Dental irrigators give you the benefits of flossing and then some, minus the tediousness and, let’s face it, the ick factor.

Electric toothbrushes are a must-have item to have in your bathroom cabinet, but the deeper nooks and crannies in between your teeth are still so hard to get to with the power of sonic pulses and AI-driven washing. There's not a single person in the world who hasn't been told by their dentist to floss to catch all that plaque, but this is the 21st century and we've moved past those boring bits of string. Welcome to the world of electronic dental irrigators.

What it is and how it works

A dental irrigator is a handheld device that sprays high pressure pulses of water at your teeth. The stream of water gets into all the nooks and crannies that hold bacteria and food particles even after traditional brushing or flossing. Food and bacteria left to stew between your teeth can contribute to bad breath, plaque buildup, and gingivitis.

Bacteria thrive in moist and slightly acidic conditions. Plaque that forms from trapped food particles releases acids. Wearing your aligners over your teeth and gums (and acids and food debris) creates just the sort of environment that bacteria need to grow. In other words, the less gunk between your teeth and under your aligners, the better.

The benefits of using a dental irrigator

Flossing is good for your oral health and your overall health. Water flossing, however, offers several benefits and perks over traditional string flossing.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of using a dental irrigator:

• They remove 99% of the plaque between your teeth and below the gumline.
• They’re 50% more effective than string floss when it comes to improving your gum health.
• They’re especially great for people with braces and other dental work, and people with misaligned or crowded teeth.
• They offer different pressure modes to accommodate your varying flossing needs, preferences, and comfort level.