How Does a Waterpik Work?
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Cleaning Teeth
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Cleaning your teeth is essential to maintaining good health. Your gums are so susceptible to germs and bacteria that gingivitis can actually lead to worse infections in your body. Regularly brushing and flossing can help keep a clean mouth, but there are other tools like the Waterpik that can help.
Bacteria in the Mouth
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Harmful bacteria in your mouth like to reside in between the teeth. It usually starts by forming inside of plaque, which is created when food particles remain on your teeth and gums after eating. That bacteria will dissolve sugary foods and create lactic acids that can erode your tooth enamel and gums. The longer plaque stays in your mouth, the more damage that can be done. Flossing and brushing can dislodge plaque, but sometimes it can be tough to reach those pockets below the gum line. If you wear braces, cleaning in between your teeth and gums can be even tougher.
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How the Waterpik Helps
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The Waterpik is designed to help get into those tight places. Most Waterpik modules have the actual picking device attached to a counter-top base by a thin hose designed to feed water into the hand-held device. When activated, the Waterpik shoots small jet pulses of water at anywhere from 5 to 90 lbs. per square inch (psi) at up to 1,600 pulses per minute. As the water hits your gums, it massages them into helping flush out any stuck food particles. With the Waterpik's subgingival tip, you can supposedly clean within 90 percent of your gum pocket's depth.
If the Waterpik is aimed between your teeth, the pressure can also help dislodge last night's popcorn husks. This can be very beneficial to people who wear braces. There are Waterpik heads specifically designed to fit in between the braces and the teeth, adding the rinsing and flossing pressure that can be hard to get with orthodontics.
Options
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There are other specialized Waterpik devices for use. The 360 degree Oral Irrigator assists in cleaning around various dental implants, such as crowns or veneers. Tongue cleaner tips can help remove plaque from the tongue area, while the toothbrush tip acts as a more effective toothbrush. There are even cordless models for people who need to clean on the go.
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