Water Picks/Oral Irrigator

[Red Rock]

Not only does TE encourage/enable the n + 1 rule when it comes to bikes...but crazy things like this to keep your mouth healthy. I went out and purchased one today after reading this thread.

As I have become older, I now have two crowns and a root canal. (I never thought I would have any of these when I was in my 20's.) I certaninly do not want any more work done on my mouth, that is for sure. Not only that, a friend of mine has dentures. The thought of that really scares me.

My first husband was a dental tech by trade, so he knew all about making crowns, bridges and things like that. I used one when he and I were married but have not since. I have been a regular flosser and all other good habits. I hope this tool willl be good for my mouth as well.

Thanks for the encouragement Clock and others.

To clean and healthy teeth.

Red Rock

[indysteel]

Good on you Red Rock! I really need to dust mine off. One of the biggest reasons I got braces at age 37 is that my teeth were too crowded in a lot of places to floss effectively. Well, that's fixed, but now I have the opposite problem in that I have a couple of larger spaces between a some back teeth where food really likes to get stuck. A water pik would help.

Root canals are awful or so I hear, but what's even worse--according to both of my parents--is the treatment for peridontal disease--and that's really what a water pik will most help with. And peridontal disease is linked to heart disease, so it's just bad all the way around.

[Red Rock]

Indysteel,

I came home and gave it it's inital go through. Wating for tonight to see what junk I get out of my mouth. That is where the excitement begins.

Peridontal disease does not sound fun. I can only imagine that -or not really, I've never been there. I hope your parents are handling it ok. Now to dust off yours....

Red Rock

[indysteel]

Be sure to read the instructions carefully. You might look to see if there are any resources on the Web (youtube, perhaps?) for videos on how best to use it so that you don't injure your gums or drive food and plaque under the gum line. Oh, and don't be surprised if you end up spraying yourself and your bathroom with water!

My parents have had a nightmare with their teeth and I know for my mom, it's a source of much shame. She has dentures now, but when I noted how nice her smile looked a few years ago (prior to that, it honestly and sadly looked pretty horrible), she flat out that she'd had anything done. I left it at that, and have never brought it up again.

[Red Rock]

Instructions were very good. So I had no problems. Believe it or not...having had prior usage actually helped. I did not spray the sink or mirrors. My technique was fairly good but getting better.

Red Rock

[indysteel]

I did not spray the sink or mirrors. My technique was fairly good but getting better.

Red Rock

That's good! I've managed to give myself a bath with my water pik more than once!

[badger]

my dentist said that I have periodontal disease, so he recommended I use an oral irrigator. I looked into the waterpic but didn't want a big, bulky thing on the counter so I got a battery-operated Panasonic

I've been very happy with it. My gums bled for a long time, but now I use the higher setting and they don't bleed anymore. My dental check up was much better the last time, too.

I was also told to floss after I brush, as there would be more chance for gunk to get under your gums before you brush.