To Floss or not to Floss?
Only floss the teeth you want to keep your dentist would say. However, what they mean is to floss everyday and all the in between. But sometimes you would think it’s a waste of time and not doing anything to your teeth, could be because you are doing it the wrong way? If you find it difficult flossing, there are alternatives and one of them is the Interdental Brushes.
What are Interdental Brushes?
After thorough brushing with a toothbrush, you should also clean all interproximal gaps between your teeth. Unfortunately, your toothbrush is unable to properly clean in between your teeth. This area is the primarily place where gum and periodontal disease start. Brushing your teeth without flossing or using interdental brushes means that you are not removing all plaque from your teeth – it is important to disrupt the plaque from in between your teeth to help prevent gum and periodontal disease.
Interdental brushes work well for people with:
- Implants
- Missing teeth
- Orthodontic appliances
- Or people that find regular floss difficult to use
A proper technique of interdental brushing is important so that you do not cause damage to any oral tissue.
- They come in many different colours/sizes. Make sure you have the right sized interdental brush.
- Gently slide the interdental brush into the space, push it through the entire space and then pull it out. After cleaning each gap rinse the brush under warm water and continue to the next gap. You can re use the brush, as long as you rinse it clean at the end.
- Don’t be surprised that when you first use interdental brushes it causes shortlived bleeding. If you have not been routinely flossing or interdental brushing, plaque may have caused inflammation of the gums. When introducing interdental brushes in the space the gums react with bleeding. After some time the bleeding will disappear – this indicates the absence of gum inflammation, which means you have been cleaning the interproximal gaps well.
So on your next visit with your dentist or dental hygienist, don’t forget to ask about Interdental Brushes to find the right size for you. Happy flossing/brushing!