Have you got a water flosser? Are they good?

[Mushroomwithaview]

My teeth are really really close together. I can only just work regular floss into the gaps. Would a water flosser work for me do you think?

I have a cordless waterpik one. I understand that flossing is better but some of my teeth are so crowded I really struggle to floss there. I use warm water with mouthwash and use it in the shower.

Mine doesn’t feel like it does the job of actual flossing, my teeth are close together in the bottom too and it just doesn’t get in there.

According to my dental hygienist, they are better than nothing but not as effective as interdental brushes or floss. You need the mechanical action of the brush against the surfaces to remove the debris, to get the best effect.

I used to have Air flossers. They reliably broke just a few days after the warranty ran out. I now have a cordless waterpik and it is much better.

It's louder than the aiflosser, and there is a knack - but it really isn't that hard to use without making a mess. Just lean over the sink and remember to switch it on after putting it in your mouth.

My gums are way better since I switched to it.

I have one. It fetched my filling out

I have one. I got it because I gum gum disease and a deep gum pocket that repeatedly gets infected. I love it. Yes it's messy but you soon the hang of it. I just lean over the sink and it's fine. I feel like it's the only thing that really cleans out my gum pocket - I can't do that with normal flossing or the little interdental brushes. An impressive amount of food comes out of! More than normal flossing. It's very satisfying.

I have 2 waterpik ones. They came as a bundle from Costco. The large one is great and the smaller one not so. The large one you have to plug directly into the shaver socket and use front there. Yes I have to dry the bathroom floor afterwards and roll my sleeves up but it is worth it. It gets all the junk out from between my teeth and gum pockets. The smaller hand held one I have to charge and then it works without a cord. It is just not powerful enough.
My only criticism of the larger one is the small hose that supplies the water from the tank can get bent. If you get one you should make a habit of straightening it. I have had them for about 3 years.

I've only tried my one twice, but like others I managed to spray water round the bathroom and it felt quite violent, especially if the jet of water hit my tongue accidentally. I'm sure it was down to technique but it put me off trying again

I got a cheap one from Lidl. I don't use it daily because it's such a faff but I do use it every so often and treat it as a kind of "deep clean" for the gum line. My gums do feel noticeably better since I've been doing that. Usually I use warm water and sometimes add a splash of hydrogen peroxide.

Last time I posted this, someone helpfully pointed out that it would be better if I did it every day obviously. But this is what I can manage so this is how I use it.

It feels stronger the further away from your gums you have it, so if it feels too painful try getting closer. This is counterintuitive and I often do the opposite out of reflex but I'm getting used to it now.