Don’t like to floss? Here’s some news you’ll probably love: According to a new study in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, oral irrigators may be an easier and more effective way to clean between your teeth and along the gumline.
Also known as a water flosser, an oral irrigator helps clean your teeth and gums with a targeted stream of water – like a tiny power washer for your mouth. It blasts away food particles and breaks up biofilm (plaque) that your toothbrush may miss. And unlike a brush, it can flush out the periodontal pockets around your teeth where harmful bacteria can thrive. Those pockets are perfect pathogen hideouts, really: dark, low oxygen, and hard to reach with regular cleaning tools.
Waterpik is only the most famous brand of irrigator available, but there are other options, such as HydroFloss, the Sonicare Power Flosser, and MySmile. There are even some devices that have built-in ozone generators, such as ViaJet Ozone, so you can get antimicrobial benefits while you clean!
But back to the study.
Sixty-two people took part and were randomly assigned to either use an ultrasonic irrigator in addition to manual toothbrushing or just brush and floss over the course of 4 weeks. Each had a periodontal exam to chart their gum health at both the beginning and end of the study period.
After 4 weeks, both groups showed improvement. Their plaque scores were lower. Their gums were healthier, less inflamed. Their periodontal pockets were shallower. (Deeper pockets mean more advanced gum disease.)
But improvements were significantly greater in two key areas for those in the irrigator group. Their gingival index scores were considerably lower, and their gums bled much less upon probing.
Best of all, nearly everyone in the irrigator group said they found it easy to use – far more than those who said they found floss easy to use.
“Overall, the findings of this study indicate clear potential benefits for oral irrigation, the research team wrote.
Our study [also] revealed a high level of satisfaction with the ultrasonic irrigator device as compared to floss, with high scores regarding ease of use, being pleasant to use and gentle on the gums, reaching difficult areas and making the mouth feel fresh and clean.
While these results are limited to a fairly short period of time, longer-term studies have reached similar conclusions. One 2023 study, for instance, found significant improvements in gum health over a 12-week period, although in that case, the control group didn’t floss, only brushed. Still, a comprehensive review of the science that same year indeed found that
current literature consistently supports the efficacy of WFs [water flossers] in the management of periodontitis and is likely the most effective means of interdental care. The findings of this review collectively suggest that WFs can serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional oral hygiene practices, contributing to improved periodontal health. The gentle yet effective nature of WFs makes them particularly suitable for individuals with periodontitis, offering an alternative that enhances plaque removal and gingival inflammation management. As the field continues to explore innovative approaches to periodontal care, integrating WFs into routine oral hygiene practices holds promise for promoting better periodontal health outcomes.
That said, if you’re a regular flosser already and getting good results, keep at it. There’s not necessarily any reason to change. But if you’re one of the many who hates to floss or has a hard time doing it, investing in an oral irrigator could be a real difference-maker for you and your mouth.
