Waterpik Water Jets -- Anyone use them?

[N 82 50 24]

I recently bought one of these during a boredom-induced browsing stint on Amazon. I don't know anyone who uses one, but it looked cool enough.

This is the one that I bought: Waterpik



I've had it for like two days and it does seem to do a pretty good job cleaning in between gums. My mouth definitely feels very clean after using it. I don't think I *need* to use it because I've never had a cavity and I've always been a regular brusher/flosser/Listerine user, but this thing apparently does a much better job at cleaning gums than flossing does. I also don't really like flossing that much, although using a Reach flosser does help to relieve it's annoyingness.

Does anyone have experience with water jet and Waterpiks in particular? If so, what were your results?

[shaniac]

I used one of these when I was, like, 12. It's like a bidet for your mouth, but not as much fun. Didn't know anyone used these anymore.

[N 82 50 24]

Hrmm, interesting. I didn't even realize they were old or anything that someone would say "anymore" about.

[Howard Beale]

I bought that model after my dentist recommended it. I suggest angling the pick to shoot water under the gum line after you clean between your teeth. There's a special pick for that under the lid but that thing is too small & delicate in my experience.

[stinkypete]

does anybody actually floss anymore? i can't think of anyone that i know for a fact does

[bigbootch]

[ QUOTE ]
I recently bought one of these during a boredom-induced browsing stint on Amazon. I don't know anyone who uses one, but it looked cool enough.

This is the one that I bought: Waterpik



I've had it for like two days and it does seem to do a pretty good job cleaning in between gums. My mouth definitely feels very clean after using it. I don't think I *need* to use it because I've never had a cavity and I've always been a regular brusher/flosser/Listerine user, but this thing apparently does a much better job at cleaning gums than flossing does. I also don't really like flossing that much, although using a Reach flosser does help to relieve it's annoyingness.

Does anyone have experience with water jet and Waterpiks in particular? If so, what were your results?

[/ QUOTE ]


Several years ago I went to the dentist for the first time in a while (no dental insurance while in college blah blah waited til I started working), and she told me how my gums aren't doing well and I need to start taking care of them immediately. She told me to go buy an electric toothbrush, that waterpik, and to floss every night.

So for a while I did all 3, and boy was it like night and day. My mouth felt SUPER SUPER clean, and after a couple weeks my gums stopped bleeding when I flossed, just everything was great. Then I stopped doing waterpik at some point, and I didn't notice any degradation.

To this day I floss every night and brush religiously with the electric toothbrush (following the 30 second / quadrant beep and all), and now my dentist is very happy with my dental health.

[mmbt0ne]

My gf got one after she had her wisdom teeth out. She likes it.

[NhlNut]

I keep thinking about buying one of these, but not for my teeth.
I have terrible problems with wax in my ears. I figure one of these could take care of that. When the nurse cleans my ears out, she just uses a squeeze bottle. How's a waterpik that much different?

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

Um, I would think the stream was much smaller but the pressure was much higher. I really don't think you want to stick one of these in your ear.

[N 82 50 24]

[ QUOTE ]
does anybody actually floss anymore? i can't think of anyone that i know for a fact does

[/ QUOTE ]
Well if people just brush+mouthwash, they're probably setting themselves up for trouble. That doesn't get rid of a lot of particles in between the teeth.