How To Use a Waterpik Effectively

The most important area of your mouth to clean is in-between your teeth. This is the first place bacterial plaque will form, and it is also the hardest to keep clean. Dental floss has long been the standard, but water flossers like Waterpik actually clean better than floss. I find them easier and more enjoyable to use than floss too. Getting a Waterpik is also a must-have in our Ideal Oral Health Routine, which you should definitely download.

I have played around a whole bunch at home with my Waterpik to try and figure out the most effective way to use it to clean between teeth. Here is what I have found.
Waterpik makes several types of water flossers including some just for kids. Personally, I like the countertop Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser, since it holds a good amount of liquid and I feel like I have more control over the water pressure than the cordless Waterpiks. Go to their website and check out some of the other units when you have a chance. The Ultra Water Flosser runs about $60, but if you live by a Costco you can get both the Ultra Water Flosser and the Cordless Plus Water Flosser for only $79.
When you pick up your shiny new countertop Waterpik from the store find a good spot on your bathroom counter where you can plug the unit safely, and follow the included directions to get it set up.
It is going to come with several attachments and you can try them all out if you like, but the Classic Jet Tip works best. If you have braces the Plaque Seeker and Orthodontic Tips can help you clean around the brackets (instructions for braces are at the very bottom).

It doesn’t matter if you start on the top or bottom teeth, but make sure you clean both the cheek/lip side of the teeth and the tongue side. I like to start in the back and work my way around each arch.

Instructions for Braces:

Also, don’t forget to change the attachments every few months.