- Waterpik, the first oral irrigator, was conceived in 1955 and was made available to the public in 1967. The idea for Waterpik was started by Dr. Gerald Moyer and John Mattingly, a hydraulic engineer. Moyer teamed up with Mattingly in order to create an easy and effective alternative to flossing. According to the Waterpik website, "Clinical trials have shown that it is safe and effective on people in periodontal maintenance, and for those with gingivitis, orthodontic appliances, crowns and bridges, implants, diabetes or for those who don't use floss." Over the years, other oral irrigators such as HydroFloss and OralBreeze were introduced to the market, threatening the sales of Waterpik and creating new, easy-to-use models such as the faucet-style irrigator and the portable irrigator.
- Waterpik's most popular model, the Personal Dental Water Jet, is available at most drugstores, along with the OralBreeze Showerpik, which contains a shower attachment, and the HydroFloss, a magnetic oral irrigator. Although the more portable products like the OralBreeze and the HydroFloss, tend to be the most reasonably priced, they also provide far less power and durability than the Waterpik.
- Although the Waterpik, the HydroFloss and the OralBreeze all claim to be at least 90 percent more effective than flossing, most dentists still recommend flossing for regular patients without gingivitis or other painful tooth problems. Although special-needs dental patients, such as those with braces, may benefit the most from oral irrigators, any regular user can experience benefits from oral irrigators.
- Changes in water pressure do affect the design and effectiveness of your oral irrigator. Some oral irrigators, like the Waterpik Personal Dental Water Jet, contain their own refillable tank that provides the water source for the tool. The OralBreeze, on the other hand, operates directly from your faucet, allowing the water pressure to vary between users. OralBreeze users who have very low water pressure will experience results that are not as beneficial as those who have higher water pressure. The HydroFloss contains a magnet in its irrigator, which according to Hydrofloss, is 44 percent more effective than the Waterpik, the OralBreeze and any other non-magnetic oral irrigator.
- Using an oral irrigator will not solve any existing dental conditions. Do not use an oral irrigator that has been used or tampered with. Always read the instructions before using your oral irrigator. The opinions expressed in this article are not sponsored or provided by Waterpik, HydroFloss, or OralBreeze.
