the teeth and below the gumline, improving oral health and leaving that fresh clean feeling. Plus, the value of getting two tools – an electric toothbrush and waterflosser – for the price of one is unbeatable!
Your official oral routine
So, no more fussing with string floss, no more missing those hard-to-reach pockets, no more one-size-fits-all approach. The most easy and effective way to floss is with a water flosser – and it’s an essential step in oral hygiene. Now, our oral routine is complete and professional-approved. Here it is, from start to finish: Use your Waterpik Water Flosser before you brush to get out those big bits of food – do it for one minute with warm water, and feel free to splash in some mouthwash. Follow this up with brushing with an electric toothbrush for two minutes – and you’re done. It takes just three minutes of high-powered tooth care twice a day to keep your gums, teeth and dentist happy – which could even save you money in the long run!
Will you take the challenge?
We challenge everyone to take on the water flossing challenge this fall. After all, good oral hygiene is not only key for self-confidence and making friends at school and the office (bad breath, begone), but it’s imperative to overall health too. Did you know that unhealthy gums are the gateway for diseases that affect your heart, lungs and brain? Your gums are a protective barrier from bacteria to the rest of your body, so keeping them in tip-top shape should be an a-one priority. Find them at your local Shoppers Drug Mart, Costco or Walmart – and let us know how it goes!
