Tips, tricks, and why it is so important
Many patients understand the importance of brushing their teeth, for 2 minutes, twice daily, using toothpaste containing at least 1450ppm fluoride. It is also widely accepted that an electric toothbrush is easier to use than a manual and provides benefits such as a pressure sensor and timer. However, the importance of interdental cleaning, of the gaps between the teeth, is less well understood.
Tooth brushing alone cleans roughly 60% of the tooth surface, leaving 40% (the areas in-between teeth) untouched. That is why interdental cleaning is so important in order to disrupt the bacteria, plaque, and food which can build up. This in turn helps to prevent the occurrence of diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Interdental brushes come in various shapes and sizes, but the common principle is that they are all used to keep the spaces in between our teeth, where our toothbrushes cannot reach, clean and healthy. It is recommended that they are used daily alongside toothbrushing.
Your dentist, therapist, or hygienist can help you to find the best type of brush and size for you. However, in principle, the ideal brush is a snug fit that touches each tooth on either side without having to be forced through. You may have to use multiple interdental brushes as the spaces in between our teeth vary in size. Usually, 2-3 sizes are required.
To use the brushes, insert them in between the teeth at the gum line and move them back and forth 4-5 times in each space. Start at the back of the mouth and work your way around so that you do not miss any spaces. This process should take no longer than 3 minutes to complete and will make a big difference to your oral and overall health.
To begin with, the gums may seem sore and bleed when first using interdental brushes, however, this is usually a sign of inflammation and therefore continuing with cleaning will help to reduce this. You should notice that after two weeks of continual cleaning, the bleeding and inflammation reduces as the gums become more firm and healthy.
In order to reach the back teeth more easily you can bend the neck of the brush or the bristle at a right angle. Alternatively, Tepe have a range of angled brushes in sizes from pink to green, with long handles to make access easier. Most brands, including Tepe, ICON and Curaprox, have lids that can be attached to the end to increase the handle length and made handling easier.
Brushes can be reused multiple times, sometimes up to 4 or 5 times, until the brush starts to bend, or the plastic starts to remove. At this point, the brush should be replaced, and the plastic recycled if possible, to reduce waste.
Remember, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, so through interdental cleaning, you can improve your overall health.
