Water picks, also known as oral irrigators or dental water jets, have become a popular tool for enhancing home dental hygiene. These devices are widely used as an alternative or supplement to traditional string flossing, utilizing a focused stream of water to clean the mouth. A common question centers on whether this high-pressure water stream can tackle the two main forms of buildup that threaten oral health: soft plaque and hardened tartar.
Defining Plaque and Tartar
Plaque is a soft, sticky, and colorless film that constantly forms on the surface of your teeth, consisting of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. This film, also called dental biofilm, can be removed relatively easily through regular brushing and flossing because it is only loosely adhered to the tooth enamel.
In contrast, tartar, or calculus, is plaque that has mineralized and hardened. This hardening process occurs when calcium and phosphate minerals naturally present in saliva bond with the plaque biofilm, typically within 24 to 72 hours. Once calcified, the deposit bonds tightly to the tooth surface. Tartar is a rough, dense, and hardened substance that can appear yellow or brown, making it impossible to remove with routine home care tools.
The Direct Answer: Water Picks and Tartar
The definitive answer is that a water pick cannot remove existing, hardened tartar. Tartar is a mineralized deposit that adheres firmly to the tooth enamel, often extending below the gum line. Its crystalline structure requires a physical scraping action to break the bond with the tooth surface. The mechanical force generated by the pulsating water stream is simply not strong enough to dislodge this solid, stone-like substance.
What Water Picks Are Designed to Accomplish
While water picks cannot remove tartar, they are highly effective tools designed to remove loose plaque and food debris, preventing the formation of tartar. The device works by emitting a steady stream of water that pulses rapidly, creating a jet of water that cleans below the gum line and between the teeth. This pulsating action, combined with pressure, is effective at disrupting and washing away the soft, sticky dental biofilm that causes decay and gum disease.
Clinical studies have indicated that water flossers, when used correctly, can remove a significant percentage of plaque biofilm from the treated area. The water stream flushes out bacteria and food particles from interproximal spaces and the gingival sulcus (the shallow groove between the tooth and the gum). The regular use of an oral irrigator helps to reduce gingivitis and gum bleeding by preventing the accumulation of the bacteria that cause inflammation.
Water picks are particularly beneficial for individuals with specialized dental needs due to their ability to clean hard-to-reach areas. Patients with orthodontic appliances, such as braces, find the water jet highly useful for cleaning around wires and brackets where traditional floss is difficult to maneuver. Similarly, those with dental implants, bridges, or crowns can use the targeted stream to clean the surfaces of these restorations and the surrounding gum tissue. Specialized tips are also available for individuals with periodontal pockets, allowing the water to penetrate deeper than traditional methods to flush out bacteria.
The Essential Role of Professional Cleaning
Since water picks and other at-home tools are unable to remove hardened calculus, professional dental visits remain the only solution for established tartar buildup. Dentists and dental hygienists use specialized instruments, a process known as scaling, to mechanically scrape the mineralized deposits from the tooth surface, both above and below the gum line. Scaling can be performed using manual hand instruments or ultrasonic devices that vibrate rapidly to chip away the tartar.
For cases where tartar has built up deep below the gum line, a procedure called scaling and root planing may be necessary. This deep cleaning removes the calculus and also smooths the root surfaces to prevent bacteria from reattaching in the future. Regular checkups, typically every six months, are necessary to remove accumulated tartar and prevent the progression of gum disease.