Dentists recommend to use an irrigator every day: after morning and evening brushing and after every meal. If you decide to follow the advice of professionals, then you face a reasonable question - "Which irrigator to choose?". Stores offer a huge range of irrigators for every budget and requirements. But how to understand which device is worth buying and what criteria to pay attention to in order to choose a model that will suit you?

 Purpose and benefits of the device:

Irrigator is a device for cleaning the oral cavity and removing plaque with the help of a pressurized water flow.
The high-pressure water flow breaks the film of bacteria accumulating on the surface of the teeth and gums and penetrates into the most inaccessible places, allowing you to clean the interdental spaces, gum pockets and orthodontic structures.
Regular use of an irrigator is an effective prevention of dental diseases, including tooth decay and periodontal disease. The device can remove the soft plaque that builds up on your teeth throughout the day. This thin dental film, if not removed in time, becomes a habitat for pathological microorganisms. Because of this, a focus of enamel demineralization is formed and caries gradually develops.

 The benefits that you get when using an irrigator:

Prevention of diseases of the teeth and gums.
Prevention of tartar formation.
Cleaning hard-to-reach areas that cannot be cleaned with a toothbrush.
Massage gums and improve blood circulation in them.
Elimination of bad breath.
Safe and painless removal of food debris,
Quality hygienic care of braces, bridges, implants and other orthodontic structures.

Irrigator selection checklist: 7 criteria

 Choosing an irrigator for oral care, you are choosing a helper that will keep your smile beautiful and healthy. Therefore, the choice of the device should be approached responsibly, paying attention to various technical characteristics. We have highlighted 7 criteria to consider when choosing an irrigator.

1. Type of device

Depending on the design, irrigators are:
Stationary. Most often designed for home family use. Their advantages: power, a large volume of water tank and more flexible settings of water pressure. The main disadvantages of stationary devices - large size and work from the electrical network.
 Portable. Suitable for home use for 1-2 people, but it is also convenient to use them outside the house. For example, take them to work, on a business trip, to the countryside or on a trip. They are battery operated, smaller in size and lighter in weight. The downside is less power and a small water tank.

2. Water supply technology

Water supply can be realized by the following methods:
Monostream. The water is delivered in the form of a normal, continuous stream at high pressure. This option is the least efficient and may cause discomfort.
Pulsed. Water is delivered in a thin, pulsating stream. This provides effective removal of food debris, plaque and hydromassage of the gums.
Microbubble. Water is delivered jointly with air bubbles. Irrigator saturates the liquid with oxygen bubbles, which burst and create micro-hydraulic shocks. This technology provides professional oral cleansing and gum massage.

3. Power

The power indicator is one of the most important criteria for choosing an irrigator. The power of the water jet affects the quality of cleaning and the subjective feeling of using the device. Therefore, evaluate the water pressure according to your needs:
Sensitive teeth and gums - 70-300 kPa.
Standard cleaning - 300-500 kPa.
Thorough cleaning, presence of orthodontic constructions - more than 500 kPa.
Usually stationary devices are more powerful, they have more different modes of operation. But many modern portable irrigators, such as B.Well TH-917, are not inferior to the power of stationary.

4. Pulsation frequency

The higher the pulsation rate per minute, the more effective the irrigator is at removing plaque and massaging the gums. This parameter also affects the sensation during irrigation. On average, portable devices have a pulsation rate of 1,000 to 1,200 pulsations per minute. Stationary irrigators usually have a higher rate of 1,200 to 1,800 pulses per minute.

5. Mode of operation

Depending on the model, irrigators can work in different modes. In B.Well irrigators, for example, you can find the following modes:
Standard. This is a pulsed water supply with sufficient power for quality cleaning. Optimal option for daily cleaning.
Soft. Provides gentle water pressure. Suitable for sensitive teeth and gums.
Massage. Due to the special pulsation mode (water pressure alternately changes), the water jet has a massage effect, thus improving blood circulation in the gums.
Personalized. In this mode, you can choose the appropriate power settings based on how you feel and the purpose of cleaning.
ℹ️ Personal mode is provided in the portable model B.Well TH-917. In addition to individual power settings, it also includes an initial use program where the power of the device is gradually increased for the first 30 times. An excellent option for those who are just getting acquainted with irrigators.

6. Tank capacity

The larger the water tank volume, the longer you can irrigate without stopping to refill the reservoir with water. Stationary irrigators have an average water tank volume of up to 650 ml, while portable irrigators have an average reservoir volume of up to 250 ml.

7. Set

The equipment of the irrigator affects its functionality and ease of use. You need to pay attention to:
Nozzles. Depending on the model of irrigator in the kit can be different nozzles: standard, periodontal, orthodontic, for the tongue, brush head, nasal, for bridges and crowns.

Case. If you choose a portable irrigator and plan to take it with you, having a case will make it easier to transport.