Is water flossing effective?

What is water flossing?

Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, are handheld devices that aim to provide an effective alternative to regular flossing. Water flossing sprays pressurised water between the gaps in your teeth and along your gum line to remove plaque and food particles.

Streams of pressurised water replicate the flossing action to dislodge and wash away food particles and plaque. This helps to prevent plaque build-up, which can lead to more severe issues such as gingivitis and gum disease, also called periodontal disease.

Pressurised water can effectively remove food particles and wash away plaque between your teeth¹. However, water floss lacks the scraping motion that's effective at removing stubborn plaque in tight areas. For this reason, many dentists recommend trying string floss first.

Their are certain groups who may benefit from water flossing over regular flossing. Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director of Elleven Dental, says: "Those who find using regular dental floss difficult, have sensitive gums, or have braces on their teeth may find a water flosser beneficial. For optimum oral health, it is recommended you floss daily."

Award-winning dental surgeon Dr Nilesh Parmar says: "Water flossing has recently gained widespread acceptance. As a population, we love our gadgets, and these devices aim to replace the humble dental floss. There is research to show that water flossing is beneficial. However, it is not a replacement for flossing. So don't throw away your floss just yet."

Although both water floss and dental floss produce positive results in trials, when it comes to which is best, the evidence is mixed. There's research to suggest that pressurised water is at least as effective as string-based dental floss at removing food particles and washing away plaque between your teeth¹. Some studies even suggest that it's significantly more effective for surface plaque removal².

On the other hand, data on water flossing is relatively new, and its use for long-term oral hygiene is less clear. Much of the evidence is based on single-use studies that only focus on volume of plaque removal.

Instead of discarding your dental floss, many dentists advise using both techniques in combination for the best results. Well-rounded oral hygiene requires you to remove as much plaque as possible, but also to pay attention to hard-to-reach areas such as tight tooth gaps - which can be more difficult when using water floss.

This is why water flossing is beneficial as an additional tool in your oral hygiene kit. Brushing twice a day, regular flossing, and water flossing will help you protect your teeth from plaque, keeping them healthy and preventing issues such as persistent bad breath.

1. Abdellatif et al: Comparison between water flosser and regular floss in the efficacy of plaque removal

2. Goyal et al: Evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of a water flosser compared to string floss in adults