Stephen P. Tassone, DDS

The Art and Science of a Healthy Smile

Water Picks

There is never a suitable substitute for daily brushing and flossing.

While some products, including water irrigation devices (or “water picks”), may be useful for specific applications, they do not accomplish one major task: removing plaque.

Water picks use powerful tiny bursts of water to blast away food particles and other debris in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Dentists use professional-grade water picks when preparing a tooth for restoration, or in general cleaning and exams.

People with painful gum disease or highly sensitive gums may find water picks useful for supplementing their brushing regimen. And people with orthodontia, including braces, have found water picks quite useful because toothbrush bristles often get stuck.

In its most recent report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated in 1991 that more than 100,000 cases of facial trauma occurred in children younger than 14 while they participated in sports activities.