1. What is an irrigator and what is it for?

An irrigator is a device for cleaning teeth, gums, gingival pockets, interdental space, tongue and artificial structures from food debris, plaque and other contaminants. Unlike a toothbrush, it uses a powerful stream of water to do this, which effectively cleans hard-to-reach places and massages the gums. According to research, an irrigator is 90% more effective in removing plaque than a toothbrush, and using a brush and irrigator together can replace professional cleaning at the dentist, although you should definitely not completely abandon visits to a specialist. By the way, we have a separate article on how to choose an electric toothbrush.

It is recommended to use the irrigator after basic tooth brushing every day or even additionally during the day after meals. In addition to regular water, special medicinal solutions recommended by manufacturers and dentists can be added to the reservoir. This device is necessary for:

  • prevention of caries;
  • prevention and treatment of gum disease: a stream of water improves blood circulation and accelerates regeneration processes;
  • elimination of unpleasant odor and freshness in the mouth;
  • prevention of gingivitis - an inflammatory disease of gum tissue that can occur in pregnant and lactating women due to deterioration of the blood supply to the mucous membranes;
  • care of dental structures.

An irrigator is especially important for people with dentures, implants, braces, dental bridges and other structures in the mouth. Often, a lot of food remains on them, which is difficult to clean with a brush and dental floss. Therefore, to prevent complications that can occur due to poor hygiene, it is necessary to make an irrigator a mandatory item of daily care.

Various scenarios for using irrigators - cleaning of orthopedic structures,
gingival sulcus, prosthesis, interdental space.

However, there are cases when the device is contraindicated:

  • Acute inflammatory gum diseases - for example, the same gingivitis or periodontitis in the acute stage. An irrigator can aggravate the situation and lead to gum irritation.
  • Recent surgeries: operations, tooth extractions, etc. The high-pressure water jet may damage wounds and stitches and slow down the healing process.
  • Violation of the structure of the gums.
Important! We strongly recommend that you do not self-medicate and consult a dentist before purchasing an irrigator so that he can determine your individual problems and find out whether the device is safe for you.
Popular irrigators

2. Types of irrigators

In general, modern irrigators are divided into:

  • Stationary models are larger in dimensions and are used in the bathroom on a permanent basis. A socket is required nearby, as stationary models are mainly powered by the mains.
  • Portable – are more compact in dimensions, lightweight and operate autonomously – they have a built-in battery, so they can clean teeth in the absence of a power source nearby.

There are also a few battery-powered models, but they are not popular because they require additional money for consumables. In any case, portable irrigators are convenient to take with you on trips - they will not take up much space in a bag or suitcase, but will provide high-quality oral care in any conditions.

Stationary irrigators are larger in dimensions and are therefore intended for home use.

When choosing a portable model, we recommend paying attention to its autonomy - the operating time from one battery charge. After all, no one wants to charge their electric devices every day, especially if you are on a business trip and forgot your charger at home. Therefore, it is better to choose devices with a capacious battery that provides at least a couple of weeks of autonomous operation.

The portable irrigator has compact dimensions and is easy to transport.

Depending on the type of irrigators, their characteristics also differ. Stationary devices are usually more powerful: the pressure of the supplied water reaches 800 - 1000 kPa or more. In portable models, this figure is lower - up to 700 kPa. Accordingly, stationary irrigators clean the oral cavity more effectively. Considering the dimensions, the difference lies in the volume of the water tank. And the larger this capacity, the longer the device will work without the need to interrupt the procedure and add water. Large stationary models can hold about 600 - 700 ml or even about 1 liter of water, and compact irrigators usually have small tanks with a volume of up to 200 - 300 ml. Therefore, when choosing a device, consider where you will use it, whether there is an outlet in the bathroom and free space for the device, whether other family members will use the irrigator (if there are separate nozzles).

For your convenience, we offer a comparison table:

Stationary irrigator Portable irrigator
Large dimensions Compact dimensions and light weight
Powered by the network Autonomous operation thanks to the built-in battery
High power: water pressure about 800 – 1000 kPa More limited power ratings - up to 700 kPa
Large water tank - up to 1 l Small water tank - up to 200 - 300 ml
Popular stationary irrigators

3. Nozzles included

As with electric toothbrushes, irrigators can come with different attachments. These can be standard attachments for everyday oral cleaning, or special attachments for different purposes:

  • Standard - for cleaning healthy teeth and gums.
  • Orthodontic(tip with bristles) - removes food debris from braces and near the gums.
  • Periodontal(with a tapered soft silicone tip) - for cleaning gum pockets, dentures and bridges.
  • Brush attachment(with bristles) - similar to a toothbrush attachment, used for additional plaque removal;
  • Implant attachment(with bristles and tips of different shapes and sizes) - designed for implants, crowns and bridges.
  • Tongue cleaning attachment(shaped like a rounded spatula) - helps remove plaque from the tongue, palate and inner cheek.
  • Nasal(for cleaning the nose) - a nozzle that sprays a medicinal solution and helps to flush the nasal sinuses, reduce swelling and eliminate nasal congestion. Often used to prevent and treat colds, sinusitis and allergic symptoms.
The irrigator kit may include both standard and special attachments for different purposes.

