Review: Sonicare AirFloss Ultra
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If flossing with traditional string floss is something you just don’t look forward to (or maybe find difficult), the new Sonicare AirFloss Ultra could be a good option. This new tool uses a burst of air and water (or mouth rinse) to clean away the plaque between your teeth. My son, Andrew, volunteered to try the Air Flosser for a month and let us know how it works. After four weeks of daily use, here is what he thought:
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I’m impressed with how easy the AirFloss Ultra is to use, but it’s not perfect. Below I’ve outlined pros and cons that I hope will help you decide if this tool is right for you.
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PROS
1. Ease of use The AirFloss Ultra is easy to use. Sure, the first few days had a bit of a learning curve, but after that first week I felt confident using it. |
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2. Gentle on gums
I was worried that the burst of liquid shooting between my teeth would be uncomfortable, but after using the air flosser all those worries were put to rest. Even when my aim was off and the stream of mouth rinse hit my gums directly, there was no pain.
I was worried that the burst of liquid shooting between my teeth would be uncomfortable, but after using the air flosser all those worries were put to rest. Even when my aim was off and the stream of mouth rinse hit my gums directly, there was no pain.
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3. Great design
While this has nothing to do with how well the device cleans my teeth, I appreciate that it looks nice on the counter in my bathroom. Other flossing tools have large water tanks or cords and take up a lot of counter space. The AirFloss Ultra is small and doesn’t clutter my counter. An added bonus is that it uses the same charger as my Sonicare toothbrush. |
4. Actually works
The most important aspect of any oral hygiene tool is if it actually works. After using the AirFloss Ultra for a month and looking into the research available, I can confidently say that this device works as advertised. One of the simplest ways to check for unhealthy gums (“gingivitis” is the word you probably hear at the office) is to floss and check for any areas of bleeding. After the month of using the AirFloss Ultra, I had no areas that bled when I used normal floss.
CONS
1. A little messy
While the AirFloss Ultra is easy to use, it took a few weeks to learn how to use it without spraying mouthwash out of my mouth and onto the mirror. Angling the tip correctly and keeping my lips closed around it helps reduce the spray escaping my mouth, but even after a month, I still have to clean the mirror every now and then. Additionally, after each use I rinse out the tank with tap water to prevent the mouth rinse from drying inside the device and leaving behind a film.
2. Slightly less effective
According to research, traditional floss is still slightly more effective than the AirFloss Ultra. The study I read found that gum inflammation was reduced using either method but “for string floss, it was 11.41% and for AirFloss Pro plus mouth rinse it was 9.03%.” (The AirFloss Pro is the previous model, before the Ultra came out, but they are very similar). The same was true for reducing gum bleeding.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you find flossing difficult, the AirFloss Ultra is a great alternative. The extra time spent each night cleaning the device discouraged me from wanting to use it, but I wouldn’t consider it a dealbreaker. While the research suggests that traditional floss may be slightly better, the AirFloss Ultra is a lot better than not flossing at all. If you are interested in learning more, feel free to ask any of the team next time you are in the office.
The most important aspect of any oral hygiene tool is if it actually works. After using the AirFloss Ultra for a month and looking into the research available, I can confidently say that this device works as advertised. One of the simplest ways to check for unhealthy gums (“gingivitis” is the word you probably hear at the office) is to floss and check for any areas of bleeding. After the month of using the AirFloss Ultra, I had no areas that bled when I used normal floss.
CONS
1. A little messy
While the AirFloss Ultra is easy to use, it took a few weeks to learn how to use it without spraying mouthwash out of my mouth and onto the mirror. Angling the tip correctly and keeping my lips closed around it helps reduce the spray escaping my mouth, but even after a month, I still have to clean the mirror every now and then. Additionally, after each use I rinse out the tank with tap water to prevent the mouth rinse from drying inside the device and leaving behind a film.
2. Slightly less effective
According to research, traditional floss is still slightly more effective than the AirFloss Ultra. The study I read found that gum inflammation was reduced using either method but “for string floss, it was 11.41% and for AirFloss Pro plus mouth rinse it was 9.03%.” (The AirFloss Pro is the previous model, before the Ultra came out, but they are very similar). The same was true for reducing gum bleeding.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you find flossing difficult, the AirFloss Ultra is a great alternative. The extra time spent each night cleaning the device discouraged me from wanting to use it, but I wouldn’t consider it a dealbreaker. While the research suggests that traditional floss may be slightly better, the AirFloss Ultra is a lot better than not flossing at all. If you are interested in learning more, feel free to ask any of the team next time you are in the office.