As a dental hygienist I always ask my patients if they floss. They look at me with their gums bleeding and say “no” with shame. I completely understand them! Guess what? I don’t like flossing either! But I have to get the bacteria in between my teeth, out of my mouth! You see, each tooth has five surfaces. When you brush your teeth, you remove plaque and buildup from only three surfaces (the front of your tooth, the back and the top).

However, there will be two surfaces that get very little action; the left and the right side of your tooth. Flossing is the only thing that can really get into that space between your teeth in order to properly remove the bacteria. If you do not floss, that bacteria can cause gum problems such as periodontitis and cavities.

The technique in how you floss is as important as flossing itself. Therefore, if the technique is not well respected you will not get the benefits of it and this can lead to dental problems. Having the right technique takes patience and good effort and oftentimes people end up abandoning flossing all together.

Well guess what? It is not game over, we have another solution! The Büccal water flosser is a very effective alternative to traditional flossing. Here are five reasons why the water flosser is the best alternative to string flossing:

• No more bruises and soreness on your fingers from regular string flossing
  You don’t need to struggle with a string to floss with the proper technique anymore.
• Your gums are less likely to bleed which is a deterrent for some people who use traditional flossing.
• If you have braces, it is way easier to floss with the water flosser! You don’t have to thread a tiny piece of string floss through each wire.
• It removes build up from in between your teeth, irrigates the gums and rinses your mouth all at the same time.
• You will save time and be motivated to floss.