Does a Water Flosser Actually Work? (And Are You Using Yours Right?)

Does a water flosser actually work? Yes. I've been recommending them my entire career, and this video shows you why, what the research says about them, and the way I teach patients to use one, which is two passes at two different angles, ninety degrees and then forty-five. Most people who own one only do the first pass. In my practice, the second pass is where I see the difference. And there's a simple test at your next cleaning to know whether it's working for you. This is the first of a new set of short videos. Every one of them is a question a patient brought into my chair over the last month or two, about something they saw online, bought, or were about to buy. Some of these things work. Some really don't. One video each, and I'll tell you what I tell them. What we cover: • Who a water flosser is for, and why string floss is a struggle for so many people • Where water reaches that floss can't, including old fillings, bridges, bonded retainers and implants • What the research shows on bleeding, gum inflammation and plaque • String floss or water flosser, and why the one you'll use every night wins • The order: floss, then brush, then a fluoride rinse if you rinse • Pass one at ninety degrees and pass two at forty-five, with a few practical tips • The rubber gum massager, and why removing the cause beats a massage • What to expect in the first two weeks • The simple test at your next cleaning, "appropriately dirty for the recall interval" CHAPTERS 0:00 Does a water flosser actually work? 0:29 A new set of videos 0:53 Who a water flosser is for 1:34 Where water reaches that floss can't 2:20 What the research says 3:09 String floss or water flosser 3:45 Floss, brush, rinse 3:59 Two passes, two angles 5:15 Practical tips 6:00 The rubber tip 6:22 Start now, and what to expect 7:06 The simple test 7:42 Wrap-up and how to reach us THE DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK? SERIES 1. Does a Water Flosser Actually Work? You are watching this one 2. Does charcoal toothpaste actually work? Coming next Jackson Family Dentistry | 2033 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515 (630) 963-6750 | jacksonfamilydentistry.us | linktr.ee/JacksonFamilyDentistryIL Eric G. Jackson, DDS, MAGD, FICOI, FASD, FICD, FADI, FPFA, FACD Nine-time Chicago Magazine Top Dentist (2018–2026) • Master of the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), an honor held by fewer than 1% of dentists worldwide • Olympic Team USA Volunteer Team Dentist (2022–2026) • Past President, Academy for Sports Dentistry (2021–2022) Note: This video is general educational information and not a substitute for an individualized dental exam or a treatment quote. Consult your own dentist about your own mouth.