The History of Dentistry

5 Types of People Who Should Trying Using an Interdental Brush Instead of Flossing

3 March 2017

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.

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