Regina Carlson
Most people use floss instead of an interdental brush, and that's a fine option. However, interdental brushes do offer some advantages that make them preferable for certain people.
Here are just five types of people who should try using an interdental brush instead of flossing.
1. People with Small Mouths
Having a small mouth can be a feel pain when you need to clean your teeth. Even using a toothbrush can be hard since it can be tricky to move it around properly when there is little space to work with, especially towards the back of the mouth. Flossing can be even harder since it will be tough to manoeuvre your hands, get the floss where it needs to go, and then move it back and forth. Interdental brushes can be used with just one hand, and the handle makes it easier to reach into the back of a small mouth.
2. People with Mobility Issues
If you have arthritis, Parkinson's or another issue that can reduce your dexterity, flossing can be a painful or impossible process. Holding and using floss requires multiple digits to be manipulated at once, placing quite a lot of pressure on each. Using an interdental brush is much kinder on the hands and fingers, and you don't need to be as dexterous to use them.
3. People with Braces
If you have braces, you obviously care about your oral health. Unfortunately, braces can make it hard to floss since you need to carefully thread the floss between gum line and support. This can be hard even at the front, but it can be downright impossible towards the back of the mouth. An interdental brush doesn't need to be held on both sides, so you can use one just as easily with braces as without.
4. People with Gaps Between Teeth
If you have quite large gaps between your teeth, flossing can be a little less effective since it is hard to maintain proper pressure on one tooth without its neighbour being quite close. Interdental brushes tend to work well in such situations.
5. People with Crooked Teeth
As well as being perfect for people with large gaps between their teeth, interdental brushes make a fantastic choice for people who have crooked teeth. If the teeth are crooked, it could be that top sections overlap enough to make it impossible to manoeuvre floss between some of your teeth. Once again, this is not an issue with interdental brushes since they only need to be held on one side.
Talk with your dentist if you have questions about flossing methods.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved stories about the past. Whether the stories were about horses, wars, exploration or even dentistry, I loved to hear them. I find that knowing the history of something helps it to make sense and feel approachable. I know that some people have dental anxiety, and I too have suffered, but I also feel like the more you know about dental work and its history, the easier it is. This blog is dedicated to exploring the history of dentistry – What did ancient people use for fillings? How did early dentists numb their patients? Who was the first dentist? Those are just some of the questions I plan to answer here. Ready? Okay, let's dive into the history of dentistry together!