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Q: What is an oral irrigating device?
A: An oral irrigating device is a tool that directs a high-pressure stream of water and is useful is cleaning out hard-to-reach spots in your mouth. They come in two basic types: electric, which makes controlling water pressure and temperature easy, and manual, through which temperature and pressure is controlled through a faucet. The electric type can also send a pulsing stream. Either type produces a stream that can hit spots you can't reach through either brushing or flossing. The stream also massages gums and stimulates circulation.
While irrigators are not recommended for children under the age of 12, for those 12 and up who wear orthodontic fittings, the irrigator can be particularly helpful in flushing out all the little nooks and crannies around the bands. Likewise, for older people with fixed bridges, the stream allows for a complete flushing of food debris. The oral irrigating device is not a substitute for brushing or flossing. For one thing, the stream of water will not remove plaque and it will flush only debris that's been loosened by a brush or floss. Talk with your dentist about whether an oral irrigating device is right for you.
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