Waterpik Cordless Dental Irrigator

Waterpik Cordless Dental Irrigator (we call it the water thingy)

WARNING: This review contains gory information that may leave you rushing for the nearest pharmacy.

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PERSONAL BIT - scroll down for the technical stuff

There was a programme on TV a couple of months ago. One of those 'World's worst' or 'Something from Hell' things. It was about people with bad teeth. Not just bad teeth, ...
...before.

The Waterpik comes with 2 types of cleaning head - both basically tubes that go on the top of the body and allow the water to jet out at different rates. My daughter and I progressed to the faster/harder jet after a week, my husband and son have stuck to the wussy beginners' ones.

This gadget gives your teeth a thorough cleaning that brushing alone simply cannot manage - because the brush can't get between your ... more

Waterpik Cordless Dental Irrigator (we call it the water thingy)

WARNING: This review contains gory information that may leave you rushing for the nearest pharmacy.

~~~~

PERSONAL BIT - scroll down for the technical stuff

There was a programme on TV a couple of months ago. One of those 'World's worst' or 'Something from Hell' things. It was about people with bad teeth. Not just bad teeth, but rotting, stinking, barely-there stumps. They showed one poor chap who had what they termed 'apple-core' decay. His teeth were decaying at the sides. It was pretty disgusting.

Now this made me sit up (I'm normally slumped on the sofa) and take notice (I usually go into a trance-like state when watching TV, it could be anything flickering away there, except sport). We had been on one of those stomach-churning family excursions to the dentist just days before and I had been given the dread news that both I and my daughter had some decay - at the SIDES of our precious teeth. (They're precious because I know how expensive crowns are.)

Now I think I look after my teeth pretty well. I brush for ages, use a good electric toothbrush, don't eat much sugar and don't drink sodas and fruit juices (except when I am visiting people in hospital and there is little else to buy). But I can't floss because the stuff gets stuck and I can never get it out from between my teeth. They are a bit close together (did you know that's because of too much sugar in the Western diet? Apparently it is making our jaws smaller and producing so much overcrowding of teeth and BMWs for orthodontists). Also, a couple of my fillings go onto the sides of my teeth and the flossing cord gets caught on them.

So I was delighted, when making one of my quick (=2 hours) trips around Boots, to see something called a Waterpik. This looks a seriously good product, like something a proper dentist would use. It projects a jet of water at your gums (to tone them up, stop them receding and get the blood flowing round them) and between your teeth to slough out stuff that isn't supposed to be in there. But it is around £30. Serious money. I put it down, left the shop, dithered outside, went back in, picked it up again, put it down again ……

Eventually, a week later, after family discussions, we trooped back and bought one. And boy, were we glad we did. We got things out of our teeth that we had lost years before.

The Waterpik comes with 2 types of cleaning head - both basically tubes that go on the top of the body and allow the water to jet out at different rates. My daughter and I progressed to the faster/harder jet after a week, my husband and son have stuck to the wussy beginners' ones.

This gadget gives your teeth a thorough cleaning that brushing alone simply cannot manage - because the brush can't get between your teeth. It makes your gums feel alive and gives them a good, healthy pink glow. Your mouth after brushing feels fresh but in my opinion still not quite clean but with the Waterpik your mouth feels fully refreshed and clean and extra healthy. I use the Waterpik after brushing, when my teeth feel really clean, and am always amazed at what comes out from between my teeth. Bits of apple peel, strands of celery, bits of nuts and seeds (did I mention I'm a parrot?!). It is an amazing product that works out a lot cheaper than dental floss or toothpicks, and gives you a much more thorough clean!

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

The Waterpik dental jet is made by a company called Waterpik - Waterpik Technologies actually. They have been going for 40 years, with a good track record in the health care industry.

The jet is a sturdy little gadget. It is made of white plastic with a blue reservoir for the water. It comes with 2 types of tips - hollow tubes that allow the water through - blue and clear, the blue ones being for beginners.

It is clinically proven 93% more effective than flossing at reducing gum disease - quite an impressive statistic. And 50% reduction in gum inflammation compared to just brushing.

It massages gums to make them strong & healthy. The company promises healthier gums in just 14 days - I'd back that up actually, mine looked and felt healthier in just a few days.

It removes bacteria deep between the teeth and below the gumline, which is usually impossible to reach.

It is ideal for cleaning around braces and other dental work - my son's brace was one of the reasons we bought ours and it certainly appears to have helped him. People with braces often have months old bits of food lodged in their metalwork. The Waterpik is safe for use on braces and really helps keep them fresh and clean.

The Waterpik site has a nifty video showing a jazzy American 'Ultra' jet in action - http://www.waterpik.com/dentalcare/. Not the same one as we're talking about here but worth a view.

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PRICE

The Waterpik retails at around £30. But it is often (i.e. a couple of times a year) included in Boots' 3for2 offers. So if you have 2 friends who also want one, you could get them together and pay only £20 each.

The offer is on at the time of writing (22nd August 2007).

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PROBLEMS

Surprisingly, yes. Our first one stopped working. We had dropped it in the sink and chipped a bit off it and assumed that was the reason. We were waiting for Boots' next 3for2 offer to buy a new one (plus a shed load of toothpaste-type stuff), when I thought I would take a chance with Waterpik's Customer Service Department. Well, they were wonderful. We sent it back to them and they replaced it with a brand new one. We were delighted.

We also found out that it was our fault it stopped working. It was because we were in the habit of leaving it charging whenever we weren't using it - because we didn't want to be without it. But that is bad for the battery. You have to not recharge until it has run out completely. Every couple of days we leave it running to run it down and then charge it overnight and then it lasts for about 4 days. That isn't bad with 4 of us using it.

I use it morning and evening, as does my daughter, after brushing. The guys use it just at night - they are too busy in the mornings. You can use it with plain water or add some mouthwash. I use warm water from the tap as I find the cold too jarring.

One tip, ladies, is to use it before you do your makeup. This can be a messy business and you don't want your foundation dripping down the sink.

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CONCLUSION

This is on of the 'must have' products in our house. I really wouldn't want to be without it. 

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