Should You Waterpik Before or After Brushing? | NC Oral Surgery + Ortho (2024)

FAQs

Should You Waterpik Before or After Brushing? | NC Oral Surgery + Ortho? ›

Therefore, our recommendation is to consider using your Waterpik water flosser first before brushing your teeth. This will allow the stuck-on debris to dislodge and then you can easily brush the remaining area free of all particles.

Be sure to allow the water to empty from your mouth into the sink. The ideal time to use a Waterpik is before you brush your teeth. This is because doing so can allow you to remove food debris and plaque.

Because water flosser heads touch your mouth and stay wet, oral bacteria can grow on it. Even despite following the provided cleaning recommendations. That's not all, this study limited itself to studying only the nozzle, not the hose or water reservoir itself.

The Mayo Clinic recommends using mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth. However, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends avoiding mouthwash right after brushing, since this may wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. Instead, the NHS recommends using mouthwash at a different time of day.

So sequentially flossing, using mouthwash and then brushing your teeth is the best order to follow for maximum results. But Dr. Catrise Austin, a dentist based in New York City, said she'd rather people regularly clean their teeth in any order than skip it because they don't know which order to follow.

The rinsing action of Waterpiks may not be enough to remove plaque completely from the surface of your teeth. Some people like to use string floss first to scrape off and loosen plaque. A Waterpik can then be used to efficiently rinse out residue and plaque left behind.

While water flossers are generally considered safe for most people, there is some evidence to suggest that overuse or incorrect use can lead to gum damage. On the other hand, water flossers have been shown to improve gum health by removing plaque and reducing the risk of gum disease.

Research shows that the water flosser does not push bacteria into the periodontal pocket; in fact, the reverse is true. The water flosser removes bacteria from the pocket. Several studies have shown the reduction of bacteria from the periodontal pocket following irrigation with a water flosser.

Safe for Waterpik^TM Water Flossers

Standard or cosmetic mouthwash neutralizes odors and freshens your breath. To use standard mouthwash: Add a small amount of mouthwash to a reservoir filled with warm water (to prevent damage to the unit, do not exceed a 1:1 ratio of mouthwash to water).

In these cases, you'll find a Waterpik tremendously useful because a high pressure stream of water will get gum line areas and deep pockets cleaner, faster. For patients with deep gum pockets and spaces between their teeth, I often recommend that they use a Waterpik and dental floss, in tandem, each and every night.

What's the difference between a Waterpik and a water flosser? ›

The truth is there is no difference. A Waterpik is simply a brand of water flosser that has become so well known that the name of the company and the product itself have become synonymous.

Leaving residual toothpaste in your mouth can reduce tooth decay. Rinsing with mouthwash immediately after brushing may not be the best for your teeth, even if your mouthwash contains fluoride.

After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste. Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

Can I Swallow My Saliva After Mouthwash? No, most dentists and manufacturers recommend spitting the rinse out after use rather than swallowing it. Read the recommendations for use of your chosen rinse aid on the package.

Since flossing daily is recommended, using a WaterPik daily is also encouraged. Although you can use it in the morning, night usage is ideal. This is because typically, you'll go the longest without food or drink overnight. You've already had all your meals for the day and can end the day with perfectly clean teeth.

Don't close your mouth when you're using a water flosser. All of the water will need somewhere to go. As you're leaning over the sink, keep your mouth open so that it simply drips back down the drain. Try to look straight down into the sink instead of up toward the mirror, that way the water won't go down your chin.