Who invented the water flosser? The first one was developed in the early 1960s in Fort Collins, Colorado, by a dentist, Dr. Gerald Moyer, and a hydraulics engineer, John Mattingly. Their device became the Waterpik, and many people still use that brand name for any water flosser, the way one brand can stand in for a whole category. Today many companies make oral irrigators, and naming the original here is history, not a product recommendation.
The trivia question has a short answer. The more useful question is whether a water flosser belongs in your own routine. This guide explains how water flossers work, how they compare with dental floss, who tends to get the most out of one, what they cannot do, and how the team at the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS can help you build a home care routine that fits your teeth and gums.
Who invented the water flosser?
Before powered irrigators, the tools for cleaning between teeth at home were mostly string floss and toothpicks. The idea behind the Moyer and Mattingly design was simple: use a pulsing stream of water, rather than a strand or a stick, to flush food and plaque out of the spaces a toothbrush misses. A dentist supplied the understanding of where plaque collects, and an engineer supplied the pump that could deliver a controlled stream through a small tip.
From the original device to today’s oral irrigators
You will see several names for the same kind of tool: water flosser, oral irrigator, water irrigator, interdental irrigator and water jet. They all describe a reservoir, a motor or pump, and a handheld tip that directs a pulsing stream of water along the gumline and between teeth. Countertop models hold more water and usually offer more pressure settings. Cordless models are smaller and easier to travel with. The basic job has not changed since the early 1960s.
How a water flosser works
A water flosser pushes water through a narrow tip in rapid pulses. The pulsing stream loosens food particles and soft plaque from around the gumline, between teeth, and around dental work, and the water carries that debris away. Most models let you adjust the water pressure, so you can start gently and increase it as your gums get used to it.
Using one takes a little practice:
- Fill the reservoir with lukewarm water and choose the lowest pressure setting to begin.
- Lean over the sink and place the tip in your mouth before you switch it on, so water does not spray across the bathroom.
- Keep your lips slightly closed around the tip, and let the water drain out of your mouth into the sink as you go.
- Trace the gumline, starting with the back teeth, and pause briefly at each space between two teeth.
- Work around the whole mouth, inside and outside surfaces, upper and lower, then empty the reservoir and let the parts dry.
Water flosser or dental floss?
A water flosser and string floss clean in different ways. Floss wipes plaque off the side of each tooth by direct contact, which is especially good at the tight spot where two teeth touch. A water flosser rinses and flushes, which is especially good along the gumline, around braces and bridges, and in places floss is awkward to reach. That is why dental professionals often describe them as complementary tools rather than rivals.
If you already floss well every day, a water flosser is an optional extra that some people enjoy. If you rarely floss because it is difficult, painful or simply never becomes a habit, a water flosser can be a practical way to start cleaning between your teeth at all. For a closer look at the string options, read are floss picks as good as regular dental floss.
Who might benefit most from a water flosser
Braces, bridges and other dental work
Brackets, wires and bridges create ledges and gaps where food collects. The practice’s aftercare instructions for bridges note that you will need special floss threaders or other aids to reach and clean all areas properly. A water flosser is one of those aids: it can flush under a bridge and around brackets without threading anything.
Dental implants
Implants need careful cleaning. Gums do not seal around an implant as firmly as they do around a natural tooth, which is why the practice recommends professional implant cleanings every 3 to 4 months. For home care, the practice’s implant hygiene advice lists interdental brushes, a Hydrofloss irrigator, end-tuft brushes and careful use of an electric or manual toothbrush. Irrigating with plain water, or with 0.12% chlorhexidine when it is recommended for you, is regularly advised. Read more about implants and implant care.
Gums that bleed or feel tender
Sore, swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath and gums that are pulling back from the teeth can all be signs of gum infection. A water flosser can make daily cleaning along the gumline easier, but it does not diagnose or treat gum disease. If bleeding keeps happening, it is worth an exam. See gum disease treatment in Timonium and our post on bleeding gums after a cleaning.
