Irrigator

Disassembled oral irrigator from the manufacturer Water Pik

In oral hygiene, the oral irrigator is an instrument with which food residues and plaque can be removed from the spaces between the teeth by means of a jet of water without replacing the toothbrush .

principle

Most oral irrigators use a single jet of water to wash away unwanted material from between your teeth. Compared to dental floss , the oral irrigator is also suitable for tight teeth or hard-to-reach spaces between the teeth.

There are also devices on the market with which the gums can be massaged in a targeted manner with sophisticated massage heads . In addition, a subgingival nozzle used as an attachment can be used to introduce a mouthwash solution into the gingival pockets.

Some newer devices are also characterized by the use of so-called micro-air bubble technology. In contrast to conventional oral irrigators, the water in the tank is additionally enriched with air (oxygen) by means of a second pump and released into the oral cavity in the form of an air-water mixture when it leaves the nozzle. This mixture, consisting of millions of microscopic air bubbles (micro-air bubbles), serves on the one hand to gently remove plaque and on the other hand to enrich the area of the tooth pockets with oxygen. This supply of oxygen is an efficient means of eliminating anaerobic bacteria (living without air) that can settle in the tooth pockets in the absence of oxygen. These anaerobic bacteria are one of the most common causes of bad breath.

history

The oral irrigator was invented in 1962 by engineer John Mattingly and his dentist Gerald Moyer . To sell their invention, they jointly founded the Aqua Tec company . In 1967 this was acquired by Teledyne , which was finally renamed Teledyne Waterpik in 1975 . Today the company waterpik is the market leader in the USA and the brand waterpik (or water pick ) is synonymous in the American-speaking world with the English equivalent of the term oral irrigator .

criticism

Dentists classify the oral irrigator as a wellness product, as it cannot replace the medically sensible cleaning with toothbrushes and dental floss. Only a possible improvement of the gum blood flow through the massage effect is possible. On the other hand, there is the risk that food residues will be washed into the tooth pockets through incorrect use (“rinsing out the tooth pockets”) and damage the tooth and gums there. Because of this danger, the majority of dentists advise against using oral irrigators.

However, other studies have shown that the oral irrigator is superior to floss for removing plaque.

Further use

For some oral irrigators, there are attachments with which the device can be used for nasal rinsing if you have a cold .
There are also attachments for cleaning the tongue for some oral irrigators .

literature

Susann Luthardt: The pioneer of oral prophylaxis (PDF; 337 kB) , Dentalzeitung 2005/03

Individual evidence

↑ Dentist rating: Does the use of an oral irrigator make sense? ( Memento from May 30, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Jahn, CA (2010). "The dental water jet: A historical review of the literature". Journal of dental hygiene 84 (3): 114-20. PMID 20579423 .
↑ Barnes, CM; Russell, CM; Reinhardt, RA; Payne, JB; Lyle, DM (2005). "Comparison of irrigation to floss as an adjunct to tooth brushing: Effect on bleeding, gingivitis, and supragingival plaque". The Journal of clinical dentistry 16 (3): 71-7. PMID 16305005 .

[1] Dentist rating: Does the use of an oral irrigator make sense? ( Memento from May 30, 2011 in the Internet Archive )

[2] Jahn, CA (2010). "The dental water jet: A historical review of the literature". Journal of dental hygiene 84 (3): 114-20. PMID 20579423 .

[3] Barnes, CM; Russell, CM; Reinhardt, RA; Payne, JB; Lyle, DM (2005). "Comparison of irrigation to floss as an adjunct to tooth brushing: Effect on bleeding, gingivitis, and supragingival plaque". The Journal of clinical dentistry 16 (3): 71-7. PMID 16305005 .