Monday Huddle: Why people who floss can still get gingivitis
Why do we tell patients to floss? We want them to remove the bacteria-infested biofilm below the contact point in the gingival sulcus. But despite 200 years of dentists telling their patients to use string floss, only 15% do it daily … and 80%–90% of patients will still get gingivitis or periodontitis.
Why is this? String floss is not user-friendly. String floss scrapes away biofilm from the sides of the tooth but only removes plaque at the exact point the floss makes physical contact. In other words, floss leaves a lot of biofilm behind.
The sheer hydraulic forces produced by Waterpik water flossing cause the the water to flow between teeth up to 6 mm deep into the gingival sulcus, cleaning 99.9% of the surface area. Water flossing contacts the entire interproximal and subgingival surface areas. Multiple peer-reviewed studies of Waterpik water flossing show superior plaque removal and reduction in gingival inflammation over string floss.
The Dental Economics Network brings you the best content from Dental Economics, RDH, DentistryIQ, and Perio-Implant Advisory. Subscribe to get new videos each week.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Through the Loupes newsletter, a publication of the Endeavor Business Media Dental Group. Read more articles and subscribe to Through the Loupes.