Trouble handling string floss
Wrapping floss around your fingers and guiding it between back teeth takes dexterity. Stiff joints, a large hand in a small mouth, or a strong gag reflex can all make floss hard to use. A water flosser only needs you to hold a handle and move the tip slowly along your teeth.
What a water flosser can’t do
A water flosser is a home care tool, not a replacement for professional care. Once soft plaque hardens into tartar, it sticks to the tooth and cannot be rinsed away at home. A professional cleaning every six months is recommended, and cleaning appointments at the practice last a full 60 minutes so the hygienist has time to remove plaque and tartar thoroughly and check on the health of your gums. Learn more about dental cleanings and preventive care.
A water flosser also cannot tell you whether a spot of bleeding is a brief irritation or the start of gum disease, whether a tooth has early decay, or whether an implant is healthy. Those answers come from an exam, digital X-rays and, where it helps, tools such as DIAGNOdent laser decay detection.
Tips for getting started
- Start low. Use the lowest pressure setting for the first several days, then increase it slowly if it feels comfortable.
- Use lukewarm water. Cold water can be uncomfortable if your teeth are sensitive.
- Take your time. Moving the tip too quickly skips spaces between teeth. Pause at each one.
- Keep it clean. Empty the reservoir after each use and follow the maker’s instructions for cleaning the tip and tank.
- Ask before adding anything. Plain water works for most people. If a rinse such as chlorhexidine would help you, your dental team can tell you when and how to use it.
- Pick a routine you will keep. The best time to use a water flosser is the time you will remember every day.
A note on tonsil stones
People sometimes search for water flossers in connection with tonsil stones. A water flosser is designed for teeth and gums, and the tonsils sit at the back of the throat. If tonsil stones are bothering you, a physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist is the right person to ask how to manage them safely, rather than aiming a jet of water at the throat.
How Dr. Haywood’s team can help with home care
Every mouth is different. Braces, a bridge, implants, gum pockets, crowded teeth or sensitive areas all change which cleaning tools make sense. At your visit, the team can look at where plaque is collecting, check your gums, and suggest a routine that fits your teeth, your dental work and your hands. If gum infection is present, care at the practice is non-surgical, and general dentistry at the Timonium office includes check-ups, digital X-rays, cleanings, oral cancer screening and gum disease treatment in one place.
Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS has more than 35 years of experience, and patients come to the Timonium office from Towson, Hunt Valley, Baltimore and Shrewsbury, PA.
Paying for your visit
The practice is out of network with all dental insurance providers. You pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for whatever it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with plans from 3 to 24 months. See financing options.
Frequently asked questions
Who made the original Waterpik?
The first water flosser was developed in the early 1960s in Fort Collins, Colorado, by dentist Dr. Gerald Moyer and hydraulics engineer John Mattingly. It was sold under the Waterpik name, which many people still use for any water flosser.
Do dentists approve of water flossers?
Many dental professionals recommend water flossers as part of home care, especially for people with braces, bridges or implants, or for anyone who finds string floss hard to use. For implant home care, the practice’s own advice includes a Hydrofloss irrigator. Ask at your next visit whether one suits your mouth.
Can a water flosser replace string floss?
They clean in different ways. Floss wipes plaque from the tight contact between teeth, while a water flosser flushes along the gumline and around dental work. Some people use both. If you do not floss at all, a water flosser is a good way to start cleaning between your teeth.
Is a water flosser good for dental implants?
It can be. The practice’s implant care advice lists a Hydrofloss irrigator alongside interdental brushes and end-tuft brushes, with irrigation using plain water or 0.12% chlorhexidine regularly recommended, plus professional implant cleanings every 3 to 4 months.
Do I still need professional cleanings?
Yes. Tartar cannot be rinsed away at home. A professional cleaning every six months is recommended, and cleaning appointments at the practice last a full 60 minutes.
Get help with your home care routine in Timonium
If you are wondering whether a water flosser, floss or another tool is the right fit, or your gums have been bleeding, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093. New patients are always welcome.
Ready to see your future smile?
Ask the Timonium team which home care tools suit your teeth, gums and dental work.
