Ok, so as of this past weekend, I really didn’t know what Waterpik was….I had no idea there was even such a thing as a water flosser. Call me backwoods, out of the loop, whatever….we’d just always used regular string floss. Who knew there was an easier way to floss teeth? I bet if more parents knew this was an option, there’d be way less cavities in this world (just my opinion….Disclaimer: I make no claims as to the effectiveness of this machine at cavity prevention….all words are my own opinions from personal experience with the product).
Now that that’s out of the way….I’m going to dish about the latest parenting tool, which I happened to find in Parents Magazine. Yeah, tooth care is definitely parenting, and my dentist is NOT afraid to tell me if I’m not doing a good job with my boys’ teeth.
So, what is the Waterpik Water Flosser? It is a flossing machine, simply put. Instead of string, you use water. The pressure of the water on the gums forces the food and plaque out from between the teeth. It’s definitely an easier, more comfortable way to floss teeth, and it’s guaranteed to be 3x’s as effective as flossing, 5x’s as effective as brushing alone. If you’ve been to the dentist, you’ve probably had water sprayed in your mouth. This is the same concept. It’s pressurized water (adjustable) flowing around the gums and between the teeth as your child points the sprayer around the top of the gum line, swishing between the teeth.
Why did I want to try this? I wanted to try it because I admit….I’m not the most faithful at flossing. I’ve been thinking I really need to be flossing their teeth (especially with an approaching appointment, like, tomorrow???), but it’s such a chore. Not that it’s not totally worth it and doesn’t need done….it does. But why not cut some of the hassle, especially if there is a better, more effective way? My oldest has had cavities, and it’s not something I want for him. I want him to go to the dentist and get that clean bill of teeth, so to say. I want him to walk out, not having to return for another 6 months. My youngest likes to eat the sweets. Though he is limited, I’m still concerned about his teeth.
We are now using this flosser, and my boys actually look forward to using it. It’s one of the fun chores they enjoy. Jacob’s pretty much able to handle it by himself, but Jaden needs a bit of help. We’ve started out with the lowest setting, but we’ll gradually increase the pressure for a better cleaning. I will say that the process is a bit messy and needs to be done over a sink, washrag in hand. We had more than one instance of spray all over the mirror, just getting used to the flosser.
You can purchase the Waterpik Water Flosser at Walmart for around $50, plus there is a coupon in this month’s issue of Parents Magazine for $5 off! Be sure to check it out! I’d also recommend separate tips for all children (to prevent transfer of germs). Also, be sure to supervise when flosser is in use by children of any age.
We work hard as parents….why not take just one tedious task on our parenting journey and turn it into something fun, not to mention easy? Who knows….it may lead to just another 6 month checkup.
(Disclosure: This shop was part of a social insights study for Collective Bias. All views/opinions remain solely my own and reflect our family’s experience with the product. Thank you, CB!)
