Oral Irrigator: Benefits and Harms of Using

The Oral irrigator is a dedicated oral hygiene device that provides the best possible care. The regular applying an irrigator reduces the formation of bacterial plaque, increases the efficiency of brushing teeth in hard-to-reach places, reduces the likelihood of caries, and also cleans, refreshes and improves the condition of the oral cavity. An irrigator is clinically proven to be much more effective than dental floss.

What is an Oral Irrigator

In the arsenal of modern dentistry, there are many different devices for maintaining a clean oral cavity. One of the most effective is the oral irrigator. What does it look like?

Unfortunately, not many patients know what an irrigator is and how it is used. As usual, they mention only a toothbrush and toothpaste as the most used hygiene products. Of course, these oral hygiene facilities are a mandatory minimum, but they cannot provide perfect cleaning. An irrigator is a device that removes bacteria even from hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity. During mouth irrigation, water or a special fluid is supplied under pressure from the reservoir. Irrigator nozzles direct water to areas of the mouth that cannot be reached with a toothbrush or floss. The water, due to pulsations, cleans the interdental spaces, massages the gums and improves blood circulation. In this case, the water pressure can be adjusted. The water teeth flosser is suitable for drinking water, saline solutions, special balms that are added to the water. Thanks to this choice, cleansing can be made as effective as possible. Oral irrigators are divided into several types according to mobility and principle of operation.

• Stationary irrigators. These are powerful devices that operate from an outlet. They would be ideal for use by the whole family.
• They can be connected to the water supply or have a water tank. The portable oral irrigator is compact and battery-operated. It’s designed for individual use and is a convenient option for business trips and travel.
• Flow-through irrigators connect directly to the tap. Their advantage is that they do not require electricity. However, such devices are mono-flow, without pulsations, and serve untreated running water.
• Mechanical irrigators are a variant of a portable sprinkler that also works without electricity. The patient himself delivers a stream of water using a mechanical lever.

For best results, use an irrigator after every cleaning with a toothbrush, especially if you're wearing braces. Remember that regularity is the key to oral health. It’s better to use a water irrigator just once a day than not to use it at all. For the prevention of caries and other dental diseases, it’s quite enough to clean the oral cavity with an irrigator 2-3 times a week. In case when treating periodontal disease, gingivitis and other diseases, the recommendations of the attending physician should be followed. This will allow you to achieve maximum benefit when using the device, as the specialist will select effective treatment regimens and therapeutic compositions.

Benefits of Using a Dental Irrigator The spread of pathogenic microflora is especially harmful to the oral cavity. The toothbrush and prophylactic or healing paste only care for accessible surfaces in the mouth. For deeper and better cleaning, dentists around the world recommend using оral water irrigators. Such popularity among professionals is due to several advantages over other oral hygiene products. For the first time, this progressive device was presented in the United States in 1955. Over the years, irrigators have undergone many modifications and clinical trials and have proven their effectiveness in front of a toothbrush every time. This water jet dental device cleans with a directed flow, which gives a brighter effect from the application. The features of the irrigator package ensure complete safety, and the set of modes and attachments included in the kit allows all family members to use it with maximum benefit for the oral cavity. Small size, simple design, quiet operation become additional advantages of a modern irrigator. You can evaluate the benefits of the irrigator immediately after the first cleaning, and with further use, you will notice more and more positive aspects:

• It’s easy to brush your teeth even in hard-to-reach places that a standard toothbrush cannot handle.
• Gums are gently massaged with a water jet flosser, which improves blood circulation and reduces the risk of disease.
• Plaque and food debris in the interdental spaces are easily and effectively removed. In this case, neither the gums nor the teeth are injured.
• Perfect for the care of braces, implants, dentures. Can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding when the teeth and gums are most sensitive.
• Helps prevent the development of gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth decay.
• Significantly reduces breath odor, leaves a feeling of freshness after use.

To make the use of the irrigator the most convenient and effective, it’s necessary to choose the right device and fluid, depending on the needs of the patient. To start taking proper care of oral hygiene, you need to consult a dentist who will help you choose the best option.

Main Harm of Using an Irrigator for Teeth

The irrigator for teeth should only be used for its intended purpose and following the instructions attached to the device. The safe use of the water flosser is influenced by: the correct location of the irrigator in the oral cavity, compliance with safety measures, the correct choice of power (it’s necessary to take into account the age of the patient and the peculiarities of the dentition). Before buying, be sure to consult with your dentist, who will determine whether you need this device and select the best cleaning scheme. If contraindications are identified (rosacea, mucosal injury, chronic bleeding of the gums, etc.), the use of an irrigator can be fraught with consequences.

Remember that using a dental irrigator is a serious procedure that requires the right approach. The use of an irrigator will certainly be beneficial if the rules are followed, but if neglected, such a procedure can cause significant harm. Therefore, do not neglect to visit the dentist. So, you will individually select the optimal regimen, the type of solution for treatment or prevention, the frequency of use. An integrated approach will allow you to use the irrigator most efficiently.