Everyday we recommend aWaterpikorShower Flossto our patients. If you’ve had gum recession or gum disease either type of oral irrigator will help prevent further bone loss. I also recommend oral irrigators for those with implants, bridges, or braces.
Oral Irrigator Instructions
Fill chamber with water. (Waterpik)
Set dial to “low.”
Place tip in your mouth with your head hanging over the sink and turn unit on. (Do this to avoid getting water where you do not want it.)
Direct water toward gums at a 45 degree angle and trace along gum line, doing outside and inside surfaces of all teeth.
Pause briefly between teeth.
Anywhere you have a pocket (4 millimeters or deeper), point the tip toward the root of the tooth (along the long axis of the tooth) to irrigate inside the pocket.
When you are finished, turn water off before removing tip from your mouth.
You can gradually increase the water pressure to “medium” as your gums become used to the oral irrigator.
If you experience discomfort or excessive bleeding, decrease the water pressure.
If the discomfort and/or bleeding continue, inform your dentist or dental hygienist.
