Water Flossing Vs. String Flossing: Which One Is Best For Your New Dental Bridge

A dental bridge is an investment in self-confidence as it gives you back a beautiful smile. Not only does the bridge fill in the missing tooth, but it also makes sure your face retains a natural shape. However, now you have a bridge ordered, and under construction, it is important to think about the cleaning process. Flossing plays a big part in keeping a dental bridge clean, and you have two flossing options. One is to floss using traditional string floss, and the other choice is to use a water flosser. Consider the pros and cons of each technique, so you know which one you want to use once your dental bridge arrives:

Traditional string flossing

The biggest benefit of regular string flossing is its portability and its cost. A roll of dental floss is a small package which you can toss into any handbag or pants pocket. This means it is readily available for use after every meal, no matter where you are. Additionally, it only costs a few dollars to buy string dental floss at your local supermarket.

The downside of using string floss is it does not get into 100% of the crevices created around the dental bridge. You need special tools to keep the area around a dental bridge clean. The teeth which support the bridge must have all food particles removed from them to stop bacteria growing and attacking these teeth as well. You don't want decay to take out the teeth supporting the dental bridge, or you will need a bigger bridge.

Water flossing

Water flossing is relatively new on the home dental cleaning scene. It involves a small machine which plugs into an electrical outlet. After filling the water reservoir tank with water, it pumps liquid through the plastic tube to a handheld curved pick. Hold the pick against each tooth gap, so the pressure of this water flushes out all food particles trapped in each space.

The biggest benefit of the water flosser is its versatility around dental bridges. The force of the water flushes out debris from places in the bridge that traditional string floss cannot reach. However, with a standard water flosser costing over $100, it is the more expensive choice. Also, a water flossing machine won't fit in your handbag, so there is a lack of portability issue. However, if this is a device that does interest you, it can be used by everyone in the family and is available at selected chemists or online.

Talk to your dentist about your flossing concerns for your new bridges, so they are kept sparkling clean for years to come.

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