San Antonio Orthodontist, Dr. Keith Blalock and his team at Braces By Blalock understand that some patients who wear braces may have difficulties brushing and flossing between hard to reach wires and brackets.

Fortunately, there’s something called the water pick. A water pick (oral irrigator) is a device that aims a stream of water at your teeth. Some of our patients use a water pick to flush out food particles that may be stuck between their teeth as the water can reach behind the wires and hit spots where brushing and flossing may miss.  For people with gum disease, a water pick can be effective in cleaning out bacteria that may be lodged inside the gum pockets.

Generally, water picks are friendly to braces and gentle on gums. But even though they are beneficial, they are never a substitute for brushing and flossing. For example, water pick is not able to remove the plaque as effectively as flossing can. To get the best results from your San Antonio Orthodontic treatment, you should supplement the water pick to your normal routine of brushing and flossing.

If you have other questions regarding water picks or ways to keep your braces clean and healthy, please give ask us at your next visit or give us a call.