Why clean in between teeth?
Daily interdental cleaning is imperative. Plaque build up between teeth will not be cleaned by a toothbrush or a mouthwash and can lead to tooth decay, calculus/tartar formation and gum disease
Tooth decay
When interdental cleaning doesn’t take place plaque will stagnate between teeth, when sugary foods and drinks are consumed the plaque will turn to acid causing tooth decay. If the plaque between teeth is removed effectively on a daily basis this can be prevented.
Gum disease
Bacteria in plaque can irritate the gum and cause inflammation, initially the gum will be slight red, puffy may bleed when brushing but not necessarily be painful, this is why gum disease sometimes goes unnoticed by patients. If gum disease is left untreated and allowed to progress, the plaque bacteria will not only irritate the gum but start to eat away at the bone that supports the teeth which eventually can lead to tooth loss.
What is the best way to clean in between?
For interdental cleaning, the choices are endless (floss, tape, sticks, single tufted brush, superfloss, brushes) but your hygienist will advise you on what is the best for you, they will choose the correct aid based on the size of the interproximal spaces and the ability and motivation of the individual.
Flossing – floss picks/floss/tape are passed in between teeth and a sweeping action used to clean underneath the gum. Most patients will use a sawing action which is wrong and can make the gum sore.
Interdental brushes - come in a range of different sizes and textures to accommodate different size gaps
- The brush is passed directly through each gap as close to the gum line as possible to achieve effective plaque/food removal.
Airfloss/water jets - a jet of water and air is passed through each gap in between the teeth, flossing and/or interdental brushes are recommended alongside these devices to mechanically remove the plaque as plaque is a very sticky substance and not removed by airfloss/water jet alone.
“My gums bleed so I don’t clean in between”
When you first start to clean in between you may notice bleeding. If this happens then persevere, don’t be put off, the gum is bleeding because you are dislodging the old plaque that is irritating the gum.
It is important to clean between daily to stop the plaque from stagnating. It may take a few weeks for bleeding to stop completely so don’t be disheartened if your doing everything you should and don’t notice the bleeding stop straight away.
If certain areas bleed more than others don’t avoid them and concentrate on those areas more possibly cleaning between twice a day until the bleeding stops.
If you are unsure whether you are using the correct interdental cleaning aid or performing the wrong technique, your hygienist will be happy to go through this with you at your next appointment. BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
