Beyond Flossing: Utilizing Interdental Cleaners for Optimal Oral Hygiene
Almost everyone understands the importance of regular brushing and flossing to their oral health. You’ve heard it many times before: Proper oral hygiene is your first line of defense against tooth decay and gum disease. Yet, while most of us brush regularly, many people don’t floss as often as they should… or at all!
Why not? Sometimes, it’s due to limited manual dexterity, or because braces or partial dentures get in the way; or, perhaps we just never got in the habit. Yet proper cleaning of the interdental areas (the small spaces between teeth) is crucial. Regular toothbrushes simply can’t get into these gaps, which is exactly where tooth decay and gum disease starts. That’s where the tools called “interdental cleaners” can help.
There are several different types of interdental cleaners available, including special brushes and irrigation devices. None of them, by themselves, are a substitute for brushing and flossing. However, as part of a regular program of oral hygiene, they can be effective at fighting plaque and reducing the incidence of tooth decay and gum disease. Schaefer Dental Group can recommend the best option for you in Lansing, Michigan.
The Interdental Brush (Proxabrush)
This specially designed toothbrush (sometimes called an interproximal brush or proxabrush) can be successfully utilized to clean:
- The small gaps between teeth.
- The gums.
- The areas around braces, wires, or other dental appliances.
Because it has a handle not unlike a standard toothbrush, many people with limited dexterity find it easy to use. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness at reducing plaque and controlling gingivitis (gum inflammation). The cleaning surface is similar in shape to a small, conical pipe cleaner, with short bristles radiating from a thin central wire, available in different widths to accommodate an individual’s particular dental anatomy.
Oral Irrigation Devices (Water Picks)
These devices (sometimes known as water jets or water picks) can also play a role in interdental hygiene. Many studies have shown that they provide a safe and effective method of diluting the acids produced by plaque.
Irrigation devices typically use pulsed or steady jets of pressurized water to remove food particles from the hard-to-clean interdental spaces, as well as in some subgingival (below the gum line) pockets. While proper brushing and flossing is still generally considered the gold standard, using these devices might be right for you if you have trouble flossing regularly or are at increased risk for developing dental or periodontal disease.