The Effect of a Dental Water Jet with Orthodontic Tip on Plaque and Bleeding in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients with Fixed Appliances
Objective
To compare the use of a manual toothbrush and the Waterpik™ Water Flosser with the Orthodontic Tip to manual toothbrushing and flossing with a floss threader, in terms of bleeding and plaque biofilm reduction in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances.
A control group consisted of brushing only.
Methodology
One hundred and five adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances participated in this single-centre, randomised study. Bleeding and plaque biofilm scores were collected at baseline, day fourteen, and day twenty-eight.
Results
The Waterpik Water Flosser was over three times more effective than flossing and over five times more effective than brushing alone for reducing plaque biofilm.
For bleeding, the Water Flosser was 26% more effective than flossing and 53% more effective than brushing alone.
Conclusion
Adding a Waterpik Water Flosser with the Orthodontic Tip to manual toothbrushing is significantly more effective at improving oral health in adolescent orthodontic patients than adding manual floss or brushing only.