With waterpiks rising in popularity, Santa Clarita orthodontist Dr. Megan LeCornu of Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics is debating the effectiveness of traditional floss versus water flossers.

LeCornu described the process of traditional flossing as a “squeegee” that cleans the teeth, with the goal being to rub the surface of the tooth on the front side and the back side, requiring going through each contact twice.

A waterpik, on the other hand, is a powerized stream of water that “flushes” out plaque between the teeth, according to LeCornu.

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“It’s been really interesting, there’s been studies showing that waterpiks actually reduce plaque by about 76 percent, where flossing reduces plaque in between teeth by about 56 percent,” said LeCornu. “So water flossing is actually very, very effective.”

However, LeCornu cautioned that waterpiks may not be able to efficiently reach the space where the teeth touch, particularly for those with “very tight contacts.”

“So I think if you’re a big water flosser, still using traditional floss at least three days a week is probably advantageous,” she said.

At Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics, LeCornu noted that the Santa Clarita orthodontists typically recommend those with braces either use a floss threader or a waterpik.

“They basically use the floss (threader) like a needle and thread, and then they floss their teeth normal,” said LeCornu. “For a lot of our patients, we recommend a waterpik, because waterpiks are actually a lot easier for them, especially for kids.”

Dr. Steven Gilbertson, Dr. Megan LeCornu and Dr. Pete Weber of Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics — formerly Gilbertson and LeCornu Orthodontics — have a solid reputation in the community as the premiere Santa Clarita orthodontists for children, teenagers and adults using Invisalign and traditional braces. Together, they strive to provide orthodontic excellence and five-star customer service in a friendly, caring environment that makes each patient feel like a member of their family. As trusted orthodontists, Santa Clarita residents have voted Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics “best orthodontist” for eight years.

Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics

23206 Lyons Avenue, Suite 206

Santa Clarita, CA 91321

(661) 259-2388

Embrace Your Smile Orthodontics – Santa Clarita

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGGdmG-lRVg

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