Waterpik: receding gums cause?

man touching his mouth wearing eyeglass, receding gums cause

The invention of the water flosser is one of the most important advances in the oral hygiene industry, if not the most important.

The water flosser (also known as waterpik) has revolutionized the oral hygiene game, taking it to a whole new level.

In fact, to start off, here are some stats for you:

  • The waterpik was proved to be 51% more effective in reducing gum disease, and 29% more effective in removing plaque compared to traditional string floss.
  • Waterpik is twice as effective as string floss in reducing gum bleeding.
  • Water flosser has single handedly solved the problem of flossing with braces, where they were proved to decrease gum bleeding and gum disease occurrence by more than 53% in braces wearers, as well as improving the efficiency of flossing and cleaning of plaque almost 3 fold.
  • Some manufacturers even claim that they are so effective that they could clean all surfaces of the teeth, and could actually be a replacement for tooth brushing, but until this is scientifically proven, we recommend you keep your brushing habits to keep your teeth clean.

Improve Oral Hygiene with a Water Flosser

You can reach all your teeth using a water flosser. You’ll be able to reach your molars without excessive effort or having to open your mouth extra wide. View our best Waterpik reviews.

So what is a water flosser?

A Waterpik is essentially a pen-shaped device, equipped with a nozzle designed to shoot a concentrated jet of water and air.

There are a variety of different designs for Waterpik, but most include a reservoir that can be filled with warm water or mouth wash, and it comes in a corded and cordless version to suit your need.

Its use is also pretty easy thanks to its design. The pen-shaped working end is so simple to hold, and the nozzle is directed between the teeth, and all you have to do is a point and click, and the water stream starts to flow, washing away the plaque and debris.

You can also set the pressure of the water coming out of the water flosser nozzle, and we recommend you start off with a low-pressure setting and work your way up.

From all these stats, you can only imagine how effective a water flosser is, and so a very important question must come to your mind “why isn’t a Waterpik available at every home?”

The drawbacks of the Waterpik

Unfortunately, nothing is without a downside, and Waterpiks are no exception. Here are some of the drawbacks of this device:

  • Financial burden: You can imagine a device this efficient to be quite expensive, and when you compare it to the other flossing options such as string floss or floss picks which cost virtually nothing, and you find probably the main cause why a Waterpik isn’t found everywhere.
  • Bulky equipment: As we said, a Waterpik comes in a variety of designs, but the most common is the traditional design, with a large reservoir for the liquid and a hose connecting it to the working nozzle, as well as a cord to connect it to the power outlet, and of course all that takes a lot of space, so it is not suitable for every washroom. Newer designs focus more on this issue, where cordless and reservoir-less designs have been developed, but none as effective as the original as of yet.
  • Messy: A device that shoots water is bound to cause a mess. Most people who use the Waterpik complain of stains on their face and mouth afterward, as well as their clothes, the floor of the washroom, and even the walls.
  • Gum damage: Although Waterpiks are extremely safe to use, it is theoretically possible for them to cause gum damage.If you use a Waterpik more than required or advised by your dentist, or if you use a very high-pressure setting in hopes to clean your teeth better, you may wind up doing more harm than good.

Now let’s get to our main point:

Can a Waterpik hurt your gums?

Well as we said before, it is extremely rare for a water flosser to cause injury to your teeth or gums.

In fact, they were specifically made to avoid the main drawback of string floss, and that is gum tissue damage due to improper use.

The stream of water is certainly less damaging than a solid piece of string, and therefore it is highly unlikely for a Waterpik to cause damage to your gums and teeth.

However, we cannot say that the risk isn’t there.

Some people complain of pain when using the Waterpik, especially if they just started to use it.

This could mean that the water jet is actively injuring their gums, and they could wind up with gum disease, but again the risk is far too low compared to dental string floss and other flossing methods.

A more specific question is “can Waterpik cause gum recession?”

The recession of the gums is when they pull away from the neck of the teeth, exposing the underlying sensitive roots, with all the sequel of tooth sensitivity, esthetic problems, and may even eventually lead to tooth loss.

The main cause for recession is improper brushing and misuse of dental floss, which is of course traditional string floss.

With Waterpik, there is virtually no chance of doing that, since there is no excess pressure applied on the gums (as in the case of dental string floss), and very little harm is done, certainly not enough to cause a recession.

Not only that but the stream of water coming out of the water flosser actually massages the gum line, so not only don’t they cause damage, they actually offer a huge benefit since this massage improves the circulation and healing ability of the gums, as well as their ability to fight inflammation.

So basically, a water flosser may be the best option you can buy to improve your oral health, and if you can afford it, you should definitely up your’s and your family’s oral hygiene game by using the best-proven method to floss out there …

The Waterpik.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterpik good for a recession?

Absolutely. It can’t actually help the lost gums to grow back, but they certainly could stop the progression of the condition, and help the gums regain their health.

Can Waterpik damage your teeth or gums?

The jet of water certainly could do no harm to the solid teeth and is much less harmful than dental string floss to the gums, but theoretically, the misuse of Waterpik could cause gum damage.

Can you fix gum recession?

Unfortunately, what is lost cannot grow back on its own, and would need surgical intervention from a periodontist, but you can certainly stop its progression by taking care of your oral health.

Does Waterpik help gingivitis?

It certainly does, and the stats don’t lie.

A water flosser could reduce gingivitis by more than 50% compared to other flossing methods, particularly dental string floss.

Prevent Gingivitis And Gum Disease With A Water Flosser

Gum disease is preventable and reversible. It’s never too late to get into the habit of good oral hygiene to protect yourself. A minute of water flossing a day can save you tons of problems later on. View our best Waterpik buyers guide.

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