Water Flossers and Specialty Floss: Extending the Life of Your Dental Work

The underside of bridges, the area around implants, and the gum margins of crowns are the areas bacteria love to hide, and traditional floss struggles to reach these tight spaces. This is where water flossers and specially designed products come in.

A water flosser cleans between teeth and gum pockets using pressurized water, reaching depths a brush or floss can't and dislodging trapped food particles. It's especially effective at preventing inflammation around implants (peri-implantitis). When using it, start with low pressure, hold the tip at a 90-degree angle to the gum line, and pause briefly between teeth.

Superfloss is a specialty three-part floss: a stiff end that threads easily under bridges or between orthodontic wires, a spongy middle section that gently sweeps wide gaps and implant bodies, and a standard floss section for cleaning between remaining teeth.

For those with wide gaps between teeth or gum recession, interdental brushes are also an effective option; available in various sizes, they should be inserted without forcing, and the right size should be determined with your dentist's guidance.

If brushing is basic cleaning, then using a water flosser or specialty floss is detailed cleaning, best done especially before bed. Mild bleeding at first is a sign of existing inflammation and typically resolves within a week of consistent cleaning.