Waterpik

[vegathestar]

I got mine at around 20 bucks (damn cheap I know!) but i'm not sure if my cheap waterpik is any good. I was expecting the nozzle to be needle-thin but nah, it isn't. The hole (where water is shooting out from) is around the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen.

I realised that it hasn't been very effective in dislodging food out from my 2nd molars. I could literally see food when I floss after using the waterpik.
Guess mine is only useful for gums massaging.

I also realised that it works better after brushing.

[Viking]

They are hard to find/expensive in my home country, but I bought one on eBay UK yesterday. It should arrive in a week.

[kiwibug]

Thanks guys. My mouth almost never feels clean, so I'll definitely look into getting one, although the cheapest I've found is $145. Are there any Aussies out there who have bought one for less than that??

Why are they so expensive in Australia??

Also I read you can get a tongue cleaner extension for it. Has anybody tried that??

Have you tried amazon yet? I don't have braces yet, but being a Kiwi I know what you mean about everything being more expensive. I haven't looked into waterpiks yet, but I know I get a lot of things far cheaper on amazon than I'd be able to find anywhere here.

[zdenka]

I have one but honestly? I never use it :s It sounds ideal but somehow I just don't like it! Too messy and I have the travel-version which is 'empty' way too fast! Too much hassle for me...

Same here. I tried it a couple of times when I first got braces but didn't keep it up. I will give it another go today after reading everyone else's opinions. I feel like I can never clean properly the space between the teeth and the wire. Does anyone find the waterpik helps with that too or is it more of a flossing tool?

[Ashybear]

From the sounds of things, it seems I might have to invest in a waterpik! Ill give amazon a go, because I really want to avoid paying $145 if I can!

[ultra]

Bacteria is generated much more easily with braces due to food getting caught in them. Therefore, I highly recommend using superior cleaning products such as Waterpik to reduce the chance of this happening. There is nothing worse than bad breath caused by bacteria around braces. If you practice good cleaning habits you will notice the difference. Waterpik is awesome.

[Big Tex]

I had one, but had to stop using it once I had my jaw surgery. Waterpiks were a no-no immediately after. But it has been 9 months, so I'll start back up with it.

[ALFuser]

Hi there, you may have already got an irrigator by now, but if not, I just wanted to share my experience! I'm in the UK, I eventually settled on a rechargeable irrigator of a different brand (around £60 - 65 on amazon uk). I think it's great, and it certainly makes keeping the braces clean SO much easier. I even bought a little wash bag to put it in, so I can take it when I go out to dinner! It was invaluable when I had a bite block on my lower brace. I also use Ultradex mouthwash, which I find gentle enough, even if my gums/mouth are going through a hard time!

Anyway, I hope you're doing well, and have managed to find one that's not too expensive! I have friends in Cairns and am always amazed and the price of stuff when I'm trying to find xmas gifts for them! (-:

[Ashybear]

Thanks guys, I'm definitely on the look out for one so I'll keep you updated!

[Ashybear]

Hey guys. So I found a waterpik on Amazon for something like $39. With shipping, it's a total of $50. I can't believe that they're $145 in stores here in Australia!!! I made such a huge saving! I only spent $9.60 in shipping, so it'll take 2 weeks to get here. I don't mind though!

[blissmom]

I've been wondering the same thing too. Thank for asking and thanks for the insight.

[kellyb]

Though I am based in the UK, I ordered mine from Amazon US as even with shipping and handling it was cheaper than if I was to buy it here in the UK. I have a travel version and agree with a previous poster that one downside is that the water tank emties quite quickly plus it also needs new batteries quite often otherwise it is very slow and pointless. When it is on full blast though it is the best thing since slice bread and my mouth never felt so clean. I use mine twice a day.