Orthodontist Opinion on Dental Floss vs Water Pick in Philadelphia

Is it more effective to floss teeth with a water pick or standard dental floss? Dr. Anthony Farrow of Farrow Orthodontics agrees that standard dental floss is generally considered the most effective tool for cleaning the tight spaces between the teeth. Dr. Farrow recommends using dental floss to scrape up and down the sides of each tooth to remove any unwanted plaque.

A water pick or an oral irrigator is a device that aims a stream of water at your teeth. The team at Farrow Orthodontics says a water pick can help remove food particles from your teeth and might help reduce bleeding and gum disease.  Although a water pick is helpful to remove particles, it is not a substitute for brushing and flossing says Dr. Farrow.

Some patients at Farrow Orthodontics complain that plain dental floss gets stuck in their teeth.  Dr. Anthony Farrow recommends trying the waxed variety. If you have a hard time manipulating dental floss, there are many varieties of dental floss holders available in local stores in Philadelphia. Farrow Orthodontics says you can try other products like special brushes, picks or sticks designed to clean between the teeth.  If our patients at Farrow Orthodontics have any questions regarding their oral health, contact Dr. Farrow in his Philadelphia office for assistance.