Simply brushing your teeth twice a day isn’t always enough. Although our toothbrush can do a good job of removing dirt and bacteria from tooth surfaces, it can’t always get rid of plaque stuck between our teeth. While flossing can, in fact, take care of this problem, many people forget to actually do it every morning and night.
Interdental brushes are a great oral hygiene tool for people who easily forget to floss. They’re also easy and effective alternatives for people who aren’t able to floss as much as they need to due to motor problems. These daily tooth cleaning tools are offered in a wide range of sizes to suit just about anyone’s needs. They serve as a reliable companion for people who have trouble using floss to clean narrower spaces between teeth.
What Makes Interdental Brushes Special?
What makes an interdental brush so special? After all, don’t we already have special floss picks and dental floss holders? Well, the design of an interdental brush might better fit your needs if you’re prone to gum disease or if you have trouble rubbing floss back and forth between your teeth.
Interdental brushes are small and thin cleaning tools that come in a variety of designs. Some brushes come with handles designed to be small and easy to grip, whereas other brushes may have bigger and longer handles. Each brush is specially designed with bristles that can reach into narrow spaces and effectively remove plaque from in-between teeth.
Another advantage of interdental brushes is that they come in a wide variety of sizes to choose from. You can use different brushes for certain areas of your front and back teeth as needed, as well as clean between your teeth without using too much force. If you feel like cleaning with floss every day might not be great for your sensitive teeth, you can rely on interdental brushes as a better and safer alternative.
People who want to depend less on disposable materials can most definitely use interdental brushes for all their daily oral hygiene needs. Unlike dental floss, which can only be used once, interdental brushes are perfectly reusable. Simply rinse the brush once you’re done cleaning your gums then store it in a safe container. Of course, interdental brushes don’t last forever. You’ll need to have them replaced if the wire gets bent out of shape or if the bristles start to wear out.
Who Needs Interdental Brushes the Most?
Interdental brushes are for anyone willing to work hard to take proper care of their teeth and gums. The following people may especially need to include interdental brushes in their daily oral hygiene regimen:
- People with braces and fixed retainers: Interdental brushes are incredibly popular with people undergoing orthodontic treatments as they can easily reach into spaces between teeth and remove dirt around your brackets. Anyone who has trouble maneuvering dental floss around thick wires and brackets will have a much easier time cleaning their gums with thin and small brushes.
- People who forget to floss: A lot of people lose their motivation to floss simply because of how hard or exhausting it can be. Some people may also dislike the feeling of squeezing floss in between their teeth. If you want to clean your gums in a much easier and more comfortable fashion, an interdental brush might just be the tool you need.
- People with motor problems: Some people, such as the elderly, may have a tough time flossing due to problems with their joints or limited dexterity. Interdental brushes are a great alternative for people with motor problems as they don’t put too much stress on your wrists and hands, and because they can clean narrow spaces and the back of teeth without requiring too much force.
- People with imperfect teeth: Cleaning between your teeth with dental floss is far from easy if your teeth are uneven. You may also be unable to get the results you need if your floss doesn’t do a great job of cleaning prominent gaps and receding gums. Since interdental brushes have soft bristles than can easily squeeze into all kinds of spaces, you might want to consider using them to keep your gums in good shape.
Are Interdental Brushes Safe for my Gums?
You don’t have to worry about any risk of injury or damage to your gums as interdental brushes are made to be 100% safe and pain-free. In fact, your gums will be in much better shape than before since they’ll be less prone to daily build-ups of dirt, plaque, and bacteria.
You might experience some bleeding when you use interdental brushes for the first time. This is perfectly normal for anyone who hasn’t done much daily flossing, as well as those whose gums are in particularly bad shape. Simply continue cleaning with your brushes every day and your gums should stop bleeding in no time.
It’s still important to be careful when cleaning your gums with any oral hygiene tool, of course. You may end up damaging your gums if you force brushes that are too big for your teeth into small gaps. To avoid any problems with damaged gums, it’s best to stick to smaller brushes first and consult your dentist.
What Size Should I Use?
You probably won’t find the perfect size for your teeth right away. The best way to figure out what to use is to simply try out each size until you find the perfect fit. Many brands offer interdental brush trial packs with assorted sizes for you to try, so feel free to experiment as much as you need.
When cleaning with interdental brushes for the first time it’s best to start by seeing how the smallest brushes fit between your teeth. Move up one size at a time until you find a brush that can fit into small gaps and spaces without requiring too much force. Once you’ve found the perfect-sized brush for you, clean to your heart’s content!
One size may not work for other parts of your mouth. Your molars may need bigger sized brushes, whereas your front teeth may only need smaller brushes. Take time to experiment with different sizes until you’ve figured out what your molars, incisors, and all other teeth need for great cleaning.
When Should I Use an Interdental Brush?
It’s best to clean with an interdental brush before using a regular toothbrush. That way, you’ll be able to get rid of hard-to-reach plaque and dirt ahead of time. You’ll also be able to brush away nasties from your teeth faster and easier than before. Cleaning with interdental brushes just once a day is enough.
Dental calculus removers are another great oral hygiene tool to have at home. Meeteasy’s electric dental calculus remover is specially designed to remove plaque from spaces between teeth and along the gum line. Cavities, gingivitis, and other nasty oral health problems won’t ever be a problem once you start cleaning with this handy tool daily. Why not try one out now to see great results for yourself?