Water flossing – the perfect companion to orthodontics
UncategorisedPosted by: Dental Design 2nd November 2022
Effective interdental cleaning is vital for maintaining good oral hygiene and gingival health. Whilst it is always important, there should be a particular focus in this area for people who are undergoing orthodontic treatment, as this is a time when many patients find the upkeep of interdental cleaning challenging. Fixed orthodontic appliances can make traditional interdental cleaning with string floss difficult, resulting in many patients not completing this step properly, leading to a myriad of oral health issues. iii Water flossing is a fantastic solution for these patients, as it enables them to overcome the physical barriers, such as cleaning around brackets and wires, allowing patients to keep plaque levels down and maintain their oral hygiene for the duration of their treatment.
Importance of interdental cleaning
Interdental cleaning is recommended once per day[i] to improve and maintain periodontal health. Everyone benefits from interdental cleaning, as it is associated with reduced periodontal disease measurements, less prevalence of caries, and lower risk of tooth loss.[ii]
Orthodontic patients – what are the risks?
Fixed orthodontic appliances are a fantastic solution for improving aesthetics and functionality of the teeth and are recognised for their effective results. Patients who opt for orthodontic therapy are usually committed to around two to three years of active treatment. Sustaining good interdental cleaning for this amount of time whilst undergoing orthodontic treatment can be challenging for many patients – but it is very important that they do so. If standards are allowed to slip during this time, the subsequent increase in plaque retention is likely to lead to more instances of decalcification.[iii]
It is also very common for patients with fixed orthodontic appliances to experience moderate gingivitis and oral irritations such as ulcerations and wounds caused by brackets. These can further impact oral hygiene as patients may try to avoid brushing and cleaning in those areas which are injured or painful. iii While this is understandable, avoiding thorough cleaning is counter-productive and could lead to the build-up of plaque and bacteria in these areas – worsening the issue.
Even though orthodontic appliances are physical barriers for interdental cleaning, it is vital that this is achieved regularly – and to a high standard. This is because patients undergoing orthodontic treatment are generally more at risk for gingivitis, plaque retention, caries, and decalcification than those who aren’t – even when overall oral hygiene is good. iii Therefore, you should educate your patients on the best ways to clean interdentally with orthodontic attachments so as to minimise the risk of oral health problems as much as possible.
Water flossers for improved oral health
Water flossers can be an effective solution for interdental hygiene, particularly for patients undergoing orthodontic therapy. Because interdental cleaning is so vital, and so often a challenge for orthodontic patients, it is great to be able offer an innovative solution to meet their needs. Evidence shows that the use of water flossers significantly reduces the plaque biofilm found on tooth surfaces, and reduces the subgingival pathogenic bacteria found in deep pockets. Water flossers have also been shown to reduce cases of gingivitis, gingival bleeding, the depth of periodontal pockets, inflammation, and calculus. [iv] Educating patients about the importance of interdental cleaning, including the use of water flossers, and how to integrate this properly into their oral hygiene routine is essential for maintaining their oral health.iv
Regardless of the type of toothbrush your patient chooses to use, interdental cleaning should be the area of focus for your patients with orthodontic attachments. Those who choose to use a water flosser alongside brushing can expect significantly reduced gingival bleeding and inflammation, when compared to brushing alone.[v] And similar can be said for the reduction of gingival bleeding when water flossers are compared to traditional string floss.[vi]
The ultimate interdental solution
When choosing the right water flosser to recommend to your patients look to Waterpik®. The Waterpik® Water Flosser is up to three times as effective for removing plaque around braces when compared to string floss. Adding a Waterpik® Water Flosser with the orthodontic tip to your patients’ manual toothbrushing routine will significantly improve their oral health when compared to incorporating manual flossing or brushing alone.[vii]
Water flossers are a fantastic addition to any oral hygiene routine, but particularly for your patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Water flossers are able to access and remove bacteria from the most hard-to-reach places, which string floss and brushing alone cannot.[viii] So, be sure to recommend the most appropriate solution for interdental cleaning to your patients, to help prevent oral health issues in the future.
For more information on Waterpik® products please visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik® products are available from Amazon, Costco UK, Argos, Boots, Superdrug and Tesco online and in stores across the UK and Ireland.
Join the 3,000+ dental teams who have already benefitted from a professional Waterpik® Lunch & Learn. Book your free session for 1 hour of verifiable CPD and a free Waterpik® Water Flosser – available either face to face or as a webinar – at www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/lunch-learn/.
Susan joined Waterpik as a Professional Educator over 4 years ago. She is passionate about the work she carries out for the company delivering Lunch & Learn educational sessions to dental professionals.
Susan graduated from Eastman Dental Institute School of Dental Hygiene in 1988 and now has over 30 years clinical experience working in Harley Street, specialist and orthodontic practices. Susan has a particular interest in treating periodontal patients and regularly encourages her patients to use the Waterpik water flosser to help maintain their periodontal health.
Susan lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and 9 year old son. She is a fitness fanatic and keen runner, having completed many marathons and half marathons.
[i] How Often (and When) Should You Floss? Healthline. (Accessed 27.05.22) https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-often-should-you-floss
[ii] Marchesan, J. T., et al. “Interdental cleaning is associated with decreased oral disease prevalence.” Journal of dental research 97.7 (2018): 773-778.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6728587/
[iii] Florman, Michael. “Soft-tissue maintenance during orthodontic treatment.” Continuing education course. Academy of Dental Therapeutics and Stomatology (2007).
https://dentalacademyofce.com/courses/1485/pdf/softtissuemaintenance.pdf
[iv] Lyle, Deborah M. “Use of a water flosser for interdental cleaning.” Compend Continuing Education in Dentstr 32.9 (2011).
https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/2011/12/use-of-a-water-flosser-for-interdental-cleaning
[v] Lyle, Deborah M. “Relevance of the water flosser: 50 years of data.” Compend Contin Educ Dent 33.4 (2012). https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/2012/04/relevance-of-the-water-flosser-50-years-of-data
[vi] Magnuson, Britta, et al. “Comparison of the effect of two interdental cleaning devices around implants on the reduction of bleeding: a 30-day randomized clinical trial.” Compend Contin Educ Dent 34.Spec No 8 (2013): 2-7. https://www.aegisdentalnetwork.com/cced/special-issues/2013/11/comparison-of-the-effects-of-two-interdental-cleaning-devices-around-implants-on-the-reduction-of-bleeding
[vii] Waterpik® Water Flosser: 3 Times as Effective as String Floss for Orthodontic Patients. Waterpik. (Accessed 27.05.22) https://www.waterpik.co.uk/professional-clinical-research/water-flosser-reduce-plaque-bleeding-adolescents-braces-sharma-2008
[viii] Waterpik® Water Flosser: Significantly More Effective than String Floss for Removing Plaque. Waterpik. (Accessed 27.05.22) https://www.waterpik.co.uk/professional-clinical-research/goyal-waterpik-vs-string-floss-for-plaque-removal-2013
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