I absolutely LOVE the Waterpik Ultra. Cleaning teeth with braces can be a freakin’ nightmare, but this is certainly my favorite (and most effective) step in my new dental care routine.
Truth be told, this is Day 4 with braces and I’ve honestly been attempting to floss, but it just hurts so bad (teeth are super achy) that my attempts are half-hearted at best. The thing is, floss does not even bring up any junk between the teeth after I’ve WaterPik-ed!
I know there are lots of people out there who cry bloody murder when they hear of someone not flossing, but I have to say, the WaterPik works amazingly well for me. And after reading this, I’m more convinced than ever that I’ll be just fine:
The strongest evidence on the oral irrigator shows that it is extremely effective at reducing bleeding and gingivitis. Recent studies have demonstrated that it is superior to dental floss in reducing bleeding and as effective in reducing plaque.[2][3][4]
A study at the University of Southern California found that a 3 second treatment of pulsating water (1,200 per minute) at medium pressure (70 psi) removed 99.9% of plaque biofilm from treated areas.[5] Clinical efficacy has been shown through the medium setting and above.[5]
- From Wikipedia
The WaterPik comes with multiple attachments (mine pictured above without any), and I’ve so far been using the “Classic” and the “Orthodontic Tip”. The latter has small bristles at the end so you can use them to ‘brush’ the brackets.
Rating: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Pros: Teeth are very clean, product is very easy to use, can share with others living with you by purchasing separate tips.
Cons: VERY messy until you get the hang of it, risk of mold in handle: I hang mine upside down to let the water drip out after each use.
Summary: If there is one single product you buy to prepare you for life with braces, this is it. (Even if you don’t have braces, this makes your teeth feel REAL clean!)
This page has some good tips on using a Waterpik.
It amazes me how efficient a Water Pick session is after a meal… I marvel at what was lingering in my brackets… A whole other meal left over in the sink… especially after oatmeal or cooked spinach… Good luck finding soft foods.. scrambled eggs are a good bet, I add frozen spinach, salsa, soy crumbles, cheese. My ortho says”no sweets” the decay factor has to be dealt with at removal time!
Hi! I absolutely cannot imagine having braces without the Waterpik. Thanks for the food ideas. My new go-to food is soft-boiled egg!