What is a water pick and do I need one?

What is a water pick and do I need one? - Park Slope Kids Dental Care

Water picks, sometimes called “oral irrigators,” make an excellent addition to your regular home care regimen of brushing and flossing. Especially helpful to those who suffer from periodontal disease and those patients of ours undergoing orthodontic treatment with full-bracketed braces, water picks use powerful tiny bursts of water to dislodge food scraps, bacteria, and other debris nestled in the crevices of your mouth. Children undergoing orthodontic treatment may find using a water pick is beneficial if their toothbrush bristles tend to get caught on their wires or brackets.

When you use a water pick, you’re not only dislodging any particles or debris and bacteria you might have missed when brushing, you are also gently massaging the gums, which helps promote blood flow in the gums and keeps them healthy. While water picks are an excellent addition to your daily fight against gingivitis and other periodontal diseases, they are incapable of fully removing plaque, which is why the doctor and our team at Tanesha Francis want to remind you to keep brushing and flossing every day.

If you have sensitive teeth or gums and find it uncomfortable to floss daily, water picks are a good alternative to reduce discomfort while effectively cleaning between teeth. Diabetics sometimes prefer water picks to flossing because they don't cause bleeding of the gums, which can be a problem with floss. If you have a permanent bridge, crowns, or other dental restoration, you may find that a water pick helps you keep the area around the restorations clean.

So how do you choose the right water pick?

Water picks are available for home or portable use. The home versions tend to be larger and use standard electrical outlets, while portable models use batteries. Aside from the size difference, they work in the same manner, both using pulsating water streams. A more crucial difference between water picks is the ability to adjust the pressure. Most home models will let you choose from several pressure settings, depending on how sensitive your teeth and gums are. Most portable models have only one pressure setting. If you want to use mouthwash or a dental rinse in your water pick, check the label first; some models suggest using water only.

Please give us a call at our Brooklyn, New York office if you have any questions about water picks, or ask the doctor during your next visit!

Our Location

150 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (between Butler St. & Douglas St.)

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Park Slope Kids Dental Care

Monday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

alternating

Tuesday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

alternating

Sunday:

Closed

  • "My child had the best check-up ever… she even had to have a filling. My daughter didn’t feel any pain and said she really liked Dr Francis!! The office is also great and inviting. Overall a great experience."
    Felicia G.
  • "If you are looking for the perfect place to take your little one for his/her super-important first dental visit, this is the PERFECT FIT! I noticed the new practice that opened up in the neighborhood near where I work, and I’m so glad I gave it a try! Dr. Francis was amazing she made my little guy (he’s 3) feel completely at ease for his first appointment at the dentist. He don’t even cry once! If you knew my kid, you would know that is a major accomplishment! The office is clean and modern with state of the art equipment; totally unexpected for a kids dental office. I have decided to officially make Dr. Francis my munchkin’s dentist! I would definitely recommend the office to other parents and I have already passed the info along to friends and coworkers."
    Melanie M
  • "I have 3-year old twins and we visited Park Slope Kids Dental Care on 3/1 and it was a great experience. Dr. Francis is fantastic and her staff are wonderful. I had to reschedule my appointment at the last minute and they were super accommodating. The office is beautiful and kid-friendly–really. I’ve been to other offices where they claim to be kid-friendly and all I can see that makes it “friendly” are a few books and pint-size chairs. Nicole–mom to C & P (the best gifts ever)"
    Nicole M.
  • "Dr. T Francis at Park Slope Kids Dental Care is great. At our appt yesterday, I hadn’t wanted to let all three to the exam room at once because they would incite a riot, but the doctor said that she welcomed it. She also let my eldest hold instruments during her sisters’ exam. Lovely doctor; great practice."
    Nicole M
  • "I like that this a friendly kids environment dentist office. They make the kids very comfortable and happy smiling teeth. I recommend to every parent who looking for a kid zone dentist office that won’t have your kids screaming their head off."
    Tanya R.
  • "I cannot rave enough about this place! Dr. Francis was amazing and the staff was friendly and professional. The office is clean and modern, with lots of cool activities for kids. I like it that they will accomodate you if you don’t want your kid watching tv! A huge plus in my book! My son is 4 and the exam went off without a hitch. Before we knew it, his teeth were clean, his issues were addressed, and we were out the door with a balloon and a goodie bag! I was dreading this day, but we made it out without my son having a metldown! Dr. Francis is a godsend. This will be his dentist through college!!!!"
    Martien J