The standard nozzle is a mandatory attribute of the irrigator, the presence of the rest depends on the specific model. Therefore, when choosing a device, be sure to pay attention to its configuration and choose a set depending on your needs. For example, if several family members will use the irrigator, a set of different nozzles is needed, preferably with color marking (this will make it easier to distinguish them). Even if you do not have implants, braces and other structures, you should not refuse the rest of the nozzles. The same nasal nozzle can be useful in winter, at the height of the growth of morbidity.

Important! Irrigator nozzles, like tech for a toothbrush, need to be changed every 3-4 months. Therefore, when choosing a device model, be sure to check whether you can buy components separately and how much they cost.
Popular irrigators with tongue cleaning attachment

4. Settings

Irrigators are fairly easy-to-use devices, but even they have settings that are important for the health of your teeth and gums. First of all , we recommend paying attention to the type of jet supplied:

  • Mono-jet is the simplest technology, which delivers a thin single stream of water with the same pressure. Such irrigators are considered pioneers, because this is the first model of devices to appear on the market. Often these are budget options intended for standard daily brushing of teeth.
  • Pulsating (pulsating) jet — is supplied with variable force, which is practically imperceptible for a person, but more effective for teeth. The pulsating jet allows you to qualitatively clean the space between the teeth and periodontal canals from food debris, bacteria and plaque, and also additionally massages the gums. The number of pulsations depends on the specific model, but basically it is about 1200 - 1500 pulses per minute — both for stationary and portable irrigators.
  • Microbubbles - the water flow is saturated with air, which forms a large number of microbubbles. When they burst, they effectively remove deposits in hard-to-reach places and bacterial plaque, and also fight microorganisms that cause dental diseases, gums and unpleasant odor. This is the most modern technology, which is especially recommended for cleaning periodontal pockets.

The most versatile and useful are irrigators with several operating modes. They can be used for both prevention and treatment. This is especially important in cases where one device is used by different family members with individual characteristics and problems.

At the same time , do not confuse operating modes with power control. Power is the intensity of the water jet and the pressure at which it is supplied. As we mentioned above, stationary models often have a higher indicator than portable ones. It would seem that the higher the power, the more effectively the irrigator removes plaque and dirt. But this opinion is wrong. If you have sensitive, problematic or diseased gums, too strong a stream of water can injure them and lead to pain. After installing implants or braces, it is also recommended to use lower pressure and a less intense stream of water. In addition, only minimum power is recommended for children. In the case of battery-powered devices, the power also affects the duration of autonomous operation: the higher it is, the faster the battery will discharge.

The most correct solution is models with the ability to adjust the power. This way you can choose the optimal intensity for yourself and use the irrigator with the whole family, changing the settings depending on the user.

Therefore, it is always better to choose a device with advanced settings, rather than one mode of jet and power supply. Even if you do not use all the capabilities of such a device at first, in case of illness, installation of structures, surgical intervention and other circumstances, you will be able to adjust the parameters and continue using the irrigator without harm to your health.

Popular irrigators with pulse mode

5. Additional functions and features

In addition to the basic features, the irrigator may have additional functions that, in general, affect the ease of use and cleaning efficiency.

  • Timer - helps you keep track of time and control the correct duration of cleaning. When the countdown is over, it gives a signal.
  • UV disinfector - treats replaceable attachments with ultraviolet radiation after use. Ultraviolet is safe for the user and the device, but at the same time destroys bacteria, microorganisms and remaining contaminants.
  • Accessory stand - if the irrigator is equipped with a large number of replaceable nozzles, a special stand for them will facilitate storage and prevent loss of computer Hardware.
  • Charging stand - comes with cordless irrigators and allows you to conveniently charge the battery. You do not need to use a separate charger - just place the device on the stand.
  • Case/cover - mainly relevant for portable models that will be used during travel.

6. So what to choose?

Unfortunately, there is no exact answer to the question "Which irrigator to choose" - everything is individual and depends on many factors. But some recommendations, to summarize what was said in the article, are still there:

  • If you need a tool for oral hygiene while traveling, a portable irrigator would be the ideal option. It fits easily in a bag, and battery-powered models ensure operation anywhere, even where there is no electricity. That is, if you are traveling by car, relaxing on a deserted island, or going on a hike for several days, the device is guaranteed to work fully even in these conditions.
  • For regular home use, it is better to choose a stationary irrigator - it is still more powerful than portable devices. The main thing is that there is a socket nearby, since stationary models are powered by the network.
  • If you need a device for both home use and travel, and your budget allows it, take two irrigators - a stationary one and a portable one, they will not be superfluous.
  • If the whole family plans to use the irrigator, a stationary irrigator with a capacious water tank that does not require frequent refilling will do. A set of appropriate attachments is also necessary, preferably with color markings for each family member.
  • If the irrigator is to be used by children or people with gum disease, a gentle mode of operation at minimum power is necessary for comfortable use. It is better if these are different modes and adjustment of the water jet intensity.
  • If you have braces, crowns or dentures, choose a model with an extended set and the appropriate attachments in the kit.

We hope our article will help you make the right choice. The main thing is to remember that an irrigator cannot replace a toothbrush, regular professional hygiene and treatment at the dentist. It is effective, but not as a separate tool, but as a component of complex treatment.