Any tried Waterpicks?

[MarioMario]

I am interested in both positive and negative impressions.

On one hand they seem like a really healthy accessory that could readily improve dental health.

On the other hand seems like plastic crap that would take up space and never get used.

[tonysemail]

do you have crowns?

the waterpik is great for dislodging the food under my crowns.

i miss my waterpik when i'm on vacation cause there's only so much I can do with floss.

i really should have bought the costco pack which came with the travel accessory!

[lizzzi]

Yes, and I love it. My teeth have never been so clean. A couple of caveats: I generally use it once a day--sometimes twice--and keep it in the hall linen closet--bring it into the bathroom only when I'm using it. I find that the highest setting I can use is at the midpoint--any more pressure than "halfway", and it feels too strong and hurts. Also, remember to fill the tank with warm water--your teeth will not like cold water, trust me! And you have to stick your head way down into the sink, or else you'll end up spraying water around the bathroom. I always make sure the vanity top is dry, too, and that I'm wearing something on my feet and that the floor is dry. (Love the Waterpik, but don't want to get electrocuted.) I feel that the Waterpic does a much better job than the waxed dental floss, and is much easier on my teeth and gums. Definitely plastic, definitely not crap, definitely gets used.

[Sid Hoffman]

I got one when my son had braces, as they suggested it.  The water is apparently good at cleaning out stuff that gets stuck in the braces hardware.  I've used it a few times too and it mostly just tingles and irritates me.  I have no idea if it's effective or not.  I got one of the $20 ones that you attach to a shower head, so my investment was very small.

[Frankies Girl]

I have one and use it instead of flossing. I loathed flossing, so it was worth it just for that.  ;)

My dentist recommends it, and I was told to dump a capful of antiseptic mouthwash in the water to really get things clean - and my gums and teeth are so healthy, my hygienist is now asking me to eat oreos or something before my appointment "so she has something to do" during the cleaning.

It is far superior to anything else for dislodging stuck stuff in teeth too.

Only thing you have to be careful about is making sure the system stays clean (I run some white vinegar through it once a month) and not using too high of a pressure setting. You can hurt your gums in the beginning (or if they are sore) if you turn it up to the highest setting, so be mindful of that when using.

[MDM]

Works great if you use it.  Not so well if you don't. :)

[Victor]

Guess I'm the odd man out on this one.  I have bad crowding which leads to plaque which is really tough to keep off so I bought a $120 water pick. Tried it out a few times and it just couldn't get the stuff stuck  in between my teeth out, yet good old floss does the trick quick and easy.

[arebelspy]

I had one.  I liked it.

[pbkmaine]

I was starting to have gum problems and my dentist recommended a Sonicare toothbrush and a Waterpik. Completely turned things around.

[MMMaybe]

I just bought one and I love it. I use it a couple of times a day :)

[BrendanP]

Our dentist recommended it to me, said my gums would start to recede over time and expose the nerves.

I was skeptical, but I've grown to really like it, and it works great for getting stuff stuck inside my bridge. 
Also my gums don't bleed like when I floss.

[10dollarsatatime]

Love my waterpick.  I have terrible gums and teeth in general because genetics.  Combine that with having, apparently, a very small mouth which makes flossing really difficult and you have me and my terrible dental problems.  My dentist recommended the waterpick after an implant and a couple of crowns.  It's been amazing for my gum health.  I started out at a 2 and slowly worked my way up as my gums got used to it.  I currently use it at a 9.  If I miss a few of days for whatever reason, my gums get a little bit sensitive again.  I just turn it down for a day or two.

[MandyM]

I love mine, have used for 7+ years after my dentist recommended. I do wish they were better made. One stopped working a few months after I got it (waterpik sent me a new one, no charge), another died after a few years. My current one is doing ok, but the button on the handle will jam sometimes. I'll still keep replacing as I do think it saves me in dental costs.

A comment on the settings (I'm not a dentist, so what do I know), if its been a while I start on a low setting (~4) and work my way up over a few days. If you can't ever get to 10 (the highest on mine) then you may be using it wrong. You shouldn't be pointing the nozzle down into your gums, but straight across at the base of your tooth.

[scruffydan]

It is undoubtedly a great investment in your health.

[MMMaybe]

I bought one a month ago and love it. So much better than flossing and less irritating to the gums.

[Larsg]

We just bought one and wish we had done it years ago. We forget to floss and are starting to have some recession due to braces. My dentist recommended that we get one - we bought the jet pick with flosser - It's probably not the best one because it has two speeds, high and higher so do your homework. But, in a very short time since we have been using it, me and the the wife have noticed our gums have really pinked up...like a day after you go for a deep cleaning. It has made a huge difference already. We intend to take good care of it so it will last a long time. They are quite messy so the only way around that we discovered is to use it in the shower if you get a rechargable cordless. We do use in combo with super smile sonic electric brush that is fantastic though the heads are really expensive - not mmm, but they do a better job than the other brands such as braun, oral b or phillips - we've had all three through the years. The bristles are softer and the vibrations are stronger all over the mouth that I hear is really good for circulation. Go to amazon and look up super smile sonic pulse toothbrush and it should come up. heads are 40 bucks for 3 but we take good care of them (don't need to press really hard, rinse off and shake dry, soak in xylitol (Spry) rinse to kill bacteria once a week that extends the life of the brush. Also, if you are not using Spry, you should also be using that. Kill the listerine or any other mouthwash as they are too harsh for the eco system in your mouth per my dentist. Spry is what a lot of the animal shelters use to protect the teeth of primates and other animals that chew the Xylitol gum. It kills bacteria gently and improves the health of your mouth. All other washes often have sorbitol in them that acts like a sugar in the mouth so when you thought you were doing good things for you or your children's teeth, you are actually making it worse. This is all per our dentist and we have not had a cavity in over 20 years. Just some light recession now we are dealing with. He also said that it's important to rinse before and after you floss as well as before and after you brush as each of those exercises release bacteria into the mouth and you want to kill it off again before you go rooting around and opening up things.

Good Luck!

[jade]

I had bad gum recession appear a few years ago, I heard good things about Water picks but we decided to try other methods before buying one and I managed to turn it around without one. I floss / use tepes / interspace brush and swish water around my mouth when I eat anything. Also oil pulling (with coconut oil in my case) has helped.