
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Oral irrigator
Introduction
Overview
Overview
An oral irrigator (or water pick) is a device that is used to clear away food debris from teeth using a pulsating water jet. It is mostly used by people with braces (to replace dental floss), or periodontal problems (or for the prevention of periodontal problems, cleaning the gingival sulcus).
Some oral irrigators (such as HydroFloss and Oxycare 3000) ionize the water, claiming better cleaning; they are also called “hydromagnetic”.
