7 mistakes when choosing an oral irrigator
The benefits of irrigators are no longer in doubt. More and more people who used to use only a toothbrush are thinking about buying this device. But only irrigator irrigator irrigator is not the same, and if you make a mistake in the choice, the benefits of it will be a little.
1. Insufficient power
The main reason for dissatisfaction with the purchase of most owners of irrigators - low jet pressure. What pressure will be optimal for you, it is impossible to say in advance - everyone has different gum sensitivity, and you should also take into account other factors: age, the presence of diseases of the teeth and gums, and so on. It is best to consult with a dentist before purchasing, who will help you choose the optimal characteristics of the device.
It is often recommended to choose models with a maximum pressure of at least 250-300 KPa - it is considered safe and suitable for most adult users. However, many people consider a pressure of 600-700 KPa to be the most appropriate.
This pressure is not suitable for everyone, some people may feel painful (especially at first), so you should start with lower values. But if the maximum pressure of the selected irrigator does not exceed 650 KPa, be prepared that one day it will seem insufficient to you.
If you have already used an irrigator, and you know what pressure is comfortable for you, you can make a choice based on your experience. Keep in mind only that little-known manufacturers often exaggerate this value by 1.5-2 times. And the pressure of 900 KPa of some unfamiliar brand may feel weaker than 550 KPa of Waterpik irrigator.
If you have not used an irrigator before, it is better to take a model with a pressure variable in the range of at least 200 to 700 KPa. Starting with the minimum values, most likely, you will soon move to higher, and then - and the maximum.
2. Excessive minimum pressure
Almost all irrigators have pressure adjustment. The upper pressure range is limited by power. But the lower pressure limit can be any, but it is sometimes quite high, especially with a small number of modes of operation.
Children under 7 years old, people with hypersensitive teeth and gums, even a pressure of 200 KPa, comfortable for most people, may seem unacceptable.
It is especially important not to "over-pressurize" children - the enamel of milk teeth contains fewer minerals, is thinner and weaker than permanent teeth. The dentin of milk teeth is also weaker due to its greater friability. Therefore, many dentists generally recommend using an irrigator only after the change of teeth to permanent teeth, otherwise there is a great risk of damaging the enamel of the water jet. If for some reason it is desirable to use an irrigator on baby teeth, choose a model with a minimum pressure of no more than 50-70 KPa and use it on the minimum modes of operation.
3. Buy a portable instead of a stationary one
Once you are sure that the maximum pressure is enough for you, do not rush to buy an irrigator - it is quite possible that you just can not comfortably use it. Many irrigators in full performance mode use half a liter of water per minute or more. The volume is definitely not for a portable irrigator, and not every stationary can boast a tank of such capacity.
If you don't want to be interrupted to refill water, choose among irrigators with a reservoir capacity of at least 500 ml. These models can only be stationary, so make sure you find a place for it near the sink and a socket nearby.
4. Not enough nozzles
Quite a common situation: the irrigator suits everyone, but there are not enough nozzles.
First, the irrigator head is a personal hygiene item - just like a toothbrush - and each family member should have his or her own.
Second, in many cases, specialty attachments are required:
- For cleaning gum pockets, thin spout nozzles made of soft-coated material that does not irritate sensitive gum skin are used.
- To clean braces and other orthodontic structures, a special nozzle is needed to create a thin jet of increased power. Usually has a nozzle end nozzle made of stronger plastic or metal.
- Brush attachments to facilitate plaque removal.
It often happens that the future owner of an irrigator is guided in the choice of price and maximum pressure, without paying much attention to the equipment and expecting to buy additional attachments as needed. Alas, to do this is not always possible - especially for devices of little-known manufacturers that do not have in Russia sales centers and official support. And even for well-known manufacturers the necessary attachments may be in short supply. Therefore - especially if you know for sure that you need a certain nozzle - take care of the necessary equipment at the stage of choosing an irrigator.
5. Low reliability
Irrigator works in the bathroom and is often stored there. And this is high humidity, the risk of splashing or even falling under the water jet. Many irrigators have some degree of moisture protection, but even the IP68 designation (maximum degree of moisture protection) on the body does not guarantee that the device will remain airtight for many years.
Most of the breakdowns of inexpensive irrigators occur just because of water ingress on the electrical parts of the device. The fact is that to produce a compact waterproof device that uses water as a working body, and even equipped with several buttons and controls - a difficult task. It can be solved only if quality materials are used and if there is a high production culture.
Therefore, do not save on the reliability of the irrigator - choose from the products of trusted brands that have been producing quality irrigators for years. These are, for example, WaterPik, B.Well, Panasonic, Philips, Oral-B.
6. Noise
This is not mentioned much, so it can be an unexpected nuisance for the buyer - some irrigators are very noisy, creating a certain discomfort during operation. Moreover, the noise level is not given in the characteristics of any model, so it will be difficult to learn about this feature in advance.
If you do not want to disturb the morning toilet of the household, the only thing that remains is to read reviews on the selected model before buying: high noise level does not like many people.
7. No pulsating or microbubble jet
The effectiveness of cleaning with a simple jet is much lower than a pulsating or saturated with microbubbles.
Therefore, irrigators with a jet without pulsation and bubbles are almost not produced today. But it is "almost" - if you do not show due attention when choosing, the trouble can be found when it is too late to hand over the device.
So when choosing an irrigator double-check the characteristics of the device: the principle of water jet should be pulsating or pulsating + microbubble, with the number of pulsations in the range of 1200-2000.
