Types of oral irrigator and advantages and disadvantages

Oral irrigator cleans interdental spaces and supplements daily oral hygiene. Below is information about the types, advantages and disadvantages of oral irrigator.

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What is an oral irrigator?

Oral irrigator is a device that, in addition to brushing your teeth and using dental floss , can complement your daily dental care routine. For this purpose, an integrated water pump generates a concentrated jet of water with which leftover food and plaque are removed. Your mouth is given a shower that can lead to healthier gums and teeth. There are both electrical and mechanical models that equally generate a focused jet of water.

What are the advantages of an oral irrigator?

Effective removal of plaque / prevention of infectious diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis:  it is very difficult to remove deposits thoroughly with a toothbrush. Hard-to-reach areas are prone to plaque build-up . If you then try to remove them by force, you risk injuries, bleeding gums and inflammation . In this way, food scraps can also get deeper into the interdental spaces. The oral irrigator can act as a gentle interdental cleaner. The water jet can flush out plaque in a targeted manner. In this way, you can prevent dental diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease at the same time .

Gentle removal of almond stones: Almond stones (tonsil stones) mainly form in people who have suffered from tonsillitis several times. They are located in the scarred craters and furrows of the tonsils. In these spaces, small yellow-white lumps form due to leftover food, which bacteria also like to move around. This creates fermentation gases that produce unpleasant halitosis. The pipettes and tools provided for this purpose are not particularly suitable for removing the tonsil stones, as the risk of injury is very high. The tissue is very sensitive at this point. With the bundled water jet of an oral irrigator, the almond craters can be rinsed out in a targeted manner, but still without injury. It is important to ensure that the water pressure is not set too high and comes out of the nozzle in bundles.

Leftover food is washed away:  Even hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with an oral irrigator, as all you have to do is aim at it with the nozzle. The process is much easier and painless than with a toothbrush. In particular, it supports patients who have, for example, very narrow teeth and therefore difficult-to-access spaces between the teeth. Oral irrigators are also very suitable for braces ,  implants or prosthesis wearers to remove food residues and deposits and thus also prevent bad breath.

Easy to use:  Mouth rinsers are uncomplicated and almost child's play to use.

What are the disadvantages of an oral irrigator?

• An oral irrigator is no substitute for brushing your teeth every day
• Some mouth irrigators from the low-price segment produce an insufficient, weak water jet
• If you proceed carelessly and select too high a pressure level with a powerful device, you can injure sensitive tissue
• Not to be used for inflammation of the gums and other dental diseases: the water jet could cause bacteria to penetrate deeper into the gingival pockets and cause serious infections. It is essential to clarify the use of an oral irrigator with your dentist beforehand.

What types of irrigators are there?

The different models can be divided into two categories: stationary and mobile oral irrigators.
 

Stationary oral irrigators (dental center): These are connected to a pumping station by a hose.

Advantage: Dental centers with a hose have a large water tank, which is why they rarely need to be refilled. The stationary top models also have the best cleaning performance.

Disadvantage: With a dental center, teeth cannot be cleaned outside of the bathroom.

Braun (Oral-B) and Waterpik lead the market for stationary oral irrigators. If the oral irrigator is mainly used in the bathroom, then you don't necessarily need a tubeless variant. With stationary devices, you don't have to worry about batteries or a limited water tank. Thanks to the connection to the power grid, you can enjoy full performance. A model with a permanently installed pumping station is also suitable for anyone who does not want to hold a heavy device in their hand while cleaning. The handpieces correspond to the size of a standard, electric toothbrush and are easier to hold than mobile versions with a water tank. Thanks to their design, such devices have a sufficiently strong water jet that can also be used for gum massage and offers the best cleaning between the teeth.

Many people tend to forego cleaning if the irrigator is not close at hand. The hose can have a disruptive effect during use because it restricts movement.

Portable / mobile oral irrigators: The water tank is built into the handle here. There is no hose.

Advantage: In contrast to the stationary version, you are not tied to the pumping station when you use it and you can also clean outside the bathroom.

Disadvantage: the water supply and battery (and in a direct comparison also the pump power) are limited.

 

In Germany, mobile oral irrigators are mainly available from Philips and Panasonic. With these models, you can move freely while cleaning your teeth. They can easily be placed anywhere in the apartment and are therefore quickly at hand. Portable variants are also particularly suitable when traveling. If the built-in water tank is full, mobile interdental cleaners can be difficult and uncomfortable to hold. In addition, the water tank is empty very quickly, which is why you have to refill these devices more often than those with a separate pumping station. Most portable oral irrigators only have a water capacity for a single quick cleaning cycle.
 

What does an oral irrigator cost?

Oral irrigators are available in different price ranges, depending on the manufacturer. Cheap models are around 30 euros, while more expensive versions can cost up to 100 euros. It cannot be denied that a low price in most cases also means compromises in terms of quality and functionality.

As a professional manufacturer of electric toothbrush and oral irrigator / water flosser, Shenzhen Relish provides various types of electric toothbrush wholesale and OEM customized services. You can also wholesale water flosser from Relish at factory price. We can provide you highly competitive prices and look forward to working with you.