Ist die Wasserflosser effektiv?

What is water flossing?

Water flossers, also known as oral irrigators, are handheld devices that aim to provide an effective alternative to regular flossing. Water flossing sprays pressurised water between the gaps in your teeth and along your gum line to remove plaque and food particles.

Streams of pressurised water replicate the flossing action to dislodge and wash away food particles and plaque. This helps to prevent plaque build-up, which can lead to more severe issues such as gingivitis and gum disease, also called periodontal disease.

How effective is water flossing?

Unter Druck stehendes Wasser kann effektiv Speisereste entfernen und Zahnbelag zwischen Ihren Zähnen wegspülen.¹ However, water flossing lacks the scraping motion that's effective at removing stubborn plaque in tight areas. For this reason, many dentists recommend trying string floss or interdental brushes first.

Es gibt bestimmte Gruppen, die vom Wasserflossen mehr profitieren könnten als vom normalen Zahnseidegebrauch.

Dr Sameer Patel, Clinical Director of Elleven Dental, says that those who find using regular dental floss difficult, have sensitive gums, or have braces on their teeth may find a water flosser beneficial.

"Für optimale Mundgesundheit wird empfohlen, täglich Zahnseide zu verwenden," fügt er hinzu.

Is water floss better than dental floss?

According to Dr Nilesh Parmar, award-winning dental surgeon, water flossing has recently gained widespread acceptance.

"Als Bevölkerung lieben wir unsere Gadgets, und diese Geräte zielen darauf ab, den bescheidenen Zahnseide zu ersetzen. Es gibt Forschungen, die zeigen, dass Wasserflossing vorteilhaft ist", sagt er. "Es ist jedoch kein Ersatz für Zahnseide. Also werfen Sie Ihre Zahnseide noch nicht weg."

Obwohl sowohl Wasserflosser als auch Zahnseide in Studien positive Ergebnisse erzielen, sind die Beweise gemischt, wenn es darum geht, welches besser ist. Es gibt Forschungen, die darauf hindeuten, dass Druckwasser mindestens genauso effektiv ist wie fadenbasierte Zahnseide beim Entfernen von Speiseresten und beim Wegspülen von Plaque zwischen den Zähnen.¹ Some studies even suggest that it's significantly more effective for surface plaque removal.²

On the other hand, data on water flossing is relatively new, and its use for long-term oral hygiene is less clear. Much of the evidence is based on single-use studies that only focus on volume of plaque removal.

Instead of discarding your dental floss, many dentists advise using both techniques in combination for the best results. Well-rounded oral hygiene requires you to remove as much plaque as possible, but also to pay attention to hard-to-reach areas such as tight tooth gaps - which can be more difficult when using water floss.