Waterpik Flosser

.../> When I spotted the Waterpik battery flosser in Boots I thought that this perhaps would help me solve my problem I was abit nervous of spending nearly £20 but read on to see my verdict.

Packaging

The flosser is packed in heavy duty plastic and is designed to hang on a metal display hook in the shop. I found the pack amongst the dental goods (floss, plaque removers etc) in Boots. I found the packaging attractive and ...
...opening rather than having to open a box. The information card has a turquoise background with some white and some black writing. The print is very clear with different sized font which draws the eye. In particular the word flosser is large and bold and each white letter has a black shadow giving it depth and making it stand out even more. An attractive large star shape glistens and gleams behind the writing.

Getting into the pack ... more

Bleeding Gums! Not the result anyone wants from cleaning their teeth. Instead of that sparkling just brushed freshness you get a horrible stale taste in your mouth which doesn't give you any confidence.

Over the years my dentist has continually reminded me to floss between my teeth however every time I have tried to follow his advice I have been put off by several problems. The bleeding is one problem and the other one is using ordinary waxed floss.

My teeth are quite close together and are a mix of crowns and fillings so using floss proved extremely difficult as the floss would get jammed between the molars. It would then break off leaving me the unpleasant job of trying to retrieve this annoying bit of floss stuck in the crevice between teeth. I've lost track of the number of times that I have tried to remove stubborn pieces of floss. It's probably highly comical to witness me doing this but certainly frustrating for me!

I thought that I had found the answer with interdental picks (sold by Boots) which look like mini pipecleaners and which slide a lot easier between teeth and remove lots of debris. The main problem however was the cost. I found that I was spending a great deal on continually replacing the packs as the little brushes only lasted one or two sessions.

When I spotted the Waterpik battery flosser in Boots I thought that this perhaps would help me solve my problem I was abit nervous of spending nearly £20 but read on to see my verdict.

Packaging

The flosser is packed in heavy duty plastic and is designed to hang on a metal display hook in the shop. I found the pack amongst the dental goods (floss, plaque removers etc) in Boots. I found the packaging attractive and liked the way you can see all the contents without opening rather than having to open a box. The information card has a turquoise background with some white and some black writing. The print is very clear with different sized font which draws the eye. In particular the word flosser is large and bold and each white letter has a black shadow giving it depth and making it stand out even more. An attractive large star shape glistens and gleams behind the writing.

Getting into the pack proved difficult and I needed scissors to cut down the sides. Although it looks as though the sides will pull apart I needed to use quite a lot of force to cut into the plastic. The manufacturers need to look at alternative packaging as older people would find the present arrangement difficult.

The information card contained an instruction leaflet, a market research questionnaire for US customers only (don't they want to know what UK customers think?) and a bright orange slip advising on best whitening results and how to obtain them. The packaging also includes 1 tip plus 45 extra whitening tips and an extra coloured sleeve so that the flosser can be used by another person. The flosser comes complete with a heavy duty battery, AA size, which is already installed. To install a new one you simply pull down the handle to open the battery compartment and push back on when the change is completed. When you need refills these are sold in packs by Boots.

To operate
I found the flosser really easy to use. After brushing my teeth I then use the flosser. Starting at the front teeth you hold the flosser upright (the flosser is shaped like a right bend in the road sign with the tip at the end of the curve) and gently insert the tiny tip between your teeth near the gum line. Despite my earlier difficulties with floss tape I found that the flosser slid between my teeth with no difficulty however the manufacturers suggest adjusting the angle up or down if you have any resistance. Do not force the flosser into a tight space. Once in position you press a button on top of the flosser to start and release to stop. As you press the flosser moves at a rate of 10,000 strokes per minute. I find it easier to look into a mirror as I floss my teeth so that I can check my teeth as I go along.

My experience

No problems slipping the flosser tip between my teeth. I did feel a slight tingling sensation but otherwise nothing untoward. Afterwards my gums bled however in the instructions it tells you to continue to use the flosser for one to two weeks after which the problem should stop. I have found that my gums have stopped bleeding and I no longer suffer from inflammation. I have been able to use the flosser on all teeth except the very back molars which are inaccessible.

Claims

On the packaging the manufacturer makes 7 claims, here is my verdict on these claims:

1. Gentle - I agree. I haven't had the use any force, the flosser hasn't jammed between my teeth and I have only experienced mild tingling.

2. Fast 10,000 strokes a minute effectively removing plaque above and below the gum line - I agree. I have noticed white flecks of plaque being ejected. Impossible though to measure how many strokes though.

3. Effective cleans and whitens between teeth and gums. My teeth feel smooth after using the flosser and definitely cleaner.

4. Fresh and easy - I think it is very easy to use. You can change the floss tips daily if you want to though I find that mine last far longer and I just dip in mouthwash to remove any germs from the tip. I would have liked a top for the flosser and perhaps a wall holder would have been useful to keep it clean.

5. Whitening - The tips have a whitening agent containing silica which brightens teeth. Although I don't smoke I do find that tea stains my teeth so this helps keep them whiter.

6. Minty fresh - At first because of the bleeding problem the minty freshness was not obvious however now that problem is controlled each new tip makes my mouth feel fresher than before. Not a strong minty taste but rather a background taste.

7. Ergonomic - This is an award winning design as it won the medical design excellence award in 2001. I wouldn't argue with that as it is highly comfortable to use and I can see why it was given the award.

Verdict

At £19.99 the flosser is obviously a bigger investment than buying floss tape or interdental picks however over a long period I believe it offers better value for money. My husband and son would now like one each for their own use rather than having a share of mine.

If you buy at Boots like I did then you can use your loyalty card and collect points on your purchase. Look out for double or even triple points promotions.

I am delighted with this machine and have no hesitation in recommending this gadget. The flosser has improved my dental hygiene and I couldn't imagine being without it now. I wish I had known about it earlier.

 

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