When you think about maintaining a healthy mouth, brushing your teeth should be the top priority. Twice daily toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste is the cornerstone to a healthy smile, but there is one simply addition that can truly transform how healthy your mouth is – and that is interdental cleaning.
While toothbrushing is the most effective way to keep your teeth clean, it only reaches 60% of the tooth’s surfaces. Using interdental brushes to clean in between the gaps in your teeth is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to change the health of your smile for the better.
Why interdental cleaning is so important
Dental plaque can build up between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot get to.
Over time, this can lead to tooth decay, gum inflammation and bad breath. To prevent this from happening it is a good idea to use an interdental brush as part of your daily cleaning routine.
An interdental brush is a small brush specially designed to clean between your teeth, where a regular toothbrush does not reach. Daily use of an interdental brush, in addition to regular toothbrushing, is an easy and effective way to keep your gums and teeth fresh and healthy.
We recommend cleaning between your teeth every day, to keep your mouth fresh and healthy.
When you first start cleaning between your teeth, your gums may feel a bit sore and might bleed but do not stop because bleeding gums are often a sign of gum inflammation. If you do not notice an improvement within a few days, contact your dental professional.
Picking the right size
For the best advice, ask a dental professional for their recommendation. In the meantime, here are a few tips to get you started....
- Look in the mirror and insert the brush between the teeth, close to the gums. Start with the smallest size and work up until the brush bristles touch the tooth surface and the gum tissue.
- The brush should have a snug fit but the wire, although plastic coated, should not touch the sides of the teeth or the gums. Never force the brush into a space.
- Once inserted, move the interdental brush to its full length back and forth about 2-3 times. Make sure to clean all the spaces between the teeth once a day.
- You are likely to need two-three different sizes, or the combination of one or two brushes and floss – it all depends on the spaces between the teeth, which normally vary throughout the mouth.